A joyful celebration of food, friendship, and culture, Fried Rice Surprise shows how a little bit of this and a little bit of that can create something magical
Fern loves opening her lunchbox-sometimes it holds something colorful, sometimes sweet and spicy, but always delicious. When she learns about the Japanese tradition of "mottainai"-never wasting what's too good to throw away-Fern is inspired to create a meal to share with her friends. Together with her mama, she stirs up a wok of fried rice filled with everyone's favorite flavors: curry spices, carnitas, pilaf, bok choy, and more. With lively, joyful illustrations by Shiho Pate and a heartfelt story by Patricia Tanumihardja, this picture book celebrates food, friendship, and the magic that happens when different ingredients-and people-come together.
Patricia Tanumihardja was born in Jakarta to Chinese-Indonesian parents and grew up in Singapore, where she developed a lifelong love of food and storytelling. She is the author of several cookbooks highlighting pan-Asian flavors as well as children's picture books that celebrate the connections between food, culture, and community, including Ramen for Everyone and Fried Rice Surprise. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son, where she continues to write and cook with equal passion. Shiho Pate was born and raised in Japan and worked for over a decade in the indie gaming industry in New York before turning to children's books, where she brings her signature playful style to life using gouache, watercolor, and digital media. Now based in Southern California, she has illustrated numerous picture books that sparkle with warmth, humor, and cultural richness, including Fried Rice Surprise and the beginning reader series The Rescues, also from Red Comet Press.
