I Want to Be Spaghetti!
Written by Kiera Wright-Ruiz
Illustrated by Claudia Lam
Publication date July 11, 2023
56 pages
ISBN: 9780593529874
I came across the book I Want to be Spaghetti! completely by accident. We were walking around San Francisco after a huge lunch and stepped into Green Apple Books, where the book was on display in the children’s section. I pulled it down and started reading. The kids looking over my shoulder, 10 and 7 years old, laughed at almost every single page, and we finished the book together, standing there in the bookstore.
I Want to be Spaghetti! is the story of a package of ramen who wants to be spaghetti because everyone loves spaghetti. The other instant noodles in the supermarket try to persuade them that ramen is actually very popular and cool! “Our noodles tell many stories of different, colorful places. Beauty can be found in diversity” says the wise elder ramen. But our main character is not convinced, until they’re taken home and placed in a warm yummy broth with new friends chashu, narutomaki, egg, and nori.
I ended up buying the book for my kid, who is 4 years old, and a very picky eater. We went shopping together for ramen and narutomaki, brought them home and looked at them together. She asked for ramen just this past weekend, and I’m happy to have expanded her repertoire of carbs! More seriously, the next time she tells me she wants blue-green eyes, I’m going to point to this funny little ramen’s “story about identity and community … [that] celebrates the beauty of being yourself –and being recognized for who you are” (from the publisher’s website). The book is recommended for ages 4-8, but foodies of all ages will enjoy the cute and bright kawaii-style illustrations and sparkly body-positive text. It is a pleasure for both kids and their adults to read together.
Review by Charlotte Roh (she/her), editing assistance by Molly Higgins and Silvia Lew.
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