Chopsticks Are

by Chloe Ito Ward, Lynn Scurfield (Illustrator)

Chopsticks are our sous‑chefs in the kitchen. They are shape, texture, and art. They are also remembering, celebration, and good luck. Learn about the countless things these utensils can be in this picture book.

Why do we love chopsticks? Let us count the ways! Chopsticks can be so many

A baton for blending, swirling, whirling . . .

slender fingers, perfect for picking up cheese puffs and navigating natto . . .

a tradition, an offering, a celebration . . .

and so much more than we can imagine.

This picture book celebrates how chopsticks are used by people all over the world. Learn about how chopsticks are used in different cultures and countries, and join in the celebration of this multifaceted utensil.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Nonfiction, Childrens, Cultural, Cooking

44 pages, Hardcover

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Chloe is the author of LOVE GROWS HERE, illustrated by Violet Kim, ​MADE FOR MORE, illustrated by Gael Abary, and forthcoming picture books Chopsticks Are (March, 2026) & All the Ways We Learn (July, 2026).



A former curriculum director, Chloe has a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent the last decade teaching kindergarten, where she discovered her passion for picture books.​​

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When Chloe isn’t perfecting her ramen recipe, you can find her rock climbing or chasing her husband, son, and their imaginary dog Miso across Kalapaki beach.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this book visually appealing from the cover art to the end pages, but this simple explanation of chopstick use across Asian cultures is impressively done. I cannot stop pouring over the illustrations in this book and all that is credit to Lynn Scurfield who obviously poured her own heart into this book! (As a Canadian, the book is not open to a Caldecott nomination, but it deserves it!) Ward is a master at simple text creating connections for readers and this shows beautifully in this lovely book! Learn about the different cultures, the different foods, and the different art of chopsticks in this beautiful book. I am in awe of the diversity in the illustrations, but the work of Ward to encourage the connecting of cultures around a tool that is used all around the world. I have always seen chopsticks as art and I am glad that there is a book to prove it for my elementary students! I cannot wait to share this book for May's Asian American and Pacific Islander Month!

[Nazanin Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way this picture book offered a lot of information about chopsticks, the cultures they come from and represent, and also an array of people sharing those cultures. Reminisent of FRY BREAD, the spare text captures all the various ways that chopsticks are part of Asian heritage and identity; as the narrative follows the variety of chopstick types and uses, it also tells the story of families and friends across multiple cultures. The vibrant art draws the reader's attention to detailed representations of different Asian foods and traditions, exploring both similarities and differences as rich vignettes and lush scenes. Backmatter provides ample information for further discussion and potential activities. I can see this being used in multiple types of settings to understand, share, and celebrate chopsticks and especially the cultures and peoples that use them.

[Yashika Mody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful and engaging ode to chopsticks - both poetic and lyrical, as well as educational to help kids understand how and where chopsticks are used around the world. I appreciated how multiple countries and cultures are represented, and unique ways of using chopsticks are highlighted (including for Western foods like chips to keep our hands clean!). Lovely backmatter sharing more details about the origins of chopsticks and the fun food index for kids to explore new foods (and use chopsticks to try them!). It is evident that the text has been deeply researched and is authentic and true to many cultures around the world. A great book for any culture and food-loving kid, and classrooms learning more about different cultures around the world!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical and contemporary overview of chopsticks around the world, but specifically in Asian countries where they are the primary utensil at the table but also in the kitchen as a whole. The book includes a few pages of back matter that provide even more context.

The illustrations and color palette are one of my favorite parts but the learning in this nonfiction picture book about what chopsticks are is just as amazing. It details things like how they're made and the types of them based on what you're doing with them, even that they have different names depending on when they're used. There are dos and don'ts. But ultimately they are a force for community and food so what's not to love when it's done right like this picture book?

[Kimberly Shrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Chopsticks Are, and OH, how I love it! This is a great non-fiction picture book that touches on many points of Asian cuisine, culture and traditions using chopsticks as the thread connecting them. A fair warning that you will absolutely be hungry when reading this book. The rich, sensory language combined with the lush illustrations will absolutely make you want to dive into a bowl of pho with the quickness. The backmatter is also top tier with a directory of the different foods featured in the book, along with a brief history of chopsticks and rules for their use. Highly recommend for kids and grown-ups alike!

