Tricky Chopsticks

by Sylvia Chen, Fanny Liem (Illustrator)

In this story loosely inspired by Chen's childhood, a girl determined to hold her own in her family's annual chopsticks challenge creates a solution through STEAM trial and error to master those slippery, oh-so-tricky chopsticks.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Childrens, Cultural, Aapi, Family, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Sylvia is an Asian American children’s book author, with her debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS recently published in 2024 by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster and newest picture book SPARKLES FOR SUNNY: A Lunar New Year Story published in December 2025 by Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House. As a former science fair competitor, Juilliard Pre-College piano alumni, statistics major at Columbia University, and avid researcher for both lab and market needs, her goal now is to craft picture books that spark kids’ interest in STEAM and creative thinking. She often stays up late into the night puzzling away with wordplay and working on quirky ideas. Visit her at sylviaichen.com or on Instagram/other social media @SylviaiChen.

Represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary.

Reviews

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all had that feeling of being the ONLY one who can't do something that everyone else seems to think is easy. Kids will root for Jenny as she tries everything she can think of to manipulate her chopsticks, but to no avail. I liked that her solution was ingenious but also true to life and something that kids could actually try themselves -- instructions in the back matter show them how. This was a fun read!

[Phobean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and clever book about a little girl whose family and friends are all proficient chopstick users, while she is lagging behind. I enjoyed her problem-solving sequence, and her adjustments later in the book. That said I think my absolute favorite part was the illustrations by Fanny Liem, particularly all of the mouths. This book has my favorite mouths—so expressive! I appreciated the end notes, and the author’s descriptions of how to fold one’s own chopsticks-assist origami.

[Steena Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful picture book follows Jenny, who struggles using her tricky chopsticks. Told with fun-filled text, onomatopoeia, and clever wordplay, this story makes a wonderful read aloud. Readers can enjoy the playful and relatable illustrations as Jenny discovers her own creative way to use her chopsticks. A detailed guide on how to make your own non-tricky chopsticks is included at the end of the book.

[Stephanie Lucianovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this wonderfully delightful read that will make you smile, laugh, and get very VERY hungry! I cannot think of a kid or adult who won't relate to having difficulty mastering a technique or skill that they feel they should have been adept at long ago.

Great for teachers/parents/caregivers looking to showcase growth mindsets and creative problem solving.

[Suhasini Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fun read-aloud filled with onomatopoeias and wonderful illustrations. It is a delightful story about Jenny finding creative ways to use chopsticks through persistence and perseverance. This is a must-have book for the classroom.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, beautifully illustrated story showcasing frustration, determination, and creativity. Includes an author’s note and STEAM activity.

[Eleanor Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricky Chopsticks is a charming and educational read that will captivate young readers and spark their curiosity about the world around them. With its blend of storytelling, STEAM tie-ins, and interactive activities, this book is sure to become a favorite among children and educators alike.
The narrative skillfully weaves in valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of embracing challenges. Jenny Chow’s determination to master chopsticks is an inspiring example for young readers, encouraging them to tackle obstacles with confidence and creativity. Written with warmth and humor, it is a must-read for anyone curious about Chinese traditions and a delightful addition to any library. It also includes fun activities in the backmatter.

[Sara Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I ordered for my library the moment I heard about it, and when I finally got to read it, it did not disappoint! Following the story of Jenny Chow, who must come up with a solution for her chopstick troubles in order to succeed at the family Chopsticks “Chow-llenge,” this picture book has so many hooks I knew it justified a space on our overstuffed shelves. It's an engaging read aloud with fun onomatopoeia and appealing illustrations with many entry points for young readers. I love the cultural connections and the possibility for STEM extensions, not to mention instructions for a hands-on activity at the end. Chopsticks are tricky for lots of kids and Jenny's plight is relatable for anyone who has had a similar challenge mastering a fine motor skill.

[Kelly Rice Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7 year old daughter particularly loves this story and how the main character does not give up despite her nerves. She practices and keeps trying until she finds the way that works for her (using STEM thinking!!) Cheery art, humor, lovely inclusion Chinese characters throughout, and Back matter showing how to make the origami star tool Jenny uses of top off this charming story. Highly recommend!

