"This children's book promotes inclusivity and compassion by celebrating what makes us all unique and embracing family heritage and traditions." – Forbes

"Ultimately, What's That? demonstrates the vital role food plays in how we connect to our families and our cultures- as well as how we come to know and leave each other and our selves." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

About this Book

What's That? transformsturns the embarrassing lunch box moment into an empowering experienceone about curiosity and friendship.

Jax loves the food his family cooks. But when his grandmother packs his favorite Chinese dishes for his first day of school, Jax discovers his lunch looks very different from what the rest of his classmates are eating. Embarrassed to eat his food, he finds himself sitting alone. When Meena sits next to him, the two strike an unexpected friendship over their lunches, sharing a mutual joy of time spent in the kitchen, a coincidental similarity between their respective Chinse and Indian lunches, and the delicious meals they eat with their families.

Why We Love This Book

This uplifitngstory teaches young readers the importance of cultural identity, curiosity and inclusion. What's That? is a heartwarming story about the foods that make up who we are and how the meals we eat can bring us together.

At the end of the book The books backmater contains is a food glossary with descriptions of the dishes highlighted in the book and how to pronounce them. Additional free resources like a discussion guide, recipe and coloring sheets are available on the publisher's official website www.gloobooks.com.

About the author:

Karen Chan is a mom, author, entrepreneur and attorney who lives in Los Angeles, What's That? Is her debut children's book and she is the founder of Gloo Books. She loves cooking and eating and is always thumbing through a new children's book or cookbook. Follow her on Instagram @imkarenchan.

About the illustrator:

Basia Tran is a Polish-Vietnamese children's book illustrator based in Jersey City, where she lives with her husband. She hopes that hse can share her love of laughter and learning with the world through art.