Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within a dense forest, there lived a mysterious old woman. People referred to her as the cruel witch due to her dark and eerie appearance. The village folks would often catch a glimpse of her through the creaky windows of her dilapidated cottage, which stood tall among the gnarled trees. The cruel witch ornamented her house with all kinds of disturbing objects. Bats, snakes, and even skulls adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of fear and dread for anyone who dared to approach. However, the most peculiar and haunting ornament was a peculiar doll she hung outside her front door.
Wang includes an author’s note to help readers understand the naming conventions used in the book, a pronunciation guide for names and terms readers encounter in the story, and an afterword to provide readers with more information about Ando. Readers can use this information as a starting point for additional research on the topic. Wang also enriches the story with several quotations from Ando himself. A bibliography with the sources of these quotations is available on her website.
When Ando arrives home, the mood of the illustrations becomes lighter, with more color and white space, but he looks determined as he works to find a way to feed the hungry. Activity Kit Developed by Curious City, the Magic Ramen Activity Kit focuses on both Ando s mission to feed the hungry and his tireless use of STEM experimentation to create a magic ramen that is would result in no more empty stomachs and no more high prices for food.
However, the most peculiar and haunting ornament was a peculiar doll she hung outside her front door. This doll was no ordinary doll; it was a life-sized replica of the witch herself. Its beady black eyes seemed to follow all those who passed by the cottage, casting a foreboding feeling upon the village.
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando
Inspiration struck when Momofuku Ando spotted the long lines for a simple bowl of ramen following World War II. Magic Ramen tells the true story behind the creation of one of the world’s most popular foods.
Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab—a little shed in his backyard. For years, he’d dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he’d seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed.
Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting.
With persistence, creativity, and a little inspiration, Momofuku Ando succeeded. This is the true story behind one of the world’s most popular foods.
- Curriculum Connections
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In her second picture book, Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando, Andrea Wang artfully describes the work behind the invention of instant ramen. This non-fiction story is set in Japan in 1946, only a year after the end of World War II. One evening after work Ando is walking home through Osaka when he sees people waiting in line for ramen noodle soup. The text on these pages is accompanied by powerful illustrations that clearly convey a city in ruins and the hunger of the people. Illustrator Kana Urbanowicz’s use of dark colors and careful attention to detail, such as the small clouds that form when people breathe in the freezing air, help readers to empathize with the cold, hungry people. When Ando arrives home, the mood of the illustrations becomes lighter, with more color and white space, but he looks determined as he works to find a way to feed the hungry.
Ando begins to develop inexpensive but nourishing food products, eventually focusing on instant ramen. His trial-and-error process is cleverly illustrated in manga-like panels showing each new attempt juxtaposed with its failed outcome. After Ando has success creating noodles, his persistence is again tested as he searches for a way to easily turn them into soup, depicted in another set of panels. Finally, Ando holds a bowl of noodles above his head, victorious, before a scene of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Wang explains how Ando’s whole family assists in preparing the ramen and shows Ando’s demonstration of the noodles for prospective customers.
Wang includes an author’s note to help readers understand the naming conventions used in the book, a pronunciation guide for names and terms readers encounter in the story, and an afterword to provide readers with more information about Ando. Readers can use this information as a starting point for additional research on the topic. Wang also enriches the story with several quotations from Ando himself. A bibliography with the sources of these quotations is available on her website.
In addition to being a focal piece of the book, Urbanowicz’s illustrations provide observant readers with several clues about the story as well. Even the book’s endpapers are an excellent example: the endpapers at the beginning of the book include the ingredients Ando used to make his noodles, while those at the end feature bowls and packages of noodles.
Magic Ramen is based on the universal theme of scarcity, more specifically the scarcity that occurs after war. This ties closely to the literary theme of survival, as Ando searches for a way to help meet the need for cheap but nutritious food. Wang’s text also incorporates the literary themes of perseverance, the quest for discovery, and, to a lesser extent, the importance of family.
This book provides many avenues for interdisciplinary exploration and numerous entry points for students. While the text is designed for readers ages four to eight, the illustrations and ideas will also appeal to students in middle school and high school, particularly as a wide variety of students will have eaten ramen.
One main theme, perseverance, is universally applicable to students. Students of all grade levels can identify with the trial-and-error process that Ando conducts before his success. Students can be asked to relate these experiences to goals and experiences in their own lives. Seeing how Ando learned from his setbacks can be used as a tool to help students reframe their setbacks as well.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, various types of foods were not available in grocery stores in the United States. Middle school and high school students are old enough to be aware of these scarcities. From a historical perspective, the scarcities of the pandemic can be compared to food scarcities in postwar Japan as students explore what items were scarce and the causes of the scarcity. From a science perspective, the lesson could explore nutritional guidelines and requirements for health in conjunction with the nutritional content of available foods. Language arts could be incorporated if students conduct research into other foods invented during times of scarcity.
