The lively chaos in this sparkling picture book is an ode to community kitchens and to the cheerful, practical hard work involved in making meals for many by many. The ingredients are not always perfect and the people are not always chef-level cooks, but the goal of preparing nourishing meals always leads to full bellies and a warm welcome for all. Our Little Kitchen is an inclusive world, with many kinds of bodies, lots of smiles, and occasional mild grumpiness; it feels real. There is nothing "othering" about this book; neither heavy-handed nor blandly earnest, this is a celebration with real meat and plenty of kid appeal.
Abrams, release date Sept. 22, 2020.
Recommended by Elizabeth
Lotus lives with her grandfather in a Chinese village. An illness has left her without a voice. When she finds an injured crane, she, and her grandfather nurse it back to health. This is a story filled with love, responsibility, compassion and empathy; characteristics we all want to instill in our children.
Recommended by Sandy