The year 2024 is shaping up to have several interesting looking books, and picture books in particular. March 2024 will be giving us a story of how a young boy, Max, loves his family and their culture, but who also likes other things too within the pages of The Blue Bowl.
We see how Max and his family celebrate, how this family comes together in one large group of fun, and when the special blue bowls come out, he knows it is a very special type of celebration (especially after he learns the history of his grandparents own blue bowls and their journey to America). Still, he really would like a cake with frosting and colorful sprinkles for his birthday. That is not to say his family’s traditional foods are not important to him, but he likes pizza and tacos, too. And the day comes and it is his birthday. But instead of going to get the Italian meal he was wishing for (some spaghetti would have been nice), he goes to his grandparents house instead. However, when it all comes to the special birthday surprise at the end of the meal, he is able to have the best of all worlds with a very special, not too sweet, but fantastic treat.
The sweet, colorful, bright, lighthearted and nicely detailed illustrations by Flo Leung support their story. Both bring everything to life, and allow you to read the art as well as the actual text. Read via an online reader copy, I will be finding finished copies to give as gifts and one for myself.