Throughout the text, Ando participates in a design process, searching for the best ingredients and methods with which to create his noodles. This can serve as a springboard for students of all grade levels to explore the engineering design process in a science class or unit on food. Students could also try to make their own noodles or use media to learn more about the noodle-making process.
Social Studies Standards (C3 Framework)
- His.14.3-5. Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.
- His.16.3-5. Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.
- Geo.11.K-2. Explain how the consumption of products connects people to distant places.
Science Standards (Next Generation Science Standards)
- HS-LS1-7. Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed, resulting in a net transfer of energy.
- MS-LS1-7. Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.
- MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
- MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
- MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
English Language Arts Standards (Common Core State Standards)
- ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.7. Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).
- ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
Author: Jennifer Smith, teacher of 7th and 8th grade language arts, Illinois Virtual School
Teacher’s Guide, created by Anna Chan Rekate, 2019
Fill out the online form to access the NCTA webinar with author Andrea Wang
Junior Library Guild Selection
School Library Journal Starred Review
Smithsonian Ten Best Children’s Books of 2019
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) Best Books of 2019
Some claimed that it possessed a malevolent energy, with rumors spreading that anyone who touched the doll would fall victim to a dreadful curse. Children in the village dreaded walking past the witch's cottage, with tales of the doll's eerie magic being passed down from one generation to the next. They would make sure to avoid eye contact with the doll and would run past the cottage as quickly as their little legs would carry them. The cruel witch seemed to take great pleasure in the terror her ornament evoked among the villagers. As the years went by, the villagers grew accustomed to the doll's presence, albeit with a lingering sense of unease. Some even began to wonder if the tales of its curse were merely concocted stories to keep children away. Yet, none were brave enough to challenge the cruel witch or tamper with the sinister ornament. One dark and stormy night, a young girl from the village named Lily found herself lost in the forest. Rain poured heavily, drenching her to the bone. Seeking shelter, she stumbled upon the witch's cottage hidden among the trees. Lily hesitated, knowing the tales of the cruel witch and her horrifying ornament. But in this moment of desperation, she had no other choice. With trembling hands, Lily knocked on the cottage door. To her surprise, the door creaked open, revealing the witch standing beside the doll ornament. The cruel witch peered at the shivering girl with a sinister smile, seemingly delighted by her misfortunate circumstance. Much to Lily’s surprise, the witch offered her a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea. Despite her initial fear, Lily realized that the cruel witch was not as terrifying as the stories had led her to believe. As they sat by the fireplace, the witch shared tales of her life, the hardships she had endured, and the loneliness that had consumed her world. Lily listened attentively, finding empathy for the witch's loneliness. Without hesitation, she reached out and touched the doll, letting go of the belief in its curse. To her astonishment, nothing happened. The doll remained still, its eyes fixed in their haunting gaze. From then on, the village's perception of the cruel witch and her ornament transformed. They realized that appearances could be deceiving and that the true story of the witch was far more complex than the legends had portrayed. The doll, once seen as a cruel reminder of the witch's malevolence, became a symbol of her resilience and longing for connection. In the end, the cruel witch's ornament served as a reminder to the villagers that it is essential to look beyond appearances and not let fear dictate their judgment of others. And so, the tale of the cruel witch ornament became a lesson for generations to come, teaching them to embrace compassion and understanding in the face of the unknown..
Reviews for "The Seductive Charms of the Cruel Witch Ornament: An Exploration of Its Allure"
1. Sarah - 1 star - This cruel witch ornament was a total disappointment. The craftsmanship was shoddy and the paint job was sloppy. It looked nothing like the picture online. It was also much smaller than I expected. I definitely wouldn't recommend wasting your money on this.
2. Michael - 2 stars - I was really excited about the cruel witch ornament, but sadly it fell short of my expectations. The material felt cheap and the colors were dull. It lacked that wow factor I was hoping for. Additionally, the shipping took forever and customer service was unhelpful when I tried to voice my concerns. Save your money and look for something better.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I ordered the cruel witch ornament for Halloween, but it arrived broken. The packaging seemed flimsy, and it looked like it had been mishandled during delivery. I reached out to customer service for a replacement, but they were unresponsive. Very disappointing experience overall. I won't be purchasing from this retailer again.
4. John - 1 star - This cruel witch ornament was a complete waste of money. The design was poorly executed and the colors were faded. It didn't have the vibrant and eerie look I was expecting. To make matters worse, it arrived with a noticeable scratch on the surface. Such poor quality and lack of attention to detail. I regret buying it.
5. Melissa - 2 stars - I was really excited to receive the cruel witch ornament, but the actual product didn't live up to the hype. The paint job was messy and there were noticeable flaws on the surface. The overall quality was subpar, especially considering the price I paid. I thought it would be a standout piece for my Halloween decorations, but it turned out to be a letdown.