Review by Booklist Review
For the young narrator of this book, the anticipation of what Friday holds runs deep. School is closed, so the child's Friday starts before dawn with a drive with Granny to the pier. A community of people come to fish there, and Granny and the child are among friends. Prayers are offered, equipment is sorted, and then there's the patient work of fishing. It's a lucky day, and by sunup the child and Granny have a bucketful of catfish. The illustrations pay homage to the fish, rendering them in splendid colors, alive with motion. Back home, the child is taught to skin and debone the fish, make batter and hush puppies, and prepare for the evening gathering. Thus far, the day has been an intimate time for child and grandparent alone, and their closeness is not lessened by the arrival of relatives and more food. Fish Fry Friday invites readers into a family tradition that, the author notes, was part of her childhood. A recipe for hush puppies closes out this beautiful and touching story.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
A child spends the day with their grandmother fishing and then frying up their catch together in this tasty follow-up to Soul Food Sunday (rev. 11/21). The child narrates as the duo leaves before dawn, loading up their supplies into Granny's Jeep and heading for a pier on an Army base on the Chesapeake Bay. Once there, Granny, who is a disabled veteran, shows her badge to gain admittance. She prays "for a blessing" before making her way to the pier, where she's greeted warmly by the other anglers. Soon, Granny's line begins to "Bob-Bob-Bob!" and "Jerk-Jerk-Jerk!" as she reels in a big croaker. By sunrise, the pair have caught a bucketful of fish, and they head back to Granny's house, where they clean, batter, and fry them. The child is then inspired to make hand-rolled hushpuppies to accompany their meal. Finally, other family members arrive for the feast. Bingham captures the love that goes into preparing the food and the closeness between the child and Granny. Her use of onomatopoeia makes for a good read-aloud. Esperanza's oil paint and pencil illustrations feature bold colors, primarily in shades of blue, pink, and coral. The sankofa bird on Granny's T-shirt is a nice nod to the rich history of weekend fish fries in Black culture. An author's note and a cook's note are appended, along with a recipe for hushpuppies. Marva Anne HintonSeptember/October 2025 p.37 (c) Copyright 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
The creators ofSoul Food Sunday (2021) reunite for another window into familial tradition, as enjoyable as hot honey butter. One sleepy Friday morning, a Black grandmother and child (who narrates) follow Granny's weekly predawn ritual. Piling into a vehicle that's teeming with supplies, the duo take off for the pier, where admiring onlookers beckon the "fish magnet queen" to a throne befitting the title--an upturned bucket. Here, Granny proves herself worthy of the crown, reeling in catch after catch and offering her grandchild the chance at a similar thrill. Once the bucket brims, dinnertime preparations begin, and the text turns instructive, with thrice-repeated onomatopoeic actions keeping time to the culinary progress. When the sides arrive, brought by an eager array of family members, hushpuppies made by our protagonist steam alongside fish freshly fried by Granny, all ready for sharing. Bingham's text marries straightforward descriptions and naturalistic dialogue with propulsive, alliterative exclamations. The effect is immersive; readers will feel as though they're being ushered through the front door and offered a plate. Esperanza's illustrations serve up a feast for the eyes. Playfully angled perspectives evoke movement; visual details--from Adinkra symbology to proof of Granny's military service--are meticulous, specific, and in service of worldbuilding so thorough that the work seems biographical. Esperanza captures facial expressions with an ultra-realism elevated by backdrops done in fantastical Technicolor. The result is reminiscent of Kehinde Wiley's art, every page worthy of framing. A book to sink your teeth into. (author's and cook's note, recipe for hand-rolled honey hushpuppies)(Picture book. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
