  | Black-eyed peas and hoghead cheese : a story of food, family, and freedom Author: Armand, Glenda | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
As Frances helps her grandmother with New Year's Day dinner, Grandma teaches her the origins of the different dishes and soul food they prepare together. Includes a recipe for Fay's Fabulous Pralines.
| Illustrator: | Walthall, Steffi |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/22)
School Library Journal (08/26/22)
Booklist (08/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 08/26/2022 Gr 2–4—Frances is in town visiting her family for the New Year's holiday. She gets to spend the whole day in the kitchen with her grandmother helping cook and listening to the stories behind why her family eats the foods that they do. Along with Frances, readers get to learn about black-eyed peas, hogshead cheese, pecan pralines, and other foods that were originally eaten by slaves out of necessity and are now eaten during celebrations to honor and thank their ancestors for their sacrifice