Fortune Cookies for everyone

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Comet Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1636551599
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1636551593

Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian):
The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat.

by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by
Colleen Kong-Savage

An investigative picture book that cracks the cookie open to discover what is known about the origins of everyone’s favorite crunchy after-dinner treat – a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.

Grandma Miyako hosts her grandchildren for a takeout meal. Of course, at the end of the meal, she hands out the fortune cookies and begins to share the story of this popular treat with the attentive children as they munch on them. She claims she knew the true inventor of the fortune cookie, but the history is not so clear. Using “fortunes” as headings, each section of the book delivers an episode in the unusual history of the fortune cookie and lays out the great debate about where and when they were first made. 

“This delightful picture book blends family warmth and cultural history with an inside look at a favorite after-meal treat. . . With vibrant paper-collage illustrations and engaging text, this title is more than just a history; it’s a tribute to the dreams and resilience of ethnic communities, offering a unique view of U.S. history while celebrating the everyday magic of family, food, traditions, and shared stories.”—Booklist

FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE has been recognized by the California Reading Association in the Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Awards!

FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!