Discover Fortune Cookies for Everyone by Mia Wenjen—a thoughtful picture book review exploring food history, Japanese American culture, and learning activities for kids.
Fortune Cookies for Everyone! isn’t just a picture book about a treat — it’s a bridge into history, identity, and cultural storytelling. Through the gentle voice of Grandma Miyako and her grandchildren’s curiosity, Mia Wenjen shares the surprising Japanese origins of the fortune cookie and the stories of people who shaped it.
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I received this book as a book reviewer with Read Your World.
Fortune Cookies for Everyone Book Review
Fortune Cookies for Everyone by Mia Wenjen is one of those picture books that surprises you—in the very best way. What begins as a familiar family moment around a takeout meal slowly unfolds into a rich, meaningful story about history, culture, and the hidden stories behind something many of us take for granted.
The story is framed through a grandmother, Miyako, sharing fortune cookies with her grandchildren. As they crack open the cookies, she begins to tell them the real story of where fortune cookies came from. Like many readers, I assumed fortune cookies were a Chinese tradition, so learning about their Japanese roots immediately caught my attention.
The book thoughtfully explores the friendly rivalry between San Francisco and Los Angeles, while also honoring Makoto Hagiwara, whose creativity and ingenuity helped bring fortune cookies into American culture.
Why This Book Matters
This book stands out because it:
- Celebrates cultural history and immigrant contributions
- Tells a real origin story of something familiar in a way kids find fascinating
- Invites curiosity and conversation about fairness, resilience, and community
- Pairs beautiful illustrations with rich narrative detail
What makes this book especially powerful is how gently—but honestly—it introduces young readers to Japanese American history, including the impact of World War II and the Japanese internment camps. These difficult topics are woven into the narrative with care, making them accessible for children while opening the door for important conversations about resilience, injustice, and perseverance.
Children and adults alike will close the book feeling both enriched and inspired — and more aware of how food and culture are woven together across generations.
Book Details
- Title: Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat
- Written by: Mia Wenjen
- Illustrated by: Colleen Kong-Savage
- Publisher: Red Comet Press
- Grades: Kindergarten – 3
Illustration Highlights
Colleen Kong-Savage’s cut-paper collage illustrations are absolutely stunning. The artwork feels warm and inviting, filled with beautiful details and Japanese design motifs that bring the story to life. Every page invites you to slow down, look closely, and talk about what you notice—making it a wonderful book for shared reading at home or in the classroom.
Book Trailer
A Virtual Field Trip Inspired by Fortune Cookies for Everyone
Extend your child’s learning beyond the pages of Fortune Cookies for Everyone with this engaging virtual field trip! These videos bring the story to life by exploring the real people, places, and processes behind the fortune cookie.
From visiting the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco—where Makoto Hagiwara shared his creativity with the world—to seeing how fortune cookies are made by hand and in modern factories, this collection invites children to connect history, culture, and food in a meaningful way.
Makoto Hagiwara Japanese Tea Garden
Japanese Tea Garden | Golden Gate Park San Francisco
Paper Fortune Cookie Tutorial
Original Fortune Cookie Machine
How to Make Fortune Cookies at Golden Gate Fortune Cookies
Fortune Cookie Factory
You can watch how Fortune Cookies are made now in factories
Where Do Fortune Cookies Actually Come From?
Fortune Cookie Recipe for Home
If you enjoyed this book, your family will also love from Mia Wenjen:
- Traveling Taco — food history and culture through a journey of tastes
- Food for the Future — a look at food, invention, and possibilities
Whether you’re learning at home or in the classroom, these videos offer a wonderful opportunity to spark curiosity, ask questions, and deepen understanding of how traditions evolve over time. Grab a snack, gather your learners, and take a delicious journey through history—no travel required!
Final Thoughts About Fortune Cookies for Everyone
Fortune Cookies for Everyone is more than a story about a popular treat. It’s a celebration of immigrant contributions, cultural identity, and the messages—both literal and figurative—that are passed down through generations. Sweet, informative, and deeply meaningful, this is a must-read for curious kids and a fantastic addition to classroom, school, and home libraries.
If your family enjoys books that blend history, culture, and food, this one is sure to spark thoughtful conversations long after the last fortune is read.
Read Your World 2026 (1/29/26) is in its 14th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves.
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