Juan Calle – illustratör

Enjoy the first English children’s picture book on how Japan’s ramen noodles were created! Amazingly illustrated, this storybook features a glossary of Japanese terms. This is the first adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Together they learn how fantastic creations came to be and zip back to the future! This dynamic journey explores the invention of ramen. This quest is like Chef’s Table meets Back to the Future! The trio begins their trip in 1800’s Japan. They travel from the unpaved streets where pushcart vendors cooked to the growing capital of Tokyo. They witness the rise of instant ramen, Momofuku Ando’s Nissin cup of noodles, and now four star restaurants and celebrity chefs. Along the way, Dao and the kids visit ramen factories and museums and even zoom to outer space! Kids and educators will appreciate the story’s comprehensive scope and Japanese glossary.

Since nearly every city has a ramen restaurant, adults and kids will enjoy learning how their favorite noodles are made! Readers will discover how chefs use different broths and ingredients to boost the special flavor of umami (the savory fifth taste) to make delicious noodle soups. Along the way, teachers and librarians will appreciate how students eagerly absorb Japanese food history, culinary culture, and key words. Fans of cooking shows and home cooks will delight in the dynamic artwork which render tasty dishes in mouthwatering color to the point where you can smell the aroma coming off the printed pages. “Perhaps no dish says more about our hunger for Asian food today than ramen. This delightful tale shares the story of how this iconic noodle journeyed from China to worldwide acclaim as both comfort food and instant grub, beloved by bellies of all ages. Thanks for spreading awareness of Asian culture through its delicious cuisine!” — Danielle Chang, Founder of Luckyrice (www.luckyrice.com) and Creator of PBS TV series Lucky Chow

Explore the first English children’s picture book on how fireworks and gunpowder were created! This action-packed adventure features amazing illustrations which make history come alive. This is the second adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao transports the kids Emma and Ethan back in time to learn how fantastic creations came to be! This exciting journey investigates fireworks and gunpowder. It is like Globe Trekker meeting Back to the Future! The trio begins their trip 2,000 years ago in China! Alchemists discovered the secret formula for explosive powder and ancient dynasties used it.... even in war. Witness the evolution from flamethrower and bomb to gun and missile. However, fireworks also spread across the globe! Zip through the centuries to see how scientific advancements made new colors and shapes. Now everyone can celebrate happy occasions with dazzling light shows in the sky.

Adults and children will enjoy this sequel to The Discovery of Ramen like. This story vividly introduces interesting facts (even chemistry) with globe trotting. Readers will learn lessons never taught in school, plus see how these creations made possible modern pyrotechnics for festivals and holidays, from the Fourth of July to New Year’s. Discover more amazing inventions from The Asian Hall of Fame in the future! Teachers and librarians will appreciate how students eagerly absorb history, culture, and key words. Fans of comics and graphic novels will delight in the dynamic artwork, scenes so spectacular that you can see the sparkles and smell the smoke coming off the printed pages. “an immediate and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.” - Midwest Book Review

Enjoy the first English children’s picture book on how Japanese animation and comics were created! Amazingly illustrated, this storybook features a bilingual Japanese translation.This is the third adventure in our series on cool inventions created in Asia. The cute red panda Dao makes history come alive by transporting the kids Emma and Ethan back in time. Together they learn how fantastic creations came to be and zip back to the future! This dynamic journey explores the evolution of Japanese animation and comic books.Published in newspapers, magazines, books, and graphic novels, comics became TV shows, movies, and games. These entertainment brought Japanese pop culture across the globe and influenced artists everywhere.

This quest features 100 of your favorite characters and creators: from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma 1/2 to Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli and Totoro. Mazinger, Speed Racer, and Doraemon are joined by Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Pokémon. Mobile Suit Gundam, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell meet Full Metal Alchelmist, One Piece, and One Punch Man. Iconic and best-selling series are brought to life with the amazing artwork of Juan Calle, an otaku (big fan) himself.Adults and kids can learn about the categories shonen, shojo, and mecha (giant robots), use a handy glossary, and draw inspiration to create their own amazing stories. Teachers and librarians will find this a great addition to their comic book and graphic novel collections."The Discovery of Anime and Manga bursts from the page with energy and color. Informative and entertaining, it's a beautifully rendered concise introduction to manga and anime for not only children, but comics fans of all ages."- Dr. Dale Jacobs, Department of English, University of Windsor, Canada

Enjoy the best children's anthology of noteworthy Asian Americans. This compelling collection features 20 profiles with 60 action-packed, color illustrations.It's about time - rebel girls, rad women, little leaders, and great guys are Asian American too!Readers will enjoy learning about 20 groundbreaking citizens who have contributed to the USA.

Immigrants and their children continue to enrich America’s culture. Discover important chapters of U.S. history not covered in school textbooks, and the marvelous accomplishments of these trailblazers. Challenged by racism, prejudice, and stereotypes, these pioneers forged ahead and became role models for generations to come. Parents and children will enjoy learning about these compelling personalities. These captivating chapters make great reading for any hour, from book reports to bedtime stories. Teachers and librarians will use this contemporary collection as a relevant resource and an accessible reference. Artist Juan Calle’s 60 dynamic color illustrations bring these fascinating and informative portraits to life."I really enjoyed your book, a great mix of Asian-Americans from different fields and countries, with many types of stories that should inspire young readers. I learned a lot!" - Milton Chen, Senior Fellow, George Lucas Educational Foundation