Some books about other times or other countries plod. They are so clearly educational that they weigh themselves down with purpose.
Thankfully, the opposite is true for Noodles on a Bicycle (2024). Author Kyo Maclear tells a story of a striking and dynamic scene–perfect for picture books she saw daily in Tokyo as a child when she was young–the demae delivering soba around the city. The demae delivered these noodles on bicycles, biking around the city with towering stacks of soup and noodles.
When Gracey Zhang’s illustrations make it clear that when the deliverymen were starting out on their rides, they were “merely” impressive. When they were in traffic, or trying to make time–maybe racing, as one great page shows–they were stunning.
There’s a gentle tone of nostalgia and family affection throughout, but for kids, the main draw will be the Seussian towers of noodles.
