Tag Archives: Food

L Is For Love

loveTwo adults and four children set off in the dark to sell lemons at the market in this L-focused story, leaving grandparents behind. They are lucky to catch a lift on a red bus. They travel through lightning until the morning light, looking at lazy lions and a lonely leopard. They arrive at the loud, large market in Lagos, where they sell their lemons and enjoy lunch. On the long way home, this time by foot, they see elephants and arrive home late to greet the grandparents, where L is for love. The beautiful double-page spreads, loaded with detail, and rendered in mixed media depict the bustling market stalls, the natural world, and the rich relationship of the family. mjw
Title: L Is For Love
Author: Atinuke
Illustrator
: Angela Brooksbank
Publisher
: Candlewick Press. Somerville, MA
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Walker Books Ltd. UK
Original Copyright: 2024
ISBN
: 978-1-5362-3555-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 3-7
Genre
: PIcture Book, Alphabet Book
Book setting
: Nigeria
Author’s ethnicity
: Nigerian
Author’s residence
: Wales
Illustrator’s residence
: LOndon
Subjects
: Alphabet, Cities, Lagos, Lemons, Love, Markets, Transportation

My Name Is Long As A River

my nameKaveri Thanjavur Jayalakshmi Ganesan doesn’t think her very long name is special. She wants to be called Kav. Her paati (grandmother) explains that her name comes from her family’s heritage, where she was born, and the powerful Kaveri River in South India. Kav learns that it is okay to have a long name and that she should be proud of it.  She was carefully named and each of her four names bonds her to her family and her homeland. The language in the book is beautiful and full of lovely imagery. The radiant artwork was rendered in gouache. Backmatter includes a glossary with pronunciations; an author’s note; tips on pronouncing names; a map and information about the Kaveri River; and some poems and sayings about Kaveri from ancient Tamil Sangam literature and Kannada, Kodav, and Sanskrit languages. mjw
Title: Hannah’s Winter
Author: Suma Subramaniam
Illustrator
: Tara Anand
Publisher
: Penguin Workshop
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0593-522936
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: India
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: Seattle, Washington
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Indian
Illustrator’s residence
: New York City
Subjects
: Culture, Festivals, Ganesha, Goddesses, Multigenerational family life, Rivers, Sarees, Self-confidence, Self-esteem, Traditions

Esma Farouk, Lost In The Souk

EsmaWhile Esma is on holiday visiting her extended family in Morocco, she goes to the souk – a huge marketplace full of street performers, delicious food, and sassy monkeys. Charmed by the bustling market’s sights, smells, and sounds, she loses track of her mother and aunt. Through the unexpected help of a troupe of acrobats, a fortune teller, and a monkey, Esma is reunited with her family, The lively and humorous artwork was created using digital gouache, watercolor, and colored pencils. mjw

Title: Esma Farouk, Lost In The Souk
Author: Lisa Boersen and Hasna Elbaamrani
Illustrator
: Annelies Vandenbosch
Publisher
: Floris Books, Edinburgh
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: Dutch
Translator
: Polly Lawson
Original Title
: 1001 paarse djellabas
Original Publisher
: Uitgeverij JH Gottmer/HJW Becht BV, Haarlen, the Netherlands
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-178250-885-4
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Marrakesh, Morocco
Author’s ethnicity
: Dutch and Dominican
Author’s residence
: Amsterdam
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Moroccan
Illustrator’s residence
: Amsterdam
Subjects
: Acrobats, Djellabas, Fortune tellers, Grandparents, Markets, Monkeys, Multicultural, North Africa, Souks, Spices

Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa

Kindred SiritsIn 1845,  The Potato Famine devastates Ireland. More than a million Irish people die from starvation and disease, and another two million emigrate to Canada, the U.S., and Britain. In 1847,  the Choctaw people in America are still healing from their hardships on the Trail of Tears. They collect money to donate to the struggling Irish people. In 2017,  seven generations later, the Irish build a statue to remember their connection to the Choctaw Nation. It is the shape of twenty-foot-tall eagle feathers in a bowl. In 2000, in the American Southwest, the Navajo and Hopi Nations are greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Irish people remember the Choctaws’ kindness, and they pay it forward by donating over three million dollars to the members of the Navajo and Hopi Nations. The money was given by many ancestors who received the gift that the Choctaws gave to Ireland during the Potato Famine. Today and always, the four nations are unified by the empathy they have learned from hardship. They pass generosity and compassion as kindred spirits. Enchanting acrylic on canvas illustrations further distinguish this inspiring book. Back matter includes author’s and illustrator’s notes, historical information about the Trail of Tears and the Irish Potato Famine, more information on the nations today, a very helpful timeline, a glossary, and suggestions for learning more. mjw
Title: Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa
Author: Leslie Stall Widener
Illustrator
: Johnson Yazzle
Publisher
: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-62354-396-9
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting
: Ireland and U.S.
Author’s ethnicity
: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Author’s residence
: McKinney, Texas
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Navajo Nation  in Pinon, Arizona
Illustrator’s residence
: Pinon, Arizona
Subjects
: Choctaw Indians, COVID-19, Emigration, Famine, Hopi Indians. Ireland, Navajo Indians, Potatoes, Trail of Tears

HaiCuba/HaiKuba: Haikus About Cuba

downloadCuba’s people, culture, and natural world are featured in bilingual haikus written in Spanish and English in this brilliant picture book. An introduction explains the poetic form. Discover Cuba’s national bird, the Tocororo, whose feathers resemble the flag of Cuba. Learn about Havana neighborhoods, salsa dancing, the Almendares River, candied sweets, and much more. The fun, vibrant illustrations were created with watercolors, colored pencils, gouache, and acrylics. Back matter gives information on the topics covered in the poems. A map of Cuba is presented on the endpapers. mjw
Title: HaiCuba/HaiKuba: Hiakus About Cuba
Author: Carlos Pintado and Lawrence Schimel
Illustrator
: Juan Jose Colsa
Publisher
: Ediciones NorteSur. Distributed by Simon & Schuster. New York
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English and Spanish Bilingual
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4568-8
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Poetry, haiku. Picture Book
Book setting
: Cuba
Author’s ethnicity
: PIntado – Cuban. Schimel – U.S.
Author’s residence
: Pintado – Miami. Schimel – New York and Madrid
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Awards
: Schimel has won a White Raven Award and a Bachelder Honor.
Subjects
: Birds, Caribbean, Dance, Flags, Haikus, Islands, Havana, Latin America, People and Places, Poetry, Rivers, Trees

My Incredible India

my incredible india

Thara and her Nanijee (grandmother) explore Nanijee’s wooden trunk of collected special objects from around India. They tell stories and take readers to amazing places in this visually stunning introduction to this diverse country’s people, places, flora, and fauna. Learn about elephants in Kerala, wander about Delhi’s bustling streets, ride a train in the Himalayas, explore the Ganges River, marvel at Nek Chand’s secret sculpture garden, and stand in awe before the Taj Mahal. Visit the Bhimbetka Cave Paintings, celebrate Diwali and religious festivals, enjoy spice markets and tasty Indian food, discover the Satish Dhawan Space Center, and delight in Bharatanatyam dance and Bollywood movies. And there is so much more in this perfect narrative nonfiction atlas of incredible India. Colorful mixed-media illustrations round out this impressive work. Back matter includes an extensive timeline, brief essays on Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian flag, an index, and resources for additional information. mjw

Title: My Incredible India
Author: Jasbinder Bilan
Illustrator
: Nina Chakrabarti
Publisher
: Candlewick Press. Massachusetts
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Walker Books. U.K.
Original Copyright
: 2022
ISBN
: 978-1-5362-2501-3
Hardcover pages
: 80
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting
: India
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Indian
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Subjects
: Animals, Atlases, Art, Asian people and places, Cities, Customs, Fauna, Flora, Geography, History, Languages, Maps, Religions, Sport, Traditions, Wildlife

