(2) K-3 Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza. A child spends the day with their grandmother fishing and then frying up their catch together in this tasty follow-up to Soul Food Sunday (rev. 11/21). The child narrates as the duo leaves before dawn, loading up their supplies into Granny's Jeep and heading for a pier on an Army base on the Chesapeake Bay. Once there, Granny, who is a disabled veteran, shows her badge to gain admittance. She prays "for a blessing" before making her way to the pier, where she's greeted warmly by the other anglers. Soon, Granny's line begins to "Bob-Bob-Bob!" and "Jerk-Jerk-Jerk!" as she reels in a big croaker. By sunrise, the pair have caught a bucketful of fish, and they head back to Granny's house, where they clean, batter, and fry them. The child is then inspired to make hand-rolled hushpuppies to accompany their meal. Finally, other family members arrive for the feast. Bingham captures the love that goes into preparing the food and the closeness between the child and Granny. Her use of onomatopoeia makes for a good read-aloud. Esperanza's oil paint and pencil illustrations feature bold colors, primarily in shades of blue, pink, and coral. The sankofa bird on Granny's T-shirt is a nice nod to the rich history of weekend fish fries in Black culture. An author's note and a cook's note are appended, along with a recipe for hushpuppies.

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Toni D. Chambers. It's "Fish Fry Friday," and Cher can't wait: she is finally able to go on the family fishing trip. Papere gives her Great-Pere's pole, with which he "won beaucoup contests," and she joins her uncles around Cane River. The uncles "trash talk" and the children giggle. Cher finds a spot and quietly waits for the bream to bite. She catches a bucketful, but in her excitement gets tangled in her rod and loses all her fish. Though Cher is disappointed, Mamere gives her a red apron so she can help prepare the meal and reminds her granddaughter that the day is about family, not the catch. Courtney's debut picture book celebrates the fish-fry tradition from her childhood in Louisiana. Chambers's digital illustrations add to the celebration, with scenes of the fish fry exuding joy as people dance, eat, and play music. The endpapers show a table filled with fried fish, corn, and Cajun spice. This offering is a welcome addition to the growing landscape of picture books by Black authors highlighting the diversity of Black American life. An author's note and a dictionary with words of French origin from "my rural, Southern English" are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Pungent, salty, silky soy sauce takes center stage in this playful picture book honoring the centuries-old condiment and the time and care taken to make it. Follow along while Luan, Haru, and Yoo-mi express their love for it as they share meals with their relatives. The tasty rush of the sauce and the happiness the kids experience creating it pop on pages bursting with energetic text and imaginative illustrations. In one picture, the trio goes on a wild rafting ride in a sea of the savory sauce; in another section, they dream and dance amid a forest of bubbles as the liquid brews. The abundant pictures of dishes that use soy sauce -- dumplings, noodles, sushi, kimbap, tofu -- enhance the visual feast. Back matter provides a short history of the condiment with information on regional differences by country and fermentation techniques. A great read-aloud for budding foodies and fans of Hot Pot Night! by Chen, Bee-bim Bop! by Park, and Dim Sum for Everyone! by Lin.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Melissa Iwai. Take a compelling story of an indomitable chef, add heaps of immersive sensory details, stir in a warm palette, then devour this tasty introduction to Cecilia Chiang (1920-2020). Born in an old Beijing palace, young Cecilia loved the kitchen best, with its enticing aromas and iconic clamor of cleavers and sizzling wok oil. Her family enjoyed these delicious meals and savored each unique bite. When the arrival of Japanese troops in China in 1937 caused the family to scatter for safety, Cecilia and her sister fled to the countryside, where Cecilia discovered new cuisines. This education would inform her future, as she moved to Tokyo in 1949 to escape the Chinese civil war and later opened a Chinese restaurant to share flavors of home. After moving to San Francisco, she became determined to change Americans' perception of Chinese food as "cheap and greasy." Her second restaurant, the Mandarin, featured a fine-dining, two-hundred-item menu that would "showcase the best flavors from China's many regions." Excellent reviews and celebrity clientele brought fame, but what mattered most were sharing the tastes of her childhood and bringing customers joy. Leung's straightforward and thoughtful prose never glosses over Chiang's difficult life but lingers instead on the poetry of cooking, which is expertly paired with Iwai's watercolors that offer heartwarming and mouthwatering details on every spread. An author's note provides photos of Chiang and additional information in this story steeped in foodways and family.

