No Kimchi for Me!

Yoomi, a small black and white cat, enjoys most of her grandmother’s cooking—“dried seaweed, tiny anchovies, soft egg omelets... even her seasoned bean sprouts”—with one exception: “Yoomi does not like stinky spicy kimchi!” Older brothers Jun and Yoon label Yoomi a baby and freeze her out of playing with them; Yoomi takes matters into her own paws, trying dollops of kimchi atop pizza and ice cream, but Grandma swoops in with a better idea: a not-too-spicy kimchi pancake. Using pencil, pastel, and digital manipulation, Kim (Cat on the Bus) creates a crisp and cozy domestic environment for her cat family; the story takes place against the backdrop of a rainy day, perhaps accounting for some of the high-running emotions. Yoomi’s brothers’ taunts and the specificity of her food aversion will be familiar to many readers (especially younger siblings), as will Yoomi’s drive to prove that she’s the “big girl” Grandma knows her to be. A kimchi pancake recipe is included, as are delectable endpapers showcasing kimchi varieties and ingredients. Ages 3–7. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (Sept.)