• Age: 4 to 7
• Grade: 2 to 12

A young boy realizes, thanks to his family, that he can enjoy both his Chinese and North American cultures through his favorite dishes

Max loves his family’s Cantonese meals, like steamed rice and gai lan greens with oyster sauce, homemade dumplings, and scallion bread. But sometimes he can’t help thinking about French fries, tacos, and ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

For his birthday dinner, Max is really hoping for spaghetti and meatballs, but instead he and his family are headed to Maa Maa and Ye Ye’s house for a celebration dinner—and Max is pretty sure that spaghetti won’t be served in the familiar blue bowls that came all the way from Hong Kong with his grandparents. But Max is delighted to discover that his understanding family has discovered a way to bring two cultures together with delicious dishes that are a combination of all the foods he loves.

Based on the author’s own experiences growing up, The Blue Bowl will speak to many children and adults alike with similar experiences and bring a new perspective to those who do not share in this experience. With deliciously eye-catching illustrations and descriptive, inviting text, readers will be reminded of all their favourite foods as they follow along with Max’s story.

FLO LEUNG is a food-loving illustrator who has spent many happy hours working in kitchens. When she isn’t reading old cookbooks and listening to glam rock, Flo is probably eating butter noodles with her young daughter and chef husband in their cozy Toronto studio/kitchen. The Tray of Togetherness is Flo’s author-illustrator debut.

Flo Leung's profile page

• Nominated, Blue Spruce Award

"Explore[s] the importance of cuisine in relation to family dynamics, cultural connections, and communal cohesion."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Crammed with food, family, and love; this is a book for any child straddling the old world and the new one."

School Library Journal

"A fun offering for themes of birthdays and multicultural food explorations, for foodies ages 4-9."

Youth Services Book Review

"A heartwarming story of love and food."

Kirkus Reviews