Tag Archives: Food

The Dinner That Cooked Itself

Long ago in ancient China, respectful and hardworking Tuan longed for a wife. However, the matchmaker’s suggestions were all unsuitable, either because of clashing zodiac symbols or unsimilar backgrounds. One evening, Tuan discovered a large snail. He took pity on it and took it home. The next night, when he returned home from working in his field, a delicious dinner was waiting for him. This happened night after night. Tuan learned that the mystery cook was White Wave, who was sent by the Lord of Heaven to look after him until he married. The mixed media, textured illustrations in an earthy muted palette are enchanting. Chinese calligraphy appears above certain animals and objects in the story. A note on Chinese calligraphy completes this picture book, which is based on a Chinese folktale that proposes that hard work will result in good fortune. mjw

Title: The Dinner That Cooked Itself
Author: J.C. Hsyu
Illustrator: Kenard Pak
Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd., London
Copyright: 2104
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-909263-41-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-7
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Ancient China
Author’s ethnicity: Taiwan born
Author’s residence: San Francisco, California
Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco, California
Subjects: Calligraphy, China, Chinese characters, Chinese zodiac, Folklore, Kindness, Snails, Tales

Bonjour Camille

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On Sunday morning, exuberant Camille has so many things to do. And she has a flair for fashion. She dons her battle dress: a tutu and a top hat and begins her activities. She jumps on the bed, chooses pale yellow as her new favorite color, draws faces on balloons, hides the umbrellas, seeks out the unexpected on a vintage world map, names the ocean waves, eats two pages worth of cherries, asks the wind to tell her a story, and more. Enchanting bold scribbles of black and colorful graphic patterns capture the energy of Camille’s boundless imagination. Camille is a little girl who inspired a line of clothing for Bobo Choses, a high-end children’s apparel company in Spain and around the world. mjw

Title: Bonjour Camille
Author: Felipe Cano
Illustrator: Laia Aguilar
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: Spanish
Original Title: Bonjour Camille
Original Publisher: Bobo Choses, Spain
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2407-0
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: Spanish
Author’s residence: Girona, Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Subjects: Fashion, Imagination, Morning, Play

The Memory of an Elephant: An Unforgettable Journey

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An elephant never forgets! This quirky, oversized, content-rich cabinet of curiosities is the story of Marcel, a very cool elephant. Narrative text describes Marcel. He is a connoisseur of good food, a clotheshorse, a skyscraper expert, and he is compiling an encyclopedia. Illustrations, sidebars, and full-page compendiums give facts about his many interests, including elephants, buildings, ships, geography, and plants. For example, we see Marcel playing a tuba and the opposite page offers facts on instruments, such as the sitar, balalaika, glockenspiel, and electric guitar. The brilliant, detailed spreads are captivating. In the end, his friends arrive to celebrate his birthday. They dance the night away beneath the stars. Marcel’s story concludes with a recipe for La Crepe Marcelette (with banana), his gourmand glossary, a key to the modern furniture in his apartment, and a list of his rare and amazing animal friends. mjw

Title: The Memory of an Elephant: An Unforgettable Journey
Author: Sophie Strady
Illustrator: Jean-Francoise Martin
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: French
Translator: Kate Willsky
Original Title: La memoire de l’elephant
Original Publisher: Helium, Paris
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2903-7
Hardcover pages: 38
Age range: 8 up
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Asia, Panama, Paris, Vietnam
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Animals, Birthdays, Buildings, Elephants, Encyclopedia, Fashion, Food, France, French history, Furniture, Memory, Music, Paris, Ships

Jasmine Skies

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Fourteen-year-old, mixed-race, Mira Levinson, who lives in London, travels to Kolkata to visit her cousin Priya, after the death of her Granddad Bimal. She is overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and people she encounters. The sweltering heat, crowded streets, hard-hitting and heart-breaking poverty, and mouth-watering descriptions of food are really brought to life. Mira is compassionate, funny, and inquisitive. She is quiet, loves to paint, and is comfortable in a sari. Priya is an underground DJ and a gifted classical dancer, who is full of spunk and ambition. She dyes her hair red and wears skinny jeans and t-shirts instead of traditional Indian dress. The two are opposites, but they quickly become best friends. Added to this perception-changing story are the mystery of why Mira’s mother and Aunt Anjali had a falling out years ago and a love affair with the sweet boy, Janu. Many issues remain unresolved in this thought-provoking book. It is a sequel to Artichoke Hearts (a.k.a. Mira in the Present Tense). Watch for Brahmachari’s next book. mjw

Title: Jasmine Skies
Author: Sita Brahmachari
Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company, Chicago
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, UK
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8075-3782-4
Paperback pages: 332
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Kolkata, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: UK
Awards: Longlisted for the 2013 Carnegie Medal
Subjects: Culture, Dance, India, Kolkata