Reviewer: J. Elizabeth Mills | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alona Millgram. “Fingers crossed it turns out right. / Challah for Shabbat tonight.” Singsong rhymes take readers and listeners step by step as the narrator bakes challah with Grandma, including the fun of waiting together and, later, of Shabbat dinner with family. Illustrations are appealingly varied, from insets showing details of baking to flighty spreads with ingredients and smells dancing across the page. A welcome, warm portrayal of the Jewish Sabbath and of an intergenerational relationship.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) 4-6 Julia on the Go! series. Illustrated by Julie Kim. The rec center is nine-year-old Julia Nam's second home: it's where her parents' restaurant, Sushi to Go, is located, as well as the library and the swimming pool where she is the youngest member of the swim team. Fiercely driven, Julia goes hard in warm-ups and doesn't let up until practice is over. She lives for time trials, which her coach calls Personal Best Day, or PBD. When an ear infection forces her to take a ten-day break from swimming, she goes stir-crazy at the thought of missing PBD and the chance to qualify to compete in a regional meet. Her parents advise her that she needs to be patient and "roll with it," punning on the sushi rolls they sell. But she just can't, and readers benefit from the often-humorous trouble she gets into. Kim's black-and-white illustrations bring the rec center environment to life. Ahn subtly fleshes out Julia's world, noting in passing how the young athlete sometimes went to school hungry when her Korean immigrant parents juggled part-time jobs. This spirited first book in a projected series delivers a meaningful message about resilience, the value of patience and flexibility, and the benefits of teamwork and community building.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro. Since arriving from Havana, Magaly’s talented abuela has “whipped up one Cuban dish after another.” It’s all new and tasty—but when Magaly hears about ropa vieja, literally “old clothes,” she starts to grow concerned...and to hide her favorite garments. Lively, warm-toned digital illustrations display abuela’s “zesty” dishes and Magaly’s funny misunderstanding. Useful and entertaining back matter includes author and illustrator notes, two recipes, brief “Facts About Cuba,” examples of “recipes with imaginative names” from various cultures, and a glossary.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. Each year, Grandma makes tamales to sell so she can make Christmas magical for her familia. "With masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, Grandma's just getting started...Grandma is tenacious...Grandma's at it again," etc. Punctuated with this changing refrain, Briseño's inspiring text, from the point of view of a grandchild, is full of awe for this impressive matriarch. The pages count the tamales that Grandma makes -- in dozens -- all the way to "1,000 dozen tamales!" Sánchez's expressive pastel-style illustrations, rendered digitally with handmade brushes and textures, perfectly capture a loving and boisterous family who are happiest when they're together. Concurrently published in Spanish a Tamales para Navidad.

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) YA The Ybarras and the Moraleses, who own Cuban bakeries across the street from each other in fictional Port Murphy, Washington, have a bitter, decades-old rivalry. Ana Maria Ybarra (who also goes by Amy because no one in her mostly white town can pronounce her name correctly) usually honors the family feud. Until Miguel, a boy with whom she shared a steamy kiss in L.A. months ago, moves to town and reveals that he's a Morales nephew. Try as she might, she can't stay away ("He's technically a Fuentes," she justifies), especially when she learns he's a photography whiz. She's desperate for someone to fix her recipe videos so she can win a scholarship to culinary school. The two create a plan to film cooking videos in secret -- which, of course, devolves into clandestine making out. Ana Maria's family can't find out about either. Castellanos's (Isla to Island4, rev. 3/22) first novel-with-words is a sweet and satisfying rom-com with a relatively low-stakes star-crossed storyline. Ana Maria learns to stand up for her dreams for her future, her love life, and even the name she wants to be called, and Miguel is supportive as she figures it all out. Delicious descriptions of traditional Cuban foods and Ana Maria's updated creations abound. A recipe for guava cream cheese thumbprint cookies is appended.

