Night Chef
Mika Song’s repertoire includes both picture book illustration and the Norma and Belly graphic novel series. She returns to the world of tasty food in her newest graphic novel, Night Chef.
In a gourmet kitchen, when the chefs leave, Night Chef takes over. A small raccoon, she ties on her blue apron, recites her chef mantras, and gets to work. Her latest creation needs an egg and fortunately there’s one almost within reach… When her ingredient hatches a noisy baby bird, Night Chef ends up going on a journey with her new responsibility. Along the way, she will cook new dishes, encounter new friends, and discover secrets about her own past.
Song’s work is instantly identifiable. Her lush watercolors create a night world of dark greens and blues, a cozy waterfront diner with simple browns, and a unique cast of characters. Rounded green frogs with headbands mingle with a sharp-eyed grey shrew and a pink-hued possum. Night Chef herself is unique – when she first appears, sneaking olives from the humans, she’s a small round bundle, her cheeks bulging. In her own world, she stands on her hind feet, sporting a neatly tied blue apron with handy pockets and carrying a large spatula. At one point in her travels, she meets a crowd of other raccoons, “The Pats” and stands out from their round, brown bodies with her own larger size, gray fur, and oval head. The villain of story, although treated with understanding, is a flurry of brown and white feathers and snapping, angry beak.
The book ends with a fun little comic of Night Chef making “fly frittata,” and the same recipe tweaked for more human tastes. Song also includes the character development of Night Chef, from rough sketches to completion.
This is lengthier, with more space for a deeper plot and character development, than Song’s earlier works. Although the story is a simple one, readers will feel the courage and dedication of Night Chef as she steps out into a scary world, leaving the only place she’s ever known, but keeps following her calling as a chef no matter where she goes. Squeamish readers may not enjoy the plentiful servings of worm-related food at the waterfront diner, but Song’s art makes everything look tasty.
This will be a sure bet for fans of Mika Song’s earlier works but will also appeal to readers who like reflective animal stories like One and Only Ivan as well as funny-food based stories like Stick Dog. It’s a great choice for encouraging young readers to explore different styles of art and graphic storytelling and even includes a timely message about the consequences of poisoning “pests” in the wild. Readers will root for Night Chef all the way to the satisfying ending.
Night ChefÂ
By Mika Song
Penguin Random House Graphic, 2025
ISBN: 9780593303153
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
Creator Representation:Â Filipino-American,