[Melissa Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful STEAM story by Sylvia Chen illustrated by Fanny Liem. Jenny Chow perseveres through many slippery trials as she learns to master using chopsticks with her clever solution. Full of fun onomatopoeia, great illustrations and active prose, Tricky Chopsticks, is perfect for anyone struggling to learn a challenging skill—especially when it seems to come so easily to others around them.

[Kate DeMaio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricky Chopsticks is a fun, relatable story packed with delightful onomatopoeia. I love the solution Jenny comes up with to solve her chopsticks troubles and I'm so glad there is backmatter so others can learn from Jenny too!

[Lorellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book about continuing to try to learn, even when something is difficult. It has pretty illustrations and even a tutorial about making your own origami star rig, so that you too could get a little help learning to use chopsticks.

[Jessica Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, engaging book and love the onomatopoeia! I can relate to Jenny so much as someone who still often struggles to use chopsticks well. Such a lovely book with wonderful illustrations!

[Maryalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As she tries to master the art of using chopsticks with a variety of Asian cuisine, Jenny Chow struggles. To make matters worse, her older cousin laughs and notes that even her little sister can use chopsticks. Worried she’ll be “the only Chow ever who never learned how to use chopsticks,” Jenny is determined to learn before her cousin Victor’s upcoming birthday celebration and annual chopsticks challenge. When sticky, bumpy, and rough chopsticks still wobble, Jenny is about to give up. But an origami star and another kitchen gadget inspire her to get creative. With a little innovation and a few adjustments, Jenny has the perfect way to practice using chopsticks (without the food mess). But will Jenny’s new invention work at Victor’s party, or will the others notice and make fun of her?

THOUGHTS: Anyone who’s ever tried (and failed) to eat with chopsticks, will root for Jenny! Even for young readers who have little to no experience with chopsticks, this title will serve as a great STEM/STEAM jumping off point. A great challenge would be to move small objects, stack blocks, or create the origami star at the end of the book. Highly recommended for elementary collections looking to add STEM/STEAM titles or authentic cultural representation.

[Waverli Almand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the instructions at the end for creating tong-chopsticks and the wet marble game! Being raised in a Wasian household was similar in the pressure to immediately grasp the concept of chopsticks, and fun games like that would have made the experience much more fun as a kid.

[Ryann Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story with cool onomatopoeia. The different attempts to learn chopsticks are relatable and the solution she comes up with is so clever. Love the message of perseverance!

[Jessica Stremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I really enjoyed this book!

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a gorgeous, hilarious and relatable book. Sylvia's playful texts and Fanny's beautiful art are perfectly paired. I also love the backmatter including educational solution for handling the tricky chopsticks!

[Pamela Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I saw a dumpling flying through the air coupled with the most amazing sound words. Teachers diving into onomatopoeia will have a blast sharing the fun of using words to create sounds. Oh how engaging this book is! I love the persistence of the character Jenny Chow and her critical engineering to problem solve. Page after page the journey of Jenny's growth through the story delighted. Sylvia Chen and illustrator Fanny Leim do such a great job in creating just the right amount of tension. This is a "will you read it again" moment for sure.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRICKY CHOPSTICKS is a fun and fresh approach to tackling a challenge and not giving up. The use of lively language, sound effects, and delightful illustrations makes this a wonderful, laugh-out-loud read aloud for children. Jenny Chow is a relatable character that readers will root for and I would love to see her embark on more adventures in the future! Also, the illustrated How-To Make DIY Chopstick Tongs section at the end provides an exciting extension for young readers.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny is frustrated by chopsticks. She is the only one that cannot use them successfully in her family and she swears even the wait staff at a restaurant notice. When using tongs, Jenny gets an idea and tries a new way to practice using chopsticks to eat.

WOW!!! I love not only this sweet story of trial and error before a STEAM intervention manages to give hope for success. I will definitely be adding this book to both of my elementary library collections!

[Christina Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to fall in love with Jenny Chow as she faces the challenges of using chopsticks! This fun and playful story is filled with perseverance and ingenuity. It will leave readers wanting to create a chopsticks competition of their own, and feeling empowered to face whatever challenges come their way.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jenny’s “never give up” attitude. She’s the only one in her family who can’t get the hang of using chopsticks. It’s maddening! It’s embarrassing! Why can’t using chopsticks be as easy as origami. Wait a minute! With a little origami ingenuity, and a lot of practice, Jenny learns to hold her own.