The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall

The wolves of greycoat hallBoris Greycoat is a friendly, sophisticated young wolf who likes to meet people and try new foods. He, his father, a polymath (an expert in many things), and his mother, who gives warm, reassuring smiles, return to their Scottish homeland to save Drommuir Castle. The castle has been in the family for generations, and now it is being threatened by a dishonest developer who wants to build villas for vacation rentals. The refined wolf family stays in the exclusive Highland Hotel, visiting turreted castles and quaint shops. They learn about other cultures and enjoy delicious cakes. Their adventure is full of surprising discoveries, one of which leads to Drommuir Castle being saved. The book includes a family tree, a table of contents, a recipe for Boris’s bannocks, a detailed map of the wolf family’s ancestral Scotland, and humorous illustrated sidebar comments on wolfish etiquette. The brilliant, amusing pen and ink drawings are magnificent. Lucinda Gifford’s author website offers fun activities to go with the book. mjw
Title: The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall
Author: Lucinda Gifford
Illustrator
: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher
: Kane Miller, a division of EDC Publishing
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Walker Books, Australia
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-1-68464-719-4
Paperback pages
: 187
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
Book setting
: Scotland
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: Melbourne, Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: Melbourne, Australia
Subjects
: Acceptance, Architecture, Bannocks, Birds, Cakes, Castles, Dogs, Heroes, Nature preservation, Prejudices, Recipes, Vacations, Villians, Wolves

A Bird Day

A Bird dayIt’s an ordinary day for the bird family. The young ones, Lena and her little brother Bo, play, sing, hunt mosquitoes, and talk about their legs and toes. They have worm pie for dinner. Bo picks out the worms and only eats the pie shell. At night they fall asleep in their nest. Watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations show the funny facial expressions and cute hairstyles of the birds. The details in the family’s home are offbeat and interesting. This gentle story reflects on human behavior through this humorous bird family. mjw
Title: A Bird Day
Author: Eva Lindstrom
Illustrator
: Eva Lindstrom
Publisher
: Gecko Press, New Zealand
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: Swedish
Translator
: Julia Marshall
Original Title
: En Fageldag
Original Publisher
: Alfabeta Bokforlag AB
Original Copyright
: 2002
ISBN
: 978-177-6575275
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Author’s residence
: Sweden
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence
: Sweden
Awards
: Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2022
Subjects
: Birds, Caterpillars, Mosquitoes, Songs, Worms

I’ll See You In Ijebu

Ill see youEight-year-old Olu, a Catholic city girl from Lagos, Nigeria, Takes a trip to the country to visit her Muslim extended family in the town of Ijebu to celebrate Eid al-Adha. She enjoys the large family gatherings with their traditional foods, love-filled happy reunions, and games with the cousins. Fascinating back matter provides information about Nigeria (with maps), children’s games and music, Nigeria’s religions, bold, bright clothing, and favorite foods. A recipe for Bunmi’s famous puff puff is included. Yoruba language words, with pronunciation guides, are smoothly integrated into the story. Author’s and illustrator’s notes offer more intriguing details. The book’s vibrant digital artwork further distinguishes the poetic storytelling. mjw
Title: I’ll See You In Ijebu
Author: Bunmi Emenanjo
Illustrator
: Diana Ejaita
Publisher
: Barefoot Books, Inc.
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-64686-844-5
Paperback pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-10
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Lagos, Nigeria
Author’s ethnicity
: Nigerian
Author’s residence
: Maryland, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Nigerian-Italian
Illustrator’s residence
: Berlin and Lagos
Subjects
: Africa, Catholic, Celebrations, Culture, Eid, Fashion, Food, Holidays, Nigeria, Multi-faith, Multi-generational, Music, Muslim, Recipes, Religions, Traditions