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey. The plight of Black farmers takes center stage in this affecting picture book. A boy and his grandfather faithfully take their produce to a farmers' market every Saturday. Papa's stall is the only one occupied, but "it wasn't always this way." Just two years ago, there were five. The Pumphreys' expressive illustrations, created using handmade stamps and edited digitally, highlight the richness of the harvest, the deep purple plums, large orange pumpkins, and vibrant green bell peppers. Papa knows his customers well and even stops at Mrs. Brown's to deliver plums after the stand closes each week. When Papa is too tired to carry on this work, his customers come to him to share a meal consisting of the bounty from his land. The final spread reveals that even though Papa's days of harvesting are over, the family's connection to farming won't end. A bumper sticker on his pickup truck along with signs in his barn and stand promote the cause of Black farmers. An author's note provides information about the dwindling number of Black farmers due to discrimination.

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) 4-6 Seventh grader Mahnoor Raheem is less than thrilled when her Pakistani grandmother, Dadi, comes to live with them in Texas. Not only does Maha have to give up her bedroom, but her father also expects her to "babysit" his mother while he and Maha's mom work long hours at the hospital. Although her home life is disrupted, Maha is excited about her media studies elective; she sees the class as a steppingstone to pursuing her dream of becoming a journalist. A class project -- making "a documentary on a topic that's newsworthy" -- gives Maha the opportunity to learn more about Dadi's life and an appreciation for what history can teach us about the present. By spending time with her grandmother prepping meals, participating in her first Ramadan fast, and playing board games, she learns a great deal about the 1947 Partition of British India into India and Pakistan. Faruqi introduces readers to the Partition, the largest mass migration in history, through relatable characters experiencing recognizable middle-school dynamics. The conversational style of the historical retelling offsets some of the heavier issues of rampant violence, refugee resettlement, and trauma. Readers are rewarded with a deeply immersive and moving story as Maha experiences a shift in understanding of her hyphenated identities and connects her family's history to other immigrant experiences.

Reviewer: Sadaf Siddique | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(4) YA Illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silva. Soup works in a kitchen under a horrible boss in this world inhabited by fantasy creatures. When she learns that the boss has also been stealing ideas from the other food vendors in the market in town, she challenges him to a cook-off for the restaurant. Though some of the illustrations are a bit lackluster, they are sprinkled with inventive details (a cute “dishwasher elemental” sidekick; creative interpretations of fae). A low stakes cozy fantasy read with welcome queer representation (e.g., Soup’s best friend, Clarion, is nonbinary and Soup imagines falling in love with “some beautiful boy or...a breathtaking girl”).

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes

(2) K-3 "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the penguin village ate cold fish." Umami, a brown and white penguin in a homogenous community, is bored with the monotonous meals of bland fish served in her colony. Craving new flavors, she sets off in a small fishing boat in search of more appetizing cuisines. Upon arriving in a different land, the penguin smells the aromas of unfamiliar foods. "'Oh, my sweet little beak!' said Umami. 'Nothing ever smelled so spectacular.'" She samples a smorgasbord of salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and spicy foods, as well as those with the "meaty and savory" flavor for which she's named. She hauls home a bounty of ingredients to introduce to her village and serves up a feast, which devolves into a humorous feeding frenzy. Grant's colored-pencil and oil pastel monoprint illustrations depict a penguin experiencing diversity in a populous land, home to numerous types of animals. As Umami leaves the humdrum of her village and travels abroad to experience the vibrancy of variety, the cool color palette simmers into a range of buttery yellows and chili reds. Umami's lively culinary exploration may stir curiosity in young foodies to venture beyond familiar comfort food.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2025

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brooke Smart. The main table in a home is often where memories are made. Killian's debut picture book explores this table's many roles in one family's life. The easy-to-read story starts where a wooden table begins: "as a seed that grew into a great strong tree." The tree is felled, taken to a workshop, and carefully crafted. The top is sanded, legs attached. The wood is stained, sealed, and set to dry. The family places the table "in the middle of a house, and life grew up around it." Smart's watercolor illustrations add to the story with playful and inventive scenes. The number of people grows and shrinks, and scenes evolve from the quiet act of arranging flowers to a birthday party spilling over with family and friends. Their table is filled to overflowing with the chaos of an unfolded map, children's drawings, and more. A clean, empty table shown near the end prompts discussion about readers' own experiences around family tables. The story concludes where it started: "This table began as a seed and became the heart of someone's home."

