Empanadas for everyone

Jackie Azúa Kramer

Book - 2023

"Every Saturday, Carina visits Tía Mimi in her barrio, which is always humming with life. There is música that hums from the windows, old cuentos floating on the breeze, and the honking of cars that create the soundtrack of the morning. Every Saturday, she loves to make empanadas with her aunt, singing: 'I like empanadas! I like you! ¡ Me gusta empanadas! ¡Me gustas tú!' Not this Saturday, though. This Saturday, Tía Mimi has gone to volunteer at the neighborhood food center and asks Carina to make empanadas all on her own. But maybe, with a little guidance from friends, Carina will be able to help Tía Mimi--and learn a little about what connects a community along the way."--Front cover flap.

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Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room jE/Azuakram Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers [2023]
Language
English
Main Author
Jackie Azúa Kramer (author)
Other Authors
Lenny Wen (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
Includes author's note and recipe.
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Audience
Ages 4-8.
Grades 2-3.
ISBN
9781665914581
Contents unavailable.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

When Tía Mimi is gone for the day, it's up to little Carina to make delicious empanadas. Saturdays bring fun times and the pumping beats of salsa on the radio when Carina visits Tía Mimi to knead and fry empanadas and sing, "I like empanadas! I like you!" But then Tía Mimi goes to volunteer at the Community Meal Center one day. Oh no! Can Carina make empanadas on her own? Accompanied by her mom, Carina explores Tía Mimi's barrio and gathers the ingredients she needs: coriander at Aamir's Market (useful for samosas, too), achiote from Lila's Jamaican patties street cart, "garlic from the market selling mandu, and onions from the deli selling pierogies." Ah, and beef, which Carina gets from Mrs. Chang, who's making dumplings. All set, Carina stirs up the food, but Tía Mimi still isn't home when the sun slips down. To feed a busy Tía Mimi, Carina rallies the barrio and heads over to the Meal Center, each neighbor with food reminiscent of empanadas from their own culture. An ode to diverse communities, Kramer and Wen's joint effort exudes compassion and generosity. Kramer overstuffs the narrative with lovely turns of phrases, although the story gets lost amid the lengthy vivid language at times. Full of warm colors like soft yellows and oranges, the artwork complements Carina's adventure; Tía Mimi and Carina are Latine and brown-skinned, while the neighborhood is a diverse one. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A yum for the tum and heart. (author's note, recipe for beef or chicken Puerto Rican empanadas) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.