Tag Archives: Food

The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland

Boris Greycoat is a friendly, sophisticated young wolf who likes to meet people and try new foods. In this sequel to The Wolves of Greycoat Hall (also on OmniLibros.com), he attends the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school, while his parents visit his great aunt. He makes human friends, rides horses, enjoys delicious cakes, and learns to snowboard. But something suspicious at the school leads to an entertaining art mystery to solve. The book is a quick, fun read about wolves and humans living in harmony. The book includes a table of contents; a detailed map of the Institute of Excellence in Switzerland; humorous, illustrated sidebar comments on wolfish behavior and culture; and reproductions of paintings by Degas, Picasso, Munch, Monet, Cezanne, Braque, and Klee alongside their comical wolf counterparts. The brilliant, amusing, crisp pen and ink drawings add to the fun. Lucinda Gifford’s author website offers fun activities to go with the book. mjw

Title: The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland
Author: Lucinda Gifford
Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher: Kane Miller, A division of EDC Publishing
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books Limited, London
Original Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-68464-720-0
Paperback pages: 232
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
Book setting: Switzerland
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Subjects: Art, Art forgeries, Boarding schools, Cakes, Ghosts, Heroes, Horses, Mystery, Skiing, Snowboarding, Swiss cuisine, Villains, Wolves

Hilwa’s Gifts

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This heartwarming picture book follows a young girl’s journey to discover her cultural heritage through her grandmother’s traditional cooking. The story beautifully captures the intergenerational bond as Hilwa learns to prepare family recipes that connect her to her ancestral homeland. The illustrations, rendered in vibrant watercolors with intricate details, depict the rich textures of Middle Eastern fabrics, the steam rising from aromatic dishes, and the expressive faces of the characters as they share meaningful moments in the kitchen. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses a warm color palette dominated by rich oranges, reds, and golds to evoke the spices central to the narrative and create a sense of comfort and belonging. The final spreads feature stunning double-page illustrations of a family gathering where Hilwa presents her perfected dish, symbolizing how food traditions can preserve cultural identity across generations and distances. mjw

Title: Hilwa’s Gifts
Author: Safa Suleiman
Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan
Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2942-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Palestine
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian American
Author’s residence: Colorado
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Kazakhstan, raised in Armenia
Illustrator’s residence: Seattle
Subjects: Cousins, Farm life, Grandparents, Heritage, Middle East, Multigenerational, Olive harvest, Olive oil, Olives, Picnic, Traditions

Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu

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Ayo drifts off to sleep and dreams ( in ABC order) about the cultures, celebrations, and places of the African diaspora. He starts with A is for Afro and B is for braids, continues with H is for Hip-Hop and K is for Kente, and finishes with Y is for Yoruba and Z is for Zulu. Country labels, inset boxes, and pronunciation guides appear throughout the book. Backmatter includes a map, information about the diaspora, and extensive fascinating facts about the Black history and culture entries in the story, The brilliant, joyous illustrations were prepared digitally. mjw

Title: Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu
Author: Ain Heath Drew
Illustrator: Erin K. Robinson
Publisher: Barefoot Books. Concord, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 979-8-88859-211-3
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 5-10
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Africa and the Americas
Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Illustrator’s residence: Nairobi, Kenya and New York City, USA
Subjects: African American, Alphabet Book. Celebrations, Culture, Dance, Diaspora, Diversity, Heritage, Music, Revolutions, Traditions

The Spice Box

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Rishi’s grandmother (Paati) is arriving from India. Rishi wants to help his dad make potato curry using the family’s cherished spice box, a box that holds not just fragrant spices, but also family history and stories passed down through generations. When an accident with the box occurs, Rishi must draw on these treasured memories to set things right. The story highlights South Asian and Tamil cultural elements, such as the use of traditional spices and the term of endearment “Paati”. The vibrant illustrations are digitally rendered. Back matter includes descriptions of spices in a traditional Indian spice box and a recipe for Paati’s Potato Curry.

