Who doesn’t love food? I mean most people at least like it or have at least one thing they like. And if you know me, I like books as well as food. So when I can combine the two likes it is always fun.
I will start with Gingerbread Dreidels by Jane Breskin Zalben with illustrations by Thai Phuong. Due late August 2024 (read via an online reader copy), this picture book shows how we can have a lot of celebrations in our lives, and when they overlap, that just means twice the fun. As the publisher’s description says we have “Gelt and gingerbread, menorahs and trees, red and green and blue and white” all together. The two children of the story worry how they will be able to combine the two celebrations, Christmas and Hanukkah, this special year when the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas. This intercultural family happily blends things together, showing the meaning and love that the holidays represent. And there is a fun treat at the end of the night too, when a classic Christmas food and a Hanukkah game come together. Cute, colorful, well detailed illustrations wrap up the festivities.
Recently I learned that Josh Funk has another Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast book coming. It won’t be here until September 2024, but Attack of the Scones (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast is good to know about if you like food, books or books about food. Brenda Kearney, in the goofy style of the other books, illustrates the (read via an online reader copy) story of a misunderstanding, a wandering child and jumping to conclusions. While we get a funny story of aliens kidnapping one of the members of the food group, we also learn about friendship and how sometimes even besties can have fights. While this book is great for fans of the Lady P and Sir French Toast series, the action was a bit weaker than usual for me. But everything is still Funk’s fun and goofy style, with Kearney making it all come together with pay-attention-to-them illustrations.
Spicy Spicy Hot! by Lenny Wen came out April 2023 and I read it early February 2024. The gap did not lessen this delicious treat. Read via an online reader copy, I like the publisher’s description: “Lintang is determined to embrace the spice of sambal in order to connect with her Indonesian grandmother and heritage.” This story of one girl trying, and learning spicy food is not for her (perhaps for now), is how we should experience life. When the issue comes to light, her family helps her find other ways to connect, while still being a little spicy. The illustrations are simpler than expected, but expressive. I related to the heroine because I too find spicy a bit too much. Plus, she reminded me of my sweet (and spicy) nephew who when taken to the American Chinese restaurant was told if he put it on his plate, he had to try it. Even spicy General Tso’s chicken that almost caused tears to roll down his eyes, so grandma told him it was okay if he couldn’t finish he tried, and his panted out, “No.(pause) It’s. (pause) Good. (pause) Grandma.”