Food, Fabulous Food
The CBC looks for a theme to spotlight in each month’s Hot Off the Press list so that we can alert parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and all children’s book enthusiasts to cool new offerings from our member publishers.
Famous chef James Beard is quoted as saying “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” Food connects us to history and the world around us, fostering fellowship, sparking passion, and feeding both the body and the soul. These fantastic new titles from our October Hot Off the Press list put food front and center, celebrating its cultural ties and family significance. Whether fact, folklore, or fantasy, food—and the process of making it—will forever fascinate.
The Brighter I Shine, by Kamee Abrahaian; illustrated by Lusine Ghukasyan (Lantana Publishing) — Family / Community, Cultural Diversity, Immigrant Experience, Food / Cooking, ages 4-6.
For one Armenian child, birthdays are a time for decorating the house with bunches of rose and mint and sumac, for eating beef dumplings with garlic yoghurt, and for baking cakes with family and friends. But birthdays are also a time for telling stories – stories of ancestors and homelands, of births and new beginnings, and of the land their family now calls home. For stories make up who we are, and the more stories that are told, the brighter this little child shines. A magical tale about finding yourself in the stories of your ancestors and keeping their memories alive.
Emily Snook, The World’s Smallest Cook, by Laura Bower; illustrated by Rekha Salin (Gnome Road Publishing) — Social Emotional Learning, Food / Cooking, Careers / Hobbies, Family / Community, ages 4-6.
Emily Snook is a whiz in the kitchen. But when she enters an international cooking contest and meets the competition, her hopes of winning deflate like a botched soufflé. Everyone is older, taller and in serious doubt of her cooking capabilities!
A classic underdog story, Emily Snook, The World’s Smallest Cook reminds readers of the power of determination and a willingness to take risks. With the encouragement and support of her favorite sous chef—her grandpa—Emily tackles each cooking catastrophe that threatens her chance of winning. From utensils that are too big to counters too high, Emily Snook takes on the challenges of being the tiniest contestant, proving to everyone that being small doesn’t mean you can’t do it all.
Told with rhythmic rhyme and incorporating vibrant, kid-friendly illustrations, this story will delight young readers who enjoy crafting culinary creations of their own. It’s a great choice for story-time at the library or for enhancing classroom discussions about perseverance and positivity, and of course, for reading with grandparents throughout the year.
The Little Chefs, written & illustrated by Rosemary Wells (Astra Books for Young Readers / Hippo Park) — Food / Cooking, Social Emotional Learning, Fantasy, ages 4-6.
For anyone who’s tried to whip up something special for someone they love, and stumbled—here is the book for you. Not since her classic Voyage to the Bunny Planet, has Rosemary Wells created such a heartstopper.
A splendid volume of three stories in one darling-sized book in a beautiful package from the beloved creator of Max and Ruby.
“Every kitchen has one.
Location quite unknown
In an unused cupboard,
Hides a little phone.”
Almost everyone, young and old, likes to try their hand in the kitchen. But oh my! Disasters can happen to anyone (and we like to keep them quiet). What to do when everything falls apart?
Well, just call the Little Chefs! They’ll put everything to rights in a jiffy. And everyone will give you yards of credit. The Little Chefs will never tell!
Message in the Mooncake: A Legend from Ancient China, by Sapphire Chow; illustrated by Xiaojie Liu (Barefoot Books) — Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Historical Fiction, Social Emotional Learning, Food / Cooking, ages 7-12.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Su-Ling’s small village is planning a rebellion against the Mongolian invaders—and Su-Ling wants to help! Can she use her wits and courage to deliver a secret message hidden in a box of mooncakes, without getting caught by Mongol guards? Set 800 years ago in the Yuan Dynasty, this thrilling tale is based on an ancient Chinese legend, which is explained in the educational endnotes.