Title: The Spice Box
Author: Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-503-42713-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Berkeley, California
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: California
Awards: 2025 South Asia Book Award for Young Readers winner
Subjects: cooking, Courage, Grandmothers, Intergenerational stories, Love, Resilience

Picking Tea With Baba

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A Chinese family of four rises before dawn to climb up the hills to the tea garden, where they pick tea leaves and carry them in wicker baskets on their backs. Their trek is hard, but beautiful. They see the gorgeous landscape, animals, and interesting insects. They sing folk songs, have a picnic, and get cooled by the rain. At the end of the day, they climb back down the mountain to sell their tea harvest at the village in front of the tea factory. Readers will learn about the origins of tea, discover Chinese culture and environment, and experience the close-knit family working together to make a living. The rich, vibrant artwork in bold strokes and strong colors further distinguishes the joyful story.

Title: Picking Tea With Baba
Author: Xu Bin
Illustrator: Yu Yin
Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Chinese
Translator: Shan Chen
Original Title: Father’s Tea Garden On Hilltop
Original Publisher: Magic Elephant Books
ISBN: 978-162354-623-6
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: China
Author’s ethnicity: Chinese
Author’s residence: Chinq
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence: China
Subjects: Agriculture, Asia, Chinese culture, Family life, Gardens, Insects, Mountains, Tea, Traditions, Weather

Once Upon A Diwali

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Riya loves Diwali for the tasty treats called ladoos, but not for the dark night and the very loud fireworks. Mama says that Diwali is more than treats. She goes on to explain that it’s about the celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Riya’s Papa decorates the house with lights and candles. Her sister makes rangoli, which are decorations of patterns made with powdered rice and colorful sand or flowers. Riya helps her. But she still is afraid of the darkness and the spooky, loud fireworks. So Mama tells the legend of why lights are used on Diwali. Riya listens and learns about Ram, the crown prince, who, with his wife and brother, was banished from his kingdom. There was a terrible battle. Ram won and returned to his kingdom on a path with glittering diyas (oil lamps) and glowing lights. Riya understands, becomes a bit braver, and asks to bring her own lantern to the celebration, just in case. Brightly colored cartoon-style artwork further distinguishes the storytelling. An author’s note, an illustrated glossary, a recipe for ladoos, and instructions for a Diwali paper diya craft are included as back matter. mjw

Title: Once Upon A Diwali
Author: Anita Mishra
Illustrator: Diah Chakraborty
Publisher: Soaring Kite Books, LLC. Washington D.C.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-958372-44-9
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: El Paso, Texas
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Assam, India
Subjects: Celebrations, Differences, Diversity, Fireworks, Folktales, Holidays. Religions, Sweets

Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community

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Monica loves the butter chicken that her father makes. It’s been a family favorite since her father ate it as a young boy in a wonderful restaurant in Delhi. The two have fun preparing the meal, and they set the table for two. But then the doorbell rings and Grandma, Uncle Jai, Uncle Arjun, Cousin Anya, and so many more appear with food for everyone – fresh mangoes, channa masala, palak paneer, naan, dumplings, and cupcakes. They all share the feast that was made with love. Brightly colored artwork in reds, oranges, and blues features South Asian arches and arabesque designs. This celebration of family, food, and Indian heritage includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés and the author’s own recipe for butter chicken. mjw

Title: Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community
Author: Monica Saigal
Illustrator: Abeeha Tariq
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-6643-0044-6
Hardcover pages: 36
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Washington, DC
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Pakistani-Irish
Illustrator’s residence: UK
Subjects: Celebrations, Communities, Cooking, Father-daughter relationships, Indian heritage, Recipes

Jack And The Beanstalk

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A young boy named Jack trades his cow for magical beans, leading him to a giant beanstalk that reaches the clouds. As Jack climbs the beanstalk, he discovers a giant’s castle filled with treasures and challenges. Rosen’s engaging and rhythmic writing style brings a fresh energy to this classic tale, making it accessible and entertaining for young readers. The vibrant illustrations complement the narrative beautifully, capturing the whimsy and adventure of Jack’s journey with bold colors and dynamic scenes.