[Leah Meskowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book shows different languages. I also struggle to use chopsticks and I have seen this trick before. I love that at the beginning she struggled compared to everyone else but by the end of the book she was almost better than everyone else.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously awesome.

[Brinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun picture book full of chopstick mishaps and a main character whose determination and creativity save the day. The author note was also a great connection.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I liked that she used the star for her chopsticks. I can sort of use chopsticks.” - Lucas

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and encouraging story of a young girl working through the challenge of mastering chopsticks. I liked that she came up with a solution on her own and didn’t give up.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Jenny Chow has always struggled with using chopsticks, even though her family has a tradition of having a contest to see who can use them best in challenges picking up different foods and items. With her cousin Victor's birthday approaching, and another contest on the horizon, she throws herself into another attempt to master these tricky utensils. Noticing that tongs are easiest to use because they are connected, she uses her STEM and origami skills to connect her chopsticks and use an origami star to separate the sticks. With a little experimentation, she gets the star placed just right, so that she is able to pick things up. She practices diligently and improves her skills, but is afraid that her family will disqualify her for having changed the chopsticks. When the time comes to pick things up, she finds that closing her eyes seems to help, to the amazement of her family.

I love that Jenny take a critical look at her problem and works methodically to solve it. Wooden chopsticks are less slippery, but even they are not easy to use. Once she finds a way to make it easier to manipulate the sticks, it's good to see her persistence at practicing with them. Her family competition is friendly, and while she is anxious about what others think, she is dealing with gentle criticism, and everyone around her seems supportive. (A waiter even brings her a fork for her dim sum, which is, of course, mortifying to her!)

There are lots of different Chinese foods mentioned, and some of the labels on the items, as well as Jenny's comments, are in Chinese characters, but it's not clear what dialect is used. The drawings are clear, and the text is a good size for read alouds, although this is an excellent choice for a young reader wanting to read a book alone as well.

Between the STEM investigation and the different kinds of foods, this book begs to be used for a variety of projects. It would be good to read a long with Lin's very complete Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods, Li and Choi's much shorter A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food, Lin's Dim Sum for Everyone, or (of course!) Compestine's The Story of Chopsticks.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an all-around cute book. There is so much to love. First is the main character, Jenny. Her determination and perseverance are sure to inspire children who read this book to keep trying and never give up.

Second is the story that uses onomatopoeia words, such as: Kah-Chah! Peep-Pop-Pop!, and D-dong-doooning! Each with Chinese lettering underneath to name a few.

Third is Jenny's ingenuity. How she uses household tongs to pick out the cooking Zóngzi (I had to look that one up, so I learned a new word) and thinks she could use that idea to make Chopstick Tongs using an origami lucky star and two small rubber bands.  After the disastrous of last year's TOSS THE POM-POM'S CHALLENGE, she practices for days using her new invention until her little sister says she can't use her contraption for this year's All-New CHOW-LLENGE is CUPCAKES, which is taking place at her cousin Victor's Birthday Party. Jenny knows he will laugh at her. But when she takes apart the hinge she made with the lucky star, it isn't so hard to use the chopsticks, so with a little more practice, she goes to the party and rocks the cupcake challenge.

Fourth, Fanny's illustrations are fabulous. She brought Jenny to life with perfect facial expressions, and the little details she included throughout the book are perfect. This book and Fanny's illustrations will have kids laughing and wanting to turn every page and keep them coming back to read over and over again.

Fifth, parents and teachers will love the instructions at the end of the book for HOW TO MAKE A DIY CHOPSTICK TONGS USING AN ORIGAMI LUCKY STAR. 

Sixth, I love Sylvia's author note, where she talks about how her mother used to set up two bowls filled with water and put in marbles so Sylvia and her sisters could compete to see who could remove the most marble the fastest with their chopsticks. I can't even imagine how you could get one marble out. It doesn't sound possible. Of course, I always have the Chinese restaurant hinge the two sticks together for me.