Boys Don't Fry by Kimberly Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua
CBC | Posted: September 19, 2023 5:03 PM | Last Updated: October 13, 2023
A boy squashes gender roles to do what he loves
Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked—only Nyonyas, the girls.
It's the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can't wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!
As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there's nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family's cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he'll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!
This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, Boys Don't Fry is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions—both old and new.
It's the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can't wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!
As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there's nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family's cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he'll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!
This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, Boys Don't Fry is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions—both old and new.
(From Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Boys Don't Fry is for ages 4 to 6.
Kimberly Lee is a lawyer and writer who lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is the managing editor of makchic, an online parenting site in Malaysia. She also co-wrote the picture book What If? with Liyana Taff.
Charlene Chua is a Singapore-born Canadian author and illustrator. She has illustrated several picture books, including The Pencil by Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula, Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar and Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang. She currently lives in Hamilton, Ont.