Title: Jack And The Beanstalk
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Talleen Hacikyan
Publisher: Tradewind Books, Vancouver
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1926890425
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-5
Genre: Picture Book, Fairy Tale
Author’s ethnicity: British
Author’s residence: London
Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Quebec
Awards: The Author was the 2007 – 2009 British Poet Laureate
Subjects: Beanstalks, Castle, Cow, Fables, Folktales, Giant, Magic beans, Opportunity, Poverty

The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery

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This engaging mystery follows Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl, who seeks to uncover the truth behind the missing family inheritance of her friend, Tara. Tara is promised to the greedy tea plantation manager who wants the precious gold jewelry. Sona has to prove her brother’s innocence, worry about her sickly mother, who is a tea plucker, and fret about her exams that will allow her to attend the Darjeeling International School. The story deftly intertwines the themes of friendship, bravery, and the rich tapestry of Indian heritage. The digitally rendered back-and-white illustrations add to the drama of this delightful blend of adventure and cultural exploration. The mystery is both entertaining and enlightening.

Title: The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery
Author: Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Maithili Joshi
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-62354-373-0
Hardcover pages: 128
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary
Book setting: Darjeeling, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: San Francisco
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Awards: The Author was nominated for the National Book Award
Subjects: Arranged marriages, Darjeeling, Examinations, Gold, Inheritance, Jewelry, School issues, Tea plantations

Ajay And The Mumbai Sun

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In this fast-paced adventure set in modern-day Mumbai, Ajay, a street kid abandoned on the Mumbai railways, dreams of becoming a journalist. He and his friends find an old printing press and start their own newspaper, The Mumbai Sun. As they search for stories for their paper, they uncover a plan to tear down their slum. Hundreds of people will become homeless. Ajay is clever, courageous, and determined. His ambition is to print the truth about the political corruption threatening his home. The bustle of Mumbai is brought to life in this beautifully written novel. mjw

Author: Varsha Shah
Publisher: Chicken House
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-338-87546-1
Hardcover pages: 208
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction, Novel
Book setting: Mumbai, India
Author’s ethnicity: India
Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Cricket, Homelessness, Journalism, Newspapers, Poverty, Railways, Slums, Social justice

The Cities Of The Future

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This exciting book tells the story of how cities around the world are becoming greener, more innovative, and people-friendly spaces while continuing to evolve. Captivating, intricately detailed illustrations showcase pioneering cities, like London, Berlin, Chandigarh, Amsterdam, New York, and more. The book offers a glimpse into the future of urban environments and inspires readers to take action.

Title: The Cities Of The Future
Author: Didier Cornille
Illustrator: Didier Cornille
Publisher: Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd.
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: French
Translator: Charis Ainslie
Original Title: La Ville Quoi De Neuf Actes
Original Publisher: Helium/Actes Sud
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 979-8-89509-014-5
Hardcover pages: 88
Age range:7-9
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting: World cities
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: Paris
Subjects: Architecture, Cities, Communities, Design, Ecology, Energy, Factories, Future, Gardens, Global awareness, Green, Homes, Museums, Parks, Pollution, Population, Railway stations, Renewable energy, Sustainability, Transportation,

The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story

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Inspired by the author’s own life as an Afghani refugee, this impactful story expresses the importance of the family carpet. The carpet is the centerpiece of life – sipping tea and talking together, helping, sharing, caring, playing, learning, listening, remembering, and dreaming. The carpet is a piece of home. The bold-colored illustrations were made with ink drawings on paper and digital coloring. An author’s note tells the author’s backstory. mjw

Title: The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story
Author: Dezh Azaad
Illustrator: Nan Cao
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers.New York
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6361-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Afghani
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Cuisine, Culture, Cooking, Games, Folklore, Home, Refugees, Stories, Traditions