Tag Archives: Food

Dancing The Tinikling

Jojo 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

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Thirteen-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

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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

Nour’s Secret Library

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Nour and her friends live a happy life in Damascus, Syria. But one day war comes to the city with its smelly tanks and noisy guns. Nour, her family, and friends need to hide in the basement to be safe. Some days when there is no fighting, Nour and her friends bravely roam their neighborhood rubble looking for abandoned books so that they can start a secret library. Eventually, their library is filled with books from floor to ceiling. Some are Arabic, while others are English, Armenian, Greek, French, Hebrew, and Syriac. Nour thinks that the world of books is wonderful. “Like a galaxy full of stars. Some are shinier than others, but together they make the sky sparkle.”The illustrations in pencil, gouache, and charcoal depict the rough and ruined landscapes in grays and the hopeful story of the children and the library in vibrant blues and oranges. Back matter includes information about Syria, a map, a glossary, facts about famous libraries in the Middle East, information about the inspiration for the story, and both an author’s and illustrator’s note. This book is a story of hope and longing for peace. mjw

Title: Nour’s Secret Library
Author: Wafa Tarnowska
Illustrator: Yali Mintzi
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Copyright: 2022
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-64686-292-4
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Syria
Author’s ethnicity: Lebanese
Author’s residence: U.K. and Poland
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Romanian
Illustrator’s residence: Jerusalem
Subjects: Books, Libraries, Middle East, Reading, Syria, War

Lands Of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain

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Published for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India, this engaging book is an exploration of the history, achievements, and culture of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain. “This book aims to piece together how South Asian and British history are connected. You might find it interesting, surprising, and sometimes very sad – but for the people of South Asia, and for South Asians in Britain, the future is full of hope and excitement.” The book not only provides historical details but it also spotlights Indian cuisine, traditions, festivals, dances, sports, famous people, language, and more. Included are a table of contents, a calendar of celebrations, a timeline of events, a glossary, and an index. Glorious artwork brings each page to life in this beautiful information book. mjw

Title: Lands Of Belonging: A History Of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain
Author: Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt
Illustrator: Salini Perera
Publisher: Nosy Crow, London
Copyright: 2022
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-83994-468-0
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 7-12
Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain
Author’s ethnicity: East African (Vikesh)
Author’s residence: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Sri Lanka
Illustrator’s residence: Toronto
Subjects: Ancient empires, East India Company, Festivals, Food, Games, Holidays, Independence, Partition, World War I, World War II

Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults)

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A very helpful Historical Context sets the scene for 65 short personal narratives told by those who were Russian children during World War II and survived terrifying war-time experiences. Nobel Prize-winning Svetlana Alexievich discloses the traumatic memories of children who were separated from their parents, most of them never to be reunited. This is the young adult adaptation of her masterpiece, Last Witness: An Oral History of the Children of WWII. The Russian perspective stories are fascinating as they portray terror, survival, and hope. The book also features a useful glossary. mjw

Title: Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults)
Author: Svetlana Alexievich
Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: Russian
Translator: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
Original Title: Last Witnesses: An Oral History Of The Children Of WWII
Original Publisher: Molodaya Gvardiya, Moscow
Original Copyright: 1985
ISBN: 978-0-593-30853-0
Hardcover pages: 288
Age range: 12-17
Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Oral history
Book setting: Russia
Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian
Author’s residence: Soviet Union, Belarus, Western Europe
Awards: Author has won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature. 2022 NCSS Notable Books
Subjects: Childhood, Death, Historical biographies, Hope, Military history, Oral history, Resilience, Survival, Terror, WWII, Young adult

I Hate Borsch!

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A young girl living in Ukraine hates the red, thick, disgusting beet and vegetable soup known as borsch. But all Ukrainians are supposed to love it. Even the grandmothers of Kiev cannot get her to change her mind about it. When she immigrates to the U.S., she finds that she doesn’t like American food, especially the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, flat and shiny square cheese, and the mysterious pumpkin spice latte. She then finds borsch recipes hidden in her suitcase and she is transported back home. She makes the soup and invites everyone to eat her borsch. Illustrations created with acrylic, pencils, and digital collage, with splashes of borsch-bright red add to the fun in this story of rejecting and then embracing one’s culture. An author’s note and a recipe for borsch are included. mjw

Title: I Hate Borsch!
Author: Yevgenia Nayberg
Illustrator: Yevgenia Nayberg
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright: 2022
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5580-0
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture book
Book setting: Ukraine and U.S.
Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian
Author’s residence: New York
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Ukrainian
Illustrator’s residence: New York
Subjects: Cultures, Eastern Europe, Emigration, Food, Heritage, Immigration, Picky eaters, Soup, Recipes, Sunflowers, Vegetables

Dulcinea In The Forbidden Forest

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It’s Dulcinea’s birthday and her father is making her pancakes with blueberries and whipped cream. However, they forgot to buy blueberries at the market. Dulcinea’s loving father knows that blueberries grow in the forbidden forest – the forest that he told Dulcinea to never go into because a witch, who is a hideous singer, lives in a castle there. He decides that nothing could happen to him in the forest, but then the witch sees him and turn s him into a tree. Dulcinea braves the dark forest, sneaks into the castle, finds the witch’s book of spells, and frees her father. The short chapters in this easy-to-read book are just right for young readers. The funny, inky black-outlined illustrations and the orange and brown palette perfectly enhance this hilarious, contemporary fairytale. mjw

