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Soul Food Sunday
Every Sunday is Soul Food Sunday for the young Black boy narrating this story. Aunts and uncles and cousins gather. Usually the boy would play with his cousins, but this Sunday Granny says he’s old enough to help in the kitchen. Granny says, “Unless mac ‘n’ cheese is on the table, it’s not Soul Food Sunday.” She shows him how to grate different kinds of cheese for mac n cheese. “Unless greens are on the table, it’s not Soul Food Sunday.” She shows him how to wash, rinse, roll, and rip the greens. Granny teaches him how to skin the chicken, strip the membrane from the ribs, and slice the hot sausage for the grill (which will be manned by Roscoe Ray, the “Grill Master”). Later, while Granny naps, the boy, wanting to do something special all by himself, makes a jug of sweet tea. “Unless sweet tea is on the table, it’s not Soul Food Sunday.” A narrative full of energy and rich descriptive language includes details and rituals of food preparation, along with the love and affirmation of family. The bright yellow backgrounds of the dazzling oil illustrations amplify the sense of warmth in this story. Highly Commended, 2021-2022 Charlotte Zolotow Award ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
African Americans
Families
Food and Cooking
Grandmothers
Independence/Self-Reliance
Traditions
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Abrams
Publish Year: 2021
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9781419747717
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Bingham
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