Montezuma’s Tantrum, by Nuria Gómez Benet; illustrated by Santiago Solís Montes de Oca; translated by Elisa Amado (Greystone Books / Aldana Libros) — Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Cultural Diversity, Food / Cooking, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
Emperor Montezuma’s court tries everything to cure his bad mood in this delightful and hilarious story that sheds light on life in the Aztec empire—and the origins of hot chocolate.
Montezuma is in a bad mood today. He doesn’t want to see anyone or do anything! The people in the palace are very worried. They try everything they can to make Montezuma smile. They bring gifts, make music, and even dance. What to do?
This vibrantly illustrated picture book shares the enduring symbols of Aztec life, from Quetzalcóatl, the magnificent plumed serpent, to its temples, codices, drums, and Montezuma’s elaborate palace full of people and creatures. At the center of the story is xocolátl, a delicious treat enjoyed by Indigenous peoples of Mexico long before the Spaniards arrived. Today xocolátl (chocolate) is eaten, drunk, and enjoyed all over the world.
But before all that happened, Montezuma had a tantrum…
Off Menu, by Oliver Gerlach; illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silva (Little Bee Books / Yellow Jacket) — Fantasy, Food / Cooking, LGBTQIA+, Coming of Age, Teen.
The last thing on Soup’s to-do list is to make waves at the restaurant she works at, but when she discovers her boss’s villainous grip over her beloved town, she decides it’s time to dismantle his power—and what better way than a cooking competition? This graphic novel is an empowering story about taking risks, finding your voice, and being brave enough to stand up for friends.
At seventeen, Soup is at a crossroads, eager to make her mark on the world, yet reluctant to leave the restaurant she calls home—the place where she was found as a baby, the place where she grew up, the place where she learned to cook. It’s only when her elven boss snaps at her that she begins to see his pattern of abuse, starting in the kitchen and extending all across town. Something’s got to give, and the answer is simple: a cooking competition for the restaurant.
If Soup wins, she’ll claim the business and protect her village from destructive expansion. But if she loses, she’ll have to leave her home and stand by as the food community she loves is razed to the ground. With friends and chosen family rallying around her, Soup has a chance to win. Yet, everyone knows villains don’t fight fair, and this restaurateur is not going to give up his throne so easily . . .
Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration of Family and Community, by Monica Saigal; illustrated by Abeeha Tariq (Tiger Tales) — Family / Community, Food / Cooking, Cultural Diversity, ages 4-6.
This picture book is a celebration of Indian heritage, father-daughter relationships, and sharing with community. Includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés, and one of the author’s own recipes.
A young girl named Monica shares special time with her father as they prepare her favorite dish in this warm and inspiring picture book for kids ages 3-7.
Monica loves the Butter Chicken that her father makes. She spends the day helping him in the kitchen as he prepares the dish, stirring the sauce and adding the spices. And while the chicken bakes, the two dance around the kitchen.
When the chicken is done, they get ready to sit down and enjoy the meal together. But then the doorbell rings, and Grandma, Monica’s uncles, and even the neighbors arrive to share in the feast!
A warm and inspiring story of food, family, community, and sharing that includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés, and one of the author’s own recipes.
Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice: All the Flavors of the World, by Jacques Pasquet; illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi; translated by Ann Marie Boulanger (Orca Book Publishers) — Food / Cooking, History, Cultural Diversity, Facts / Trivia, ages 7-12.
The stories of the flavors we love are steeped in history, mythology and cultures from around the world.
Did you know that salt has been around for almost 5,000 years or that pepper was once called black gold? Have you heard that two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day and that tea was first discovered by Chinese emperor Shennong in 2737 BCE? In Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice, discover where our favorite spices, condiments and confections come from and how they’re grown, harvested and prepared. Find out how they’re used to enhance and create flavors in the foods we know and love today. A tasty read guaranteed to get your mouth watering!
For more great book suggestions, be sure to check out the full October Hot Off the Press list!
List compiled by CBC’s resident book connoisseur, Brooke Pisarsky. Check out other Hot Off the Press Spotlight book lists on our blog.
