Review by Booklist Review
This is an ode to a long-standing African American tradition of weekly family dinners at Granny's house. Here the main character, a young boy sporting a high-top fade, learns that growing up means learning how to cook traditional family meals from Granny. He helps with the prep work that goes into cooking signature soul food dishes, like grating four types of cheese for mac 'n' cheese; washing, soaking, and stripping turnip and collard leaves for greens; and cleaning ribs and chicken for the grill. All the while, the boy has a great time bonding with his grandmother. After everything is finally prepared, the family sits down to enjoy an elaborate soul food meal together. 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. When Granny proclaims, "That is the best grated cheese I've seen in all my life," readers eyeing the mountain of delicious-looking cheese will certainly agree. Food-related words and onomatopoeia are called out in large, colorful fonts, adding to the reading fun. Appended notes from the author and illustrator add a personal touch to the story, and a mac 'n' cheese recipe helps share the soul food love. For a literary feast, add Angela Dalton's Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner (2021) and Family Reunion (2021), by Chad and Dad Richardson.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this abundantly satisfying picture book, a large Black family--"Mommas and Poppas,/ aunts and uncles,/ nieces, nephews, and a whole lot of cousins"--gathers for Soul Food Sunday every week at Granny's. Bingham nimbly sets the scene with age-appropriate observations and rich dialogue, describing how the family spreads through Granny's house before the child narrator takes a new route, following Granny into the kitchen: " 'You're a big boy now,' Granny says. 'Time for you to learn.' " She lovingly explains the steps for preparing mac 'n' cheese, greens, and meat, then leaves the narrator to complete the steps ("Now when you're finished, come see me"). The child tires but perseveres, conveying a memorable refrain, "My hand hurt./ My arm aches./ But I don't quit," before adding one last surprise to the feast. Bright typography emphasizes rhythmic lines and onomatopoeia. Distinctive, mural-like paintings by Esperanza, done in vibrant-hued oils on masonite board, emphasize dynamic perspectives and angles, as well as, through close-ups of near-realistic expressions, the family's closeness. This nourishing story will gratify soul food aficionados, as well as anyone who's experienced how bonds strengthen through food and traditions. Back matter includes creators' notes plus a recipe for mac 'n' cheese. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--On Sundays everyone rolls up to Grandma's house for a soul food feast of chicken, ribs and sausage, greens, mac 'n' cheese, and sweet tea. Not so much a story as a slice of life, this vividly illustrated picture book welcomes readers into an extended family's warm weekly ritual. Roles are divided by gender and age: Men watch football (apart from Grill Chef Roscoe Ray), women gather in the kitchen to prepare the food and set the table, and the kids play. This Sunday there's a change, as the young male protagonist takes on the role of sous-chef to his grandmother, grating endless blocks of cheese for the baked macaroni, rinsing off the greens, prepping the raw meat for the grill, and finally making the pitcher of sweet iced tea all by himself. Esperanza's brightly realistic oil paintings echo the warmth and humor in this extended family, and tantalize readers with images of the delicious food on the table. Each member of this Black family is individually characterized with fabulous hairstyles (Grandma's cornrows are purple) and fantastic outfits that include Afrikan print aprons and elephant slippers. Readers will want to join this happy, hungry family and partake of this feast; Bingham allows for that by providing the recipe for a delicious cheesy dish as well as tips for cleaning the grit from the greens. VERDICT 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.--Jane Barrer, United Nations International Sch., New York
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A dinner to remember! An unnamed African American boy describes a Sunday dinner at Granny's with extended family. Granny decides that it's time for her grandson to learn to cook macaroni and cheese; mixed greens (collard, turnip, and mustard); and grilled chicken, ribs, and sausage. As he prepares to grate three kinds of cheese, wash and tear greens, and prepare meat for the grill, Granny models each task, asking: "Did you see that, baby?" Doing his best, he says: "My hand hurt. My arm aches. But I don't quit." After the completion of each task comes Granny's affirmation: "That's the best grated cheese [or greens, or meats] I've seen in all my life." While Bingham's writing captures the sound and cadence of this African American family's speech, Esperanza's oil paintings effectively portray the lively characters' perpetual motion and reveal each person's style, from Granny's maroon cornrows and colorful apron displaying an African mask, to the protagonist's blond-tipped high-top twists with lightning bolts shaved into the sides of his hair, to the barbecue master's dreadlocks and flip sunglasses. In the end, the young cook adds one more tasty delight to the meal and radiates pride as the family sits down to dinner. A gustatory and olfactory family feast that will evoke strong memories for some and make others wish they had them. Michelle H. Martin November/December 2021 p.64(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
On Soul Food Sunday, one of the youngest members of the family tags along with Granny to learn what goes into making the hallmark foods of Sunday dinner. An African American family gathers for their weekly Soul Food Sunday dinner. One of the youngest grandchildren finally gets to help in the kitchen and dons the jacket of his late grandfather's Army chef's uniform for the special day. Nearby, a picture of his grandfather seems to look on approvingly. Granny and her helper shred cheese and clean and prep the various greens and meats. With each step, the narrator gives it his all in a rhythmic, pleasingly repetitive text, and Granny warmly approves. After the food begins to cook, Granny takes a nap, and her little helper goes back to the kitchen and prepares a pitcher of sweet tea all by himself. After all, as Granny says about each item they've prepped together, the greens, the mac 'n' cheese, and the meat, "Unless sweet tea is on the table, it's not Soul Food Sunday." The lively, graffitilike illustrations are slightly reminiscent of the 1990s, seen in grill master Roscoe Ray's flip-top sunglasses, Granny's goddess braids, and the narrator's high-top fade. There are times, however, when the light, spindly type fails to hold up against such robust illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Perfectly suited to be shared with both those of the culture and those looking on. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