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy. A young first-person narrator describes the steps of making challah with Ima (mother) and preparing for and enjoying Shabbat. The gentle text provides a welcome positive portrayal of the weekly family ritual of the Jewish day of rest. The soft palette of the mixed-media illustrations shifts gradually from pale purples to moonlit blues, creating a sense of Shabbat descending. An author’s note, challah recipe (of course!), and glossary of the Hebrew terms used throughout are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) 4-6 Mann sets this amiable story in 1930s Vinegar Hill, "a thriving African American business and residential community" outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Allie Lewis wants the best for her mama and thinks she needs a husband to help with financial worries and repairs. With her best friend, Jewel, she launches her "Man-for-Mama Plan." Allie knows once her top choice, Mr. Johnson, tries her mama's chicken and dumplings, a proposal is sure to follow. Unfortunately, Jewel moves away, leaving Allie to start fifth grade without her friend and someone to calm her attitude (her "inside heat") around archrival and "NOT-friend" Gwen Turner. What's more, her mother is proving to be uncooperative with Allie's plans, and, worst of all, band teacher -- and Gwen's uncle! -- Mr. Coles has expressed interest in Mama. The protagonist's attempts to get the plan back on track have unexpected results, reminding her that maybe not having a plan can work out just as well. Allie is a likable character, and her humorous first-person narration, including detailed descriptions of her community, reflects her intense emotional highs and lows. Back matter includes an author's note about the history of Vinegar Hill, lists of related books and films, and a link to a recipe for chicken and dumplings.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Teresa Martinez. Luis’s family’s tamalada (a “tamale-making party”) ends in an epic battle for the last tamale. The grandkids compete in a dance competition, lucha libre, and, finally, an arm-wrestling match with Abuelita, the head chef and holder of the family recipe. Bright, cartoony illustrations full of colorful, superhero-comic-esque flair bring this silly fight to life. An author’s note is appended.

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Andrés Landazábal. In the latest installment of the Reina Ramos series, Reina is preoccupied with a food drive her school has turned into a competition: whichever class collects the most wins a pizza party. Reina tries to enlist Abuela's assistance, but Abuela is focused on bringing a homemade meal to their neighbor, who is caring for her new baby. The text includes multiple sentences per page and a sprinkling of Spanish words, complex sentences, and even the use of a colon, giving kids the opportunity to stretch their understanding of punctuation while also building their vocabularies. Sunny cartoon illustrations fill out Reina's world, depicting an active, warm, connected neighborhood and school. A glossary of Spanish words rounds out this appealing book.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 Susan the duck orders a pair of roller skates that turn out to be two sizes too big and bemoans her bad luck. That's when a wolf shows up at the door: "You have won this fabulous pot! Perfect for making soup!" Susan feels lucky, but then a light bulb blows. Soon enough, the doorbell rings again, and there's the wolf with a surprise pile of onions. Susan keeps having small misfortunes and receiving more soup-based prizes, oblivious to the wolf's toothy smile and vaguely creepy jacket and bow tie. The illustrations are in Pizzoli's trademark thick line and limited palette -- here a pleasing mix of salmon, mint, brown, and gold. Strong composition guides readers through the story, while funny details in the background (like a box of "Cheezee Quackers" on the counter and a bug who serves as a behind-the-scenes helper throughout) will pop on inevitable repeat readings. Susan's petty annoyances prove fortuitous when the wolf ultimately tries to shove her into the soup pot but slips on one of her lost marbles, setting off a Rube Goldberg–like series of mishaps that ends with the wolf rolling away on one of the roller skates with his head stuck in a pickle jar and being chased by hornets. This amusing, clever take on familiar tropes will be a favorite in storytimes and homes.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Spare, poetic text and illustrations rich in color and detail provide a unique insight into a well-known artist. Beginning in well-trodden territory with descriptions of O'Keeffe's (1887–1986) flower paintings, Robinson quickly directs the story to the artist's later life and the ways that not only the natural landscape of New Mexico but also the nourishing acts of tending a garden and feeding friends inspired her art. The text is lean but full of evocative details. Hooper's illustrations focus on the things O'Keeffe loved -- landscapes and natural materials take precedence over people, who are often sketched in black and white over the riot of color of a table of food or a garden full of flowers. One memorable page-turn first shows a young Georgia surrounded by the kinds of small natural objects that intrigued her; on the following spread, many of the same objects are shown much larger and more painterly, leaping out of an older O'Keeffe's head. Back matter includes brief biographical information, more details about some of her sustainable gardening techniques, a list of sources, and O'Keeffe's recipe for pecan butterball cookies.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024