[Jolene Gutiérrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book! Gorgeous illustrations accompany a lovely story about all of the things a chopstick can be. As readers explore the uses of chopsticks, they'll also see a wide variety of beautiful foods from different places. I love that the information at the back of the book names the food and the country of origin. The rich back matter also gives more information about chopsticks including how they're used in different places, some of the rules for using them, and more. Highly recommended for all schools, homes, and libraries!

[Kamilla Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous story! This book is a beautiful journey through the many types of chopsticks and their uses in different countries and cultures. There’s so much more to chopsticks than I realized and I loved learning about them through the lyrical writing in this story. The author’s comparisons brilliantly integrate multiple aspects of culture and history into the scenes. The book’s illustrations pull you right into the scenes with warm colours and lots of motion, showcasing the rich diversity this book explores. I’ll be rereading this many times.

[Jessica Goecke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a celebration of a tool that has been around for centuries and is deeply rooted in so many cultures. The art is bright and dynamic, and the text is simple, yet wonderfully lyrical. It is really fun to read aloud, and there is plenty for even the youngest readers to pore over in the illustrations. I like that this book also introduces readers to different cuisines, and the back matter provides deeper information about the history of chopsticks. I actually learned a lot--and I grew up with hashi!

[Alexandra MH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I could spend all day with this book! Gorgeous illustrations bring to life a lyrical ode to a familiar kitchen item, that is so much more than a way to eat food. No matter where you are in the world, each page masterfully weaves together the familiar and the novel, making the world feel at once interconnected and expansive. Informative backmatter is just as engaging as the main story. I absolutely love that there is a food index with the names and origins of different dishes featured in the text. I'll never look at chopsticks the same way!

[Trenise. Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Chloe Ito Ward has done it again!

CHOPSTICKS ARE is a lyrical, joyful celebration of one of the oldest eating tools known to man. But the book doesn't just focus on the history of chopsticks -- through Chloe's lucious text and Lynn Scurfield's gorgeous art, we learn about the different kinds of chopsticks, their various textures, details and just how integral chopsticks are in every-day joys, both big and small. A must-read for families looking for books that offer cultural exploration in a fun, accessible, and delicious way!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re like me, you probably haven’t given much thought to chopsticks. They’re just two wooden sticks that can be tricky to use, right? WRONG! This delightful book shows us just how amazing chopsticks truly are! From preparing food to eating it, to the various types of chopsticks, to celebration, ritual, and honor—there is more to chopsticks than meets the eye! Come for the fascinating info and stay for the beautiful eye-popping art. You don’t want to miss this one!

[Samantha Farr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me very hungry for so many types of foods! What a beautiful, colorful, diverse book filled with food, family, traditions, and with so many nationalities and peoples represented. The illustrations are stunning and contain so much life and movement and, again, food. Did I mention how hungry this book made me? This is a great book for kiddos to learn about different cultures (the back matter is awesome) and different foods and ways to eat those foods.

[Andrew Hacket · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous and educational tribute to chopsticks written with the lyrical beauty that you can always expect from Chloe Ito Ward. This beautiful book will expand your thinking about chopsticks while also making you hungry with the delicious illustrations. Educational back matter takes the book to the next level providing readers the opportunity to dig deeper into the history and rules of chopsticks.

[Claire Bobrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this ode to chopsticks: their global appeal, uses, and so much more. Foods and traditions are cleverly interwoven with various settings and gatherings, all gorgeously illustrated. The text is sparse but rich with sensory detail and a range of lip-smacking dishes, and the backmatter provides an even deeper picture of the importance and popularity of chopsticks around the world. High recommended!

[Nathan Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book! It turns a regular thing billions of people use every day into something super interesting, by showing the different ways it can be part of meals, traditions, and celebrations around the world. The illustrations are colorful and lively, sure to keep your kids interested and engaged. If your kids are curious about chopsticks, the variety of cultures that use them, or just yummy food, this book makes that curiosity fun and easy to explore together.

[Dazzle Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the use of chopsticks as an entry point into getting to know so many similar-but-different cultures. My foremost notion of chopsticks is the disposable, breakable kind. It was fascinating to see many others shining in the spotlight—some I’ve encountered before, one or two new. In the end, the reader takes away that the use and meaning of something so seemingly simple—a pair of sticks!—can span great lengths and depths. A beautiful, rich (and tasty!) read.

