Granny teaches her grandson to cook the family meal in author Winsome Bingham and illustrator C. G. Esperanza’s picture book Soul Food Sunday, a loving celebration of food, traditions, and gathering together at the table.
A 2022 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book
On Sundays, everyone gathers at Granny’s for Soul Food.
But today, I don’t go to the backyard or the great room.
I follow Granny instead.
“You’re a big boy now,” Granny says. “Time for you to learn.”
At Granny’s, Sunday isn’t Sunday without a big family gathering over a lovingly prepared meal. Old enough now, our narrator is finally invited to help cook the dishes for the first time: He joins Granny in grating the cheese, cleaning the greens, and priming the meat for Roscoe Ray’s grill. But just when Granny says they’re finished, her grandson makes his own contribution, sweetening this Sunday gathering—and the many more to come.
Evocatively written and vividly illustrated, this mouthwatering story is a warm celebration of tradition and coming together at a table filled with love and delicious food.
“Esperanza’s vibrant illustrations are awash in saturated colors, photo-realistic facial expressions, and pronounced outlines, and they positively radiate this family’s joy and love for one another . . . Food-related words and onomatopoeia are called out in large, colorful fonts, adding to the reading fun.” —Booklist (Starred Review)
“This nourishing story will gratify soul food aficionados, as well as anyone who’s experienced how bonds strengthen through food and traditions.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Praise
Publishers Weekly**STARRED REVIEW**
"This nourishing story will gratify soul food aficionados, as well as anyone who’s experienced how bonds strengthen through food and traditions."
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**STARRED REVIEW**Booklist
"Esperanza’s vibrant illustrations are awash in saturated colors, photo-realistic facial expressions, and pronounced outlines, and they positively radiate this family’s joy and love for one another. . .Food-related words and onomatopoeia are called out in large, colorful fonts, adding to the reading fun."
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"Debut author Bingham hits all the right tasty notes here. . .Esperanza’s stunning oils . . .are like a good family gathering, loud yet harmonious, with sunny yellow predominating. It’s a delicious, bouncy love song to family, tradition, and the passing on of family legacies, and viewers will yearn for a seat at the table."The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
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"With each step, the narrator gives it his all in a rhythmic, pleasingly repetitive text, and Granny warmly approves. Perfectly suited to be shared with both those of the culture and those looking on."Kirkus Reviews
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"?A book that invites readers into an extended family’s moment in time, this welcoming title should be on any shelf addressing family life, celebrations, and food."School Library Journal
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"A gustatory and olfactory family feast that will evoke strong memories for some and make others wish they had them."The Horn Book Magazine
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