“The Blue Bowl”: A Picture Book Exploring Identity and Culture Through the Power of Food and Family

Food has a way of telling stories, especially the ones that connect us to our families and cultural roots. In The Blue Bowl, Toronto-based author and illustrator Flo Leung captures this beautifully through the eyes of Max, a young boy learning to embrace both his Chinese and North American heritage, one delicious dish at a time. This tender, relatable story was recently nominated for the 2025 Blue Spruce Award from Forest of Reading®, and it’s quickly becoming a favourite among young readers, educators, and families alike. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Flo Leung about her inspiration for the book and what it means to share stories through food.

At Teachers on Call, we know that stories like The Blue Bowl offer much more than entertainment — they’re essential tools for fostering empathy, identity, and inclusion in young learners. Through Max’s journey of blending cultures at the dinner table, children are encouraged to reflect on their own backgrounds and traditions, or to learn about those of their classmates and friends. It’s a wonderful entry point for discussions around multiculturalism, belonging, and family traditions. That’s why our in-home and online reading tutors love  recommending picture books that capture a child’s imagination, spark meaningful conversations and build early literacy and comprehension skills in engaging, relatable, and sometimes delicious ways. Teachers on Call’s in-home and online tutoring service had the pleasure of interviewing Flo Leung when her debut picture book Tray of Togetherness was released in celebration of the Lunar New Year. We’re so pleased to welcome her back — check out that feature here, and keep reading for our most recent interview.

Where Young Readers Lead the Way: Inside the Forest of Reading

The Forest of Reading is Canada's largest recreational reading initiative, inviting students across the country to discover exceptional homegrown literature and vote for their favourites. Run by the Ontario Library Association, the program features ten award categories in both English and French, including the Blue Spruce Award for picture books. What sets this program apart is that kids are in charge: after reading the nominated titles, students cast their ballots each spring, making their voices heard and gaining firsthand experience with democratic participation. It all culminates in the Forest of Reading Festival, a vibrant celebration of literacy held at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8). At Teachers on Call, our in-home and online tutoring service is proud to champion programs like this that not only promote reading, but also build confidence, community, and civic engagement. We also appreciate that the Forest of Reading program features summer reading recommendations curated by its kid and teen committees—check them out here!

About the Author & Illustrator: Flo Leung

Flo Leung is a Canadian author and illustrator based in Toronto. With a background in the culinary arts and media, Flo has worked as a pastry cook, food stylist, and television producer. Her passion for storytelling and visual art shines in The Blue Bowl, a heartfelt picture book inspired by her own experiences growing up in a Chinese Canadian household. Through her vibrant illustrations and thoughtful writing, Flo explores themes of cultural identity, family traditions, and the joy of sharing meals — creating a story that resonates with readers of all ages.

Food, Family, and Finding Belonging: An Interview with Flo Leung

Does The Blue Bowl draw from your own experiences growing up in a multicultural family? Could you share a specific memory that inspired the story?

Yes! The Blue Bowl was inspired by an experience with my own family. My parents are from Hong Kong and moved to Toronto, where I was born and where we all still live. When my daughter was about 5 or 6, she started helping set the table for family meals. During visits to Grandma's, she noticed how differently her kitchen was organized; she had one cabinet for 'Western”-style dinner plates and forks, and a separate cabinet for Chinese tableware like rice bowls, ceramic soup spoons and chopsticks. Depending on the meal and who was cooking, we'd mix and match from these two setups. I grew up taking this for granted, but seeing it through my daughter's eyes made me realize it could be a wonderful way to talk about growing up with multiple cultures.

In the book, Max navigates the blend of Cantonese and North American cuisines. How do you see food as a bridge between cultures, and why was it central to your narrative?

I love this saying that often guides my work: “Food is not just good to eat; food is also good to think with.” Food is such an accessible way to explore our identities - just think about your own comfort foods and why they matter to you! It's also this immediate, tangible way to be curious about experiences different from our own. When we share meals, we're sharing stories about who we are and where we come from. In Max's story, the mango cake and spaghetti dinner aren't just dishes - they're conversations about belonging.

What do you hope young readers will take away from Max's journey in The Blue Bowl?

I hope young readers see that Max's relationship with both Cantonese and North American foods opens up opportunities to think about their own journeys growing up in multicultural environments. Food can be a delicious pathway for exploring where we come from and expressing who we are! I wanted to share a story where kids might recognize their own experiences of navigating different cultural influences, those moments of confusion, discovery, and ultimately joy in realizing that being connected to multiple cultures isn't about choosing one or the other, but embracing a unique blend that's all your own.

How do you envision educators using The Blue Bowl to facilitate discussions about identity and belonging among children?

I think what Max experiences has become increasingly common today. His journey explores this  “third culture” experience - growing up between cultures, with parents rooted in one tradition and children navigating another, sometimes with an entirely different language thrown in!

For educators, I hope The Blue Bowl offers a gentle 'side door' into conversations about identity and belonging. Rather than directly asking kids 'How do you feel about your cultural background?' (which could be overwhelming!), the story creates space to talk about something more tangible, like favourite foods or family traditions. These everyday elements become gateways to deeper discussions about what makes us who we are and how we find our place in the world. Plus, there's something so universal about food that makes these conversations accessible to all children, whether they share Max's specific experience or not.

As a Canadian author, how important is it for you to see diverse cultural representations in children's literature, and what impact do you hope this has on young readers?

As a Canadian author with Chinese heritage, I believe diverse representation in kids' books isn't just important, it’s essential! When children see themselves in stories, there's a wonderful "Hey, that's like me!" moment that validates their experiences. Being seen matters! Just as importantly, these stories help all kids develop empathy by introducing them to different lives and perspectives.

My relationship with cultural representation has evolved over time. It's been a journey of discovering how to honour my experiences while also exploring all the different aspects of my creative interests and lived experiences.

I wish for all children to feel that sense of belonging that comes from seeing themselves in stories. But I also hope these books show young readers that “cultural” experiences aren't exotic things that need explanation, they're simply part of everyday life. It’s essential that we continue to tell and share stories of our everyday lived experiences! I hope that through stories like The Blue Bowl, I can add my voice to this wonderful ongoing conversation.

Do you have a particular place or routine that helps you find creativity when working on your stories?

My creative process often orbits around the kitchen! I find myself sketching and writing while something tasty is in the works (I like to think snacking helps the ideas get going). There's something about the rhythm of cooking that helps my thoughts flow.

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At its heart, The Blue Bowl is a celebration of food as a powerful connector — a way for young readers to explore identity, heritage, and belonging. Flo Leung’s story invites children to discover culture through food, opening the door to thoughtful conversations that feel warm, relatable, and inclusive. At Teachers on Call, we love sharing books that spark curiosity while supporting literacy development and personal growth. If you enjoyed this feature, be sure to check out more of our Hooked on Books series, including our exclusive interviews with Waterloo-local Lisa Deresti Betik about Think Like a Goat and Vancouver-based Bambi Edlund’s book Operation Cupcake. Dive into the world of Canadian authors who are inspiring tomorrow’s readers, one story at a time.