[Jessica Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous picture book celebrating chopsticks and their significance in different cultures, traditions, families, and more. The lyrical writing is spare but beautiful, and the illustrations are vibrant, popping off the page. This lovely ode to chopsticks will win over readers of all backgrounds and encourage them to find their own special connection to chopsticks as they use (and learn to use) them!

[Jana Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful celebration of chopsticks and their significance to many countries around the world. The writing is exquisite—so lovely and poetic. I was drawn in by all the sensory language and hungry for the foods shown throughout the book in the fantastic illustrations. I loved learning about different types of chopsticks, all the the ways to use them, and how they are so much more than a tool for food.

[Jenna Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book made me hungry! I learned so much about chopsticks and came away with a new understanding and appreciation for this utensil. And the art is gorgeous. Stunning, really. There is so much detail that I want to go back and read it through again and again to make sure I didn't miss anything. The back matter and author's note are the cherry on top. Overall a wonderful book that belongs in every school, library, and home!

[HELEN ZAX · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! CHOPSTICKS ARE is a joyous celebration of chopsticks. Ward’s lyrical narrative details the many kinds of chopsticks, their many uses, and the lovely traditions they serve. The story flawlessly shares fascinating information about Japanese culture. Terrific illustrations by Scurfield and informative end matter help to make this book a treat.

[Louise M. Aamodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew there were so many kinds of, and uses for, chopsticks! Come along on a cultural journey around the world to discover more about this ordinary-turned-extraordinary household item. This lyrical, sensory delight also shares art, clothing, customs, and more from many cultures. Be sure to linger over the interesting back matter.

[Karen Gebbia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and spare lyrical text weave facts about the different types and uses of chopsticks around the world together with heart-lifting emotional connections among families and cultures. The author manages to do this without ever sounding didactic or teach-y. Every kid who has ever used or wanted to try chopsticks will appreciate this book.

[Johanna Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

With immersive illustrations and lyrical text, this book opens up the minds of readers to all that chopsticks are and have been both practically and emotionally. Plus with detailed backmatter on where chopsticks were invented and rules for use, this book offers so much to readers. Its a joy to read.

[Tonnye Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous book! From the text that pops, hisses, and sings to the full-circle illustrations, this is a book that will appeal to kids (and adults) of all ages! Full of beautiful chopsticks and how they impact the world. I love the backmatter! So rich! This one deserves re-reads to digest all the color, beautiful words, amazing facts and plain fun!

[Karen Yin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've used chopsticks my whole life, and never have I read a book that loves on chopsticks like this. Chopsticks are not a monolith, and learning about the endless variations, shapes, and purposes of these two sticks warmed my cranky heart. Gorgeously detailed art befriends the poetic prose—I swear I recognize a few of the people. So, so well done.

[Carren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chopsticks aren't just Chinese or Japanese, they are used in a wide variety of cultures that Chloe Ito Ward successfully shows in her book, "Chopsticks Are." Beautifully illustrated by Lynn Scurfield, the book takes readers on a trip all around Asia to show how chopsticks are made, used, and loved in so many different contexts.

[Jessica Stremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Chloe Ito Ward does an amazing job at communicating the role chopsticks play in so many different communities. The illustrations are gorgeous. This book begs to be read again and again as you take in all of the detail. I especially love the rich back matter. Highly recommend for any home or school library.

[Alicia Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is BURSTING with sensory language and alliterative magic, highlighting how chopsticks are treasured for different traditions and in different cultures. From page to page, chopsticks are shown as "works of art". I especially loved the spread featuring chopsticks and food from around the world. Stunning illustrations! A must-have!

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an engaging book about the rich diversity of chopsticks! Brimming with delicious foods, family, and connection, Chopsticks Are is an absolutely delightful read. I also loved the back matter, which includes more information about the history of chopsticks and various chopstick rules. I highly recommend!

[Analene Go · Rating 5 out of 5]

The endpapers in this book are so precious. I wish I could collect every pair of chopsticks featured! The illustrations and playful text demonstrate the ways in which chopsticks are used, their linked traditions and yummy foods from all around the world. The back matter is super interesting, especially the rules of using chopsticks from different cultures.