The Apple Tart Of Hope

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Oscar Dunleavy, apple tart baker, is missing and presumed dead after taking his own life. Nobody seems suspicious of his disappearance except for Meg, his best friend, and Stevie, his little brother. Through interwoven narratives, we find out what truly happened to Oscar and what changed so drastically in his life that drove him to attempt suicide. Meg had moved from Ireland to New Zealand for six months, losing touch with Oscar. Oscar’s new neighbor, Paloma Killealy, moved into Meg’s house while she was away. A manipulative and pathological schemer, Paloma makes Oscar’s life miserable as she fakes a friendship with him all to allow her notion of “The Ratio,” to come to fruition. Meg and Stevie team up to determine what really happened to Oscar and learn about the power of never giving up hope. This sensational novel centers on the destruction of bullying and the power of true friendship. cc

Title: The Apple Tart Of Hope
Author: Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Publisher: Orion Children’s Books, a division of Orion Publishing Group Ltd., London
Copyright: 2014
Original language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4440-0692-6
Hardcover pages: 199
Age range: 13 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Ireland/New Zealand
Author’s ethnicity: Irish
Author’s residence: Ireland
Subjects: Bullying, Deception, Disabilities, Families, Friends, Food, High school, Hope, Love

In This Book

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I am in the poppy, said the bee. I am in the hair, said the barrette. Each page contains a simple, straightforward linocut with subjects of people, animals, food, places, and other everyday objects, each of which (or whom) declares its location. Although a coherent, flowing story is not present, this whimsical book offers a springboard for wondering, learning, dreaming, and storytelling. cc

Title: In This Book
Author: Fani Marceau
Illustrator: Joelle Jolivet
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC.
Copyright: 2014
Original language: French
Translator: Chronicle Books
Original title: Dans le livre
Original publisher: helium, Paris
Original copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2588-6
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 3-8
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Animals, Families, Food, Sports

Big Red Lollipop

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First-grader Rubina is new to birthday parties because her family is new to North America and she is elated because she has been invited to her first party. But her mother, her ami, insists that she take her little sister Sana. Even though no one else brings a younger sibling, the party is not so bad because they all get goodie bags filled with chocolates, candies, and a big red lollipop. Sana eats her big red lollipop right away, but Rubina saves hers for later. Next morning, Rubina discovers that Sana has helped herself to Rubina’s lollipop. Several years later, Sana gets invited to a party and when their mother insists that she take their youngest sister Maryam to the party, Rubina stands up for Sana and suggests that Sana be allowed to go alone. After the party, Sana gives Rubina her big green lollipop because “after that we’re friends.” This story about sibling rivalry and forgiveness is based on a true story and reminds readers that birthdays are not celebrated the same in every culture. The Arab American culture comes to life in the adorable ink and watercolor illustrations that use a variety of colors and East Indian patterns on clothes and the endpapers. The author performs the story on a YouTube video and offers a tutorial on her website. mjw

Title: Big Red Lollipop
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Viking, Penguin Young Readers Group
Copyright: 2010
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-670-06287-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: North America
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Awards: 2011 Golden Kite Award, New York Public Library 100 Great Children’s Books in 100 Years selection
Subjects: Arab Americans, Birthdays, Pakistani Americans, Parties, Sibling rivalry, Sisters.

Bundle of Secrets: Savita Returns Home

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Young Savita and her mother travel from Mumbai to their home in Mombasa, Kenya, after visiting family in India. They carry with them a secret bundle. They arrive at Kilindini port and then travel by car through the town past ancient buildings, curio shops, and markets. The inhabitants of their town are from Kenya, Oman, Portugal, and India. They all speak Kiswahili and live together peacefully. Savita’s mother makes a special meal using the fresh vegetables and fruits purchased at the market and the packets of spices that were in the secret bundle they carried from India. The combination of ingredients from the two special places results in a scrumptious meal of muhogo wa nazi (cassava cooked with coconut milk). Indian and Kenyan songs, language, games, and clothing are smoothly integrated into this story, which highlights the Indian-Kenyan community in Kenya. The charming paintings illuminate the multicultural character of coastal Kenya. A world map charts Savita’s route from India to Kenya, East Africa. A list of suggested questions and classroom activities for text-to-self connections is included to raise students’ awareness and appreciation of cultures. mjw

Title: Bundle of Secrets: Savita Returns Home
Author: Mubina Hassanali Kirmani
Illustrator: Tony Siema
Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing Platform
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1484165843
Paperback pages: 34
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Mombasa, Kenya
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kenya, with ancestry from India
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Kenyan
Illustrator’s residence: Kenya
Awards: 2014 Children’s Africana Book Award Best Book for Young Children
Subjects: East Indians, Food, Indian-Kenyans, Kenya

