(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ken Daley. On the island of Jamaica, Shelly-Ann lives with her grandmother who is not only her “most favorite person in the whole wide world” but also a prize-winning cook. Hungry after spells of outdoor play, Shelly-Ann periodically requests various Jamaican dishes, which Granny banteringly insists she learns to make herself. Her bungled first forays in the kitchen are a recipe for discouragement, and Granny’s reminders that practice makes progress don’t land until Shelly-Ann comes to understand that cooking can be an act of service to others. Structural repetition and the less-than-flawless outcomes undergird the text’s message that sustained effort and intention trump perfection. Vibrant illustrations bubble with the warm colors of rural Jamaica. Back matter includes fun facts about the island and recipes for dishes described in the story.

Reviewer: Summer Edward