This nonfiction picture book celebrates the persistence of inventor Momofukfu Ando as he develops his recipe for instant Ramon noodles. Inspired by the hunger and poverty he saw in Japan after WWII, Momofuku sought to develop a food that was cheap, easy to make, and nutritious for all people, especially the poor. The illustrations capture the hardships in postwar Japan and depicts traditional Japanese cooking, homes, and food ingredients.

The scope and variety of nonfiction picture books is really awesome -- unfortunately, I think most parents and young readers are just not aware what is available to them. Always searching for ways to promote the nonfiction collection.
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Magic Ramen tells the story of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of Chikin Raman the first instant ramen. Ando was born in Taiwan in 1910 an immigrated to Japan. He as deeply impacted by the long lines of hungry Japanese people after World War 2. This moved him to experiment with a fast and cheap way to feed people. After all, "Peace follows from a full stomach." (Momofuku Ando) Chikin Ramen is now eaten around the world. We learn in the afterword that his ramen is used as emergency relief after disasters and even eaten in space (a special zero gravity ramen.)

This story is an inspiration in following your passion and not giving up. Classroom uses include introductions in primary grades to biographies, culture studies, literacy, and emotional intelligence. ( )

I freaking loved this book. And let me tell you why: Food is my jam. Oh wait, y'all knew that. But seriously, the story of how instant ramen was made?! I didn't even know this existed until I was reading some picture book blogs I follow. What I read was indeed one of the coolest stories ever. I admire the tenacity of Momofuku Ando and his determination to make food more accessible for those in need.

Now granted, I don't love instant ramen myself.....but I'm tempted to eat a bowl and reread this story. ( )

An excellent little picture book biography on Momofuku Ando and his most incredible creation in the culinary world--- ramen! The colors are warm, and the end pages are so cute with the wallpaper of ramen graphics!

This is a fun introductory biography, perfect for kids and fans of ramen. It is fascinating to learn the motives behind it based on the ramifications of WW2. Ando wanted to make an extremely affordable, filling food option for people to enjoy when food and money were scarce. ( )

This book is the story of how Momofuku Anno created instant ramen, a revolutionary invention in a time of great need. After WWII, the streets of Japan were flooded with people in desperate times. Ando saw the unbearably long lines for ramen shops with ridiculously high prices. Driven by sympathy and a desire to help, he sought to invent a new type of ramen that was both convenient and cheap. After days and days of experimenting, he created instant ramen. This is a lovely biography and retelling of the origin story of one of the most popular foods in the world. The book is in a well organized and satisfying format, illustrations are fun and colorful. A very pleasant read overall. Magic Ramen preaches the idea of persistence, that you should never give up, especially in times of desperate need. This is a great read for people of all ages. ( )