Dancing The Tinikling

Dancing the TiniklingJojo is learning to dance between two worlds. His grandmother, who learned the tinikling in the Philippines and now lives in America, encourages him to dance to the bamboo beat. She teaches the dance at the cultural center. He finds it difficult at first, but eventually, he “spins and hops to the rhythm of his life,” jumping between the two clapping bamboo poles. Ample use of onomatopoeia with the clapping, clicking, and tapping of the bamboo poles and Tagalog words are integrated into the music of this festive story. At the end of the book, there is more information about the dance, which will inspire Americans of all cultures to appreciate the Filipino national dance. mjw
Title: Dancing The Tinikling
Author: Bobbie Peyton
Illustrator
: Diobelle Cerna
Publisher
: Sleeping Bear Press. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1534111967
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Filipino
Author’s residence
: Oregon, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Filipino
Illustrator’s residence
: Philippines
Subjects
: Asian-American, Dance, Filipino Americans. Food, Grandmothers, Grandparents, Music, Tagalog, Tinikling

Cardboard City

Cardboard CityThirteen-year-old Nikola and his fifteen-year-old sister Saida are members of a Romani family in Belgrade, Serbia in 2006-2009. They face discrimination at school and extreme poverty in their cardboard home under the Gazela Bridge – Cardboard City. They don’t have enough food or money, but they try to fill their lives with music, dance, stories, laughter, magic, and dreams for a hopeful future. Nikola is a gifted trumpet player who aspires to be a famous musician. The siblings live with their fortune-teller grandmother, they don’t know their true ages, and they cannot read or write. They separately run away to a festival in Guca but are reunited in the home of a generous couple. In May 2009, the City of Belgrade cleared Cardboard City, and all the Roma families were resettled in different Belgrade municipalities or in their former towns. This short book offers a fascinating view into the world of Romani people, a world likely unknown to YA readers. A historical note and four recipes round out this important book.  mjw
Title: Cardboard City
Author: Katarina Jovanovic
Publisher
: Tradewind Books. Vancouver and London
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: Serbian
Original Title
: Kartonac
Original Copyright
: 2019
ISBN
: 978-1-990598104
Hardcover pages
: 128
Age range
: 12-17
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Belgrade, Serbia
Author’s ethnicity
: Serbian
Author’s residence
: Vancouver
Subjects
: Discrimination, Eastern Europe, Injustice, Marginalized people, Music, Orphans, Persecution, Poverty, Racism, Refugee camps, Romani people, Survival, Trumpets

Berani

Berani

Thirteen-year-old bi-racial Malia lives in Indonesia with her Canadian mother. Since her Indonesian father died, her mother wants to return to Canada, but Malia wants to stay and continue her fight for the country’s rainforests. Indonesian Ari works in his uncle’s restaurant where the attractions are a mynah bird called Elvis Presley and an orangutan named Ginger Juice. Ari lives with his uncle so that he can attend an excellent middle school. He is worried that Ginger Juice lives in a too-small cage that is hurting her body and her mind and that her rainforest home is now a palm oil plantation. This story of animal activism in Indonesia is told from three perspectives – Mali, Ari, and even Ginger Juice. The engaging call to action shows readers that they, too, can change the world. The story will remind them of The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (2012). A map of Indonesia appears at the beginning of the book. Backmatter includes a glossary, information about orangutans, an author’s note, and suggestions for how we can help. mjw

Title: Berani
Author: Michelle Kadarusman
Publisher
: Pajama Press, Inc. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Copyright
: 2022
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-77278-260-8
Hardcover pages
: 224
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Novel
Book setting
: Indonesia
Author’s ethnicity
: Australian
Author’s residence
: Indonesia, Canada, Australia
Awards
: Author was a Governor General’s Award finalist
Subjects
: Activism, Animal rescue, Animal rights, Environmental responsibility, Indonesia, Orangutans, Palm oil plantations, Rainforests