The Butter Man

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Nora is hungry and anxiously awaits a delicious Saturday dinner of couscous, meat, and vegetables. While her Moroccan-born baba, which means father, prepares the meal, he tells her a story from his childhood in the High Atlas Mountains. During a time of famine, Baba learns valuable life lessons of perseverance, patience, and hope when Nora’s grandfather has to travel far to find work. Each day, Nora’s father hopes for the butter man to pass through his village so he can enjoy the savory taste of butter on the little bread he has. Finally when Nora’s grandfather returns, he brings food that is prepared into a wonderful feast. In the months that follow grandfather’s return, rain begins to fall and the earth can sustain crops once again. Colorful gouache illustrations add to the warm, hopeful tone of the engrossing story that presents what it may feel like to experience scarcity in a sensitive, poignant manner. An author’s note delves deeper into village life, peddlers who walk from village to village, traditional clothing, and customs of Berbers, native people of North Africa. cc

Title: The Butter Man
Author: Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou
Illustrator: Julie Klear Essakalli
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Copyright: 2011
Original language: English
ISBN: 978-1-58089-128-8
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Morocco
Author’s ethnicity: Moroccan
Author’s residence: United States
Illustrator’s residence: Morocco
Awards: 2009 Middle East Book Award
Subjects: Atlas Mountains, Berbers, Drought, Family, Famine, Hardship, Imazighen, Meals, Moroccan culture, Morocco, North Africa, Travel

Viva Zapata

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This humorous story is a fictional incident in the childhood of Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionary hero. From the age of seven, Emiliano has struggled to understand why the children of the village are unhappy. Upon explanation from his mother, he learns this is because they are malnourished. One night, a group of bandits steal all of his family’s horses including his favorite horse, Sombra. Emiliano, ten years old at the time, takes the one remaining horse, an old mare named Lucita, and tracks down the bandits. If he can make all of the bandits laugh, he will get to take the horses back. After trying several tricks, Emiliano finally succeeds when he suggests that in the future he will help the farmers in the land so that no one has a need to become a bandido. The bandidos laugh hysterically and even split their pants. A short biography of Emiliano Zapata follows the story. The black and white illustrations are dramatic and bold, making this story a perfect introduction to a great historical figure. cc

Title: Viva Zapata
Author: Emilie Smith and Margarita Kenefic Tejada
Illustrator: Stefan Czernecki
Publisher: Tradewind Books, Canada/Great Britain
Copyright: 2009
Original language: English
ISBN: 978-1-896580-55-5
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Author’s ethnicity: Argentinian, Guatemalan
Author’s residence: Canada, Guatemala
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Emiliano Zapata, Food, Horses, Malnutrition, Mexican revolution, Mexico, Thieves

Abby Spencer Goes To Bollywood

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Thirteen-year-old biracial Abby Spencer, who lives in Houston, discovers that her long lost father is Bollywood’s biggest movie star. She is spunky and adventurous. She thinks in rhyme and has an imaginary string quartet in her head. Her journey to Mumbai to meet her father is entertaining and also an eye-opening experience about modern Indian culture. Smoothly integrated into this fun story are descriptions of India- colors, sounds, dress, foods; Hindi phrases; Indian history; and the contrast between the extreme poverty in India and the glamorous life of a Bollywood superstar. She connects with her wonderful father and even meets a cute boy. This sweet, quick read mixes literature, geography, cultural diversity, and reveals Abby’s zest for life. mjw

Title: Abby Spencer Goes To Bollywood
Author: Varsha Bajaj
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Copyright: 2014
Original language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6363-2
Hardcover pages: 256
Age range: 9-13
Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction
Book setting: Mumbai, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: United States
Subjects: Bollywood, Fathers and daughters, India, Motion picture actors and actresses, South Central Asia

Community Soup

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Kioni is busy rounding up her mischievous goats who have roamed away from home and broken into the garden of a Kenyan schoolhouse on soup day. Meanwhile, her friends are gathering ingredients for soup. Just as the goats begin wreaking havoc on the garden, Kioni and her friends problem solve and find a way to make the soup even more delicious. They add goat milk. Striking 3D artwork combining paper sculpture and mixed-media collage illustrate the Kenyan community. A recipe for pumpkin vegetable soup that can be made by children and adults accompanies the story. cc

Title: Community Soup
Author: Alma Fullerton
Illustrator: Alma Fullerton
Publisher: Pajama Press, Ontario, Canada
Copyright: 2013
Original language: English
ISBN: 978-1-927485-27-9
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Kenya
Author’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Community gardens, Community kitchens, Eastern Africa, Goats, Kenya, Social life and customs