Title: Dulcinea In The Forbidden Forest
Author: Ole Konnecke
Illustrator: Ole Konnecke
Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: German
Translator: Shelley Tanaka
Original Title: Dulcinea im Zauberwald
Original Publisher: Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH and Co. Munich
Original Copyright: 2021
ISBN: 978-1-776573-95-0
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Fairytale, Fiction
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Germany
Subjects: Birthdays, Fathers, Humor, Witches

A Gift For Amma: Market Day In India

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It’s market day in the author’s hometown of Chennai, India. A young girl is searching for a treasure for her mother. She looks at saffron rice: orange marigolds; pink lotus flowers; green peacock feathers, mint, and coriander; red-hot peppers; and many more colorful items. She finally decides on rainbow bangles as the perfect gift. Back matter includes information about the unique color words in the book, facts about markets around the world, and photographs taken by the author. The gorgeous illustrations, rendered in pencils, pastels, and water-based paints make the story come alive. mjw

Title: A Gift For Amma: Market Day In India
Author: Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Mariona Cabassa
Publisher: Barefoot Books, Cambridge, MA
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-64686-062-3
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Chennai, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Awards: 2021 South Asian Book Award
Subjects: Colors, Flowers, Markets, Mothers, Peacocks, Saris, Spices

Red Stars: The Case Of Viktor And Nadya’s Notebooks

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Diary entries, maps, drawings, and historical photos tell this story of Viktor and Nadya, twelve-year-old twins who were evacuated from Leningrad when Hitler declared war on the Soviet Union. They were separated when they were put on trains that were meant to take them to safety. The story is told in three voices, alternating between Viktor (printed in red), Nadya (printed in dark blue), and an offstage voice of a Soviet Secret Police officer. His handwritten comments are written in the margins. Viktor’s train makes it to Moscow, where he is expected to do hard labor on a kolkhoz (farm). It is rumored that Nadya’s train was bombed with no survivors. Viktor doesn’t believe this and sets off through cold and harsh conditions to find Nadya. They eventually find each other and unravel a mystery of treason and betrayal at the highest level of Soviet leadership. mjw

Title: Red Stars: The Case Of Viktor And Nadya’s Notebooks
Author: Davide Morosinotto
Illustrator: Simone Tso
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Italian
Translator: Denise Muir
Original Title: La Stolgorante luce di due stelle rosse
Original Publisher: Mondadori, Milan
Original Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9332-1
Hardcover pages: 432
Age range: 10-12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: Soviet Union
Author’s ethnicity: Italian
Author’s residence: Italy
Subjects: European historical fiction, Evacuation, Germany, Hitler, Leningrad, MIlitary fictioon, Siblings, Trains, World War II

The Elevator

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A girl and her dog Roco want to go on their afternoon walk. They get on the elevator on Floor 4 and the girl pushes the down button, but the elevator goes up. It stops at Floor 7 and Ms. Paula gets on. She is afraid of dogs. She presses the down button, but the elevator goes up again. On Floor 8, old Mr. Miguel gets on with his walker. He presses the down button and the elevator stops on Floor7 and Cora and the twins in their stroller get on. After pressing the button again, the elevator stops between Floor 5 and Floor 4. Then Ms. Paula opens the box that she is carrying and gives everyone a slice of birthday cake that she was planning to give to her friend. Next, Mr. Miguel tells a story called Who Cares? about a bear that always said he didn’t care when he really did. All of a sudden the elevator starts to move, though no one pushed the button. It stops at Floor 4 and everyone gets off and has tea at the girl’s apartment. At the end of the book, in a real envelope, there is a surprise mini-book titled Who Cares? The playful black, white and red illustrations were created with drawing, collage, and photography all assembled digitally. The tall and slender format of the book resembles an elevator. mjw

Title: The Elevator
Author: Yael Frankel
Illustrator: Yael Frankel
Publisher: Tapioca Stories. Huntington, New York.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Kit Maude
Original Title: El ascensor
Original Publisher: Limonero, Argentina
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7347839-0-2
Hardcover pages: 44
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Awards: 2021 Outstanding International Books USBBY, 2020 White Raven Award
Subjects: Apartment buildings, Dogs, Elevators, Pets, Twin

Sandcastle

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A young girl builds a fantastic sandcastle with domes and turrets and a crocodile moat. It has large windows with an ocean view. It is fit for hosting diverse royalty from all over the world and the dining hall serves ice cream 24/7 – all flavors. But at breakfast, the troubles begin. Sand gets in the royal strudel, in the Triathlon of Knights’ suits of armor, and even in the King’s daily fig milk bath. Everyone is so angry. The illustrations in this fun book were created digitally and are very detailed and whimsical. Medieval knights play Twister, a Rapunzel-like character wears unicorn slippers, and a tiny swimsuit-clad mouse is hidden throughout. The book jacket even has a sandy tactile feel to it. This absurd book will certainly engage young readers. mjw

Title: Sandcastle
Author: Einat Tsarfati
Illustrator: Einat Tsarfati
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Hebrew
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1143-6
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 4-6
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Israeli
Author’s residence: Israel
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israeli
Illustrator’s residence: Israel
Subjects: Beach, Beachgoers, Imagination, Royalty, Sandcastle