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Bingham, Winsome

Soul Food Sunday

48 pp. | Abrams | November, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4197-4771-7 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-64700-042-4 $15.54
(2) K-3 Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza. 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.
Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

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