I WANT TO BE SPAGHETTI!

A funny debut picture book about how one little ramen packet finds self-love and belonging in a spaghetti-obsessed world.

Even from Ramen's shelf in the small "ethnic" aisle of a supermarket, he sees spaghetti propaganda everywhere. He wants to be celebrated, too. Maybe, he misguidedly thinks, I have to change to be loved like that. "I want to be spaghetti!" he proclaims to the dismay of the rest of the instant noodle section.

But when he's brought home and placed in a warm bowl of broth alongside new friends like chashu, narutomaki, and nori, Ramen realizes that he's always been perfect exactly the way he is. Colorfully illustrated by Claudia Lam (@theforestmori), this heartwarming story about identity and community from recipe developer Kiera Wright-Ruiz (@kierawrr) celebrates the beauty of being yourself--and being recognized for who you are.

Kiera Wright-Ruiz is a writer and recipe developer. She has written for publications like The New York Times, Food52, Serious Eats and The Kitchn. Her work explores the diversity of food and amplifies underrepresented communities. Her debut recipe book, The Half-Latinx Cookbook, publishes in 2025 from Harvest. When not writing, she is probably eating onigiri with her husband and dog somewhere in Tokyo, where she is based. Find more about her work @kierawrr and kierawrightruiz.com.

Claudia Lam, also known as The Forest Mori, is an independent illustrator, designer, and ceramic artist. From painting and pottery to digital art and graphic design, Claudia works with various creative mediums to explore colours and art styles that convey a sense of relatability. It is her focus to bring joy to people through her artwork by selling it worldwide, curating creative content for brands, and becoming a children's book illustrator. Find more about her work @theforestmori and theforestmori.com