An exploration of the history of kids’ favorite foods from around the world
From pizza to pasta and ice cream to French fries, some of our favorite foods have a surprising history, and many of them have traveled far from where they originated! Did you know many well-known dishes are food immigrants? The Al Pastor Taco traveled from Lebanon to Puebla, Mexico! French fries originated in Belgium! And pasta arrived in Italy long before Marco Polo visited China. This fascinating nonfiction book featuring rhyming text takes the reader on travels around the world to celebrate foods, their history, and surprising origins. Join Mia Wenjen for a fact-packed journey of discovery that will make your mouth water as you travel the unexpected road of some of our favorite foods. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Mom is counting on Dad to get Boxer Baby down for her nap, but Boxer Baby is the G.O.A.T. of sleep avoidance. This hilarious face-off mimics a three-round boxing match, as Boxer Baby is no lightweight when it comes to staying awake.
Dad has a few tricks up his sleeve, but will it be enough in this epic battle against nap time? Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! uses figurative language to show how many common idioms have boxing origins.
Red Comet wraps up fall with a bow with The Gift by Oleksandr Shatokhin, which finds Rabbit wondering what could be in the package that lands on top of their burrow; 18 Flowers for Grandma: A Gift of Chai by Alison Goldberg, illus. by Jesse White, the story of how Sadie’s grandmother passes on her love for art and Jewish traditions; and We Sing from the Heart by Mia Wenjen, illus. by Victor Bizar Gomez, profiling Simon Tam who took his fight to trademark the name of his band, The Slants, all the way to the Supreme Court.
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court releases Oct. 15, 2024!
I’m very excited to announce a new picture book Fortune Cookies for Everyone, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage. This is my second picture book published by Red Comet Press. Fortune Cookies for Everyone comes out in the Fall of 2025.
Food for the Futureis a finalist for the 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards!
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World has made the Green Earth Book Award long list.
The Best of the Best lists represent the Chicago Public Library’s choices for the year’s most outstanding titles. Thank you so much to the staff at the Chicago Public Libraries for including Food for the Future!
Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Kai Gietzen
Dad needs to get Boxer Baby down for her nap but she is not going down without a fight! This funny picture book told in three rounds includes boxing idioms. This picture book also celebrates the unsung heroes — dads who stay home to care for their children. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for my newest picture book, Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!
Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Kai Gietzen
Dad needs to get Boxer Baby down for her nap but she is not going down without a fight! This funny picture book told in three rounds includes boxing idioms. This picture book also celebrates the unsung heroes — dads who stay home to care for their children. [picture book, ages 3 and up]
And introducing illustrator Kai Gietzen! He is a recent graduate from Rhode Island School of Design. This is his picture book debut. To learn more, please check out his website and Instagram.
And now…
ta da…
Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime Kickstarter
I will be launching a Kickstarter project to bring Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime to life in mid-September with early-release hardcover books. They will be delivered in December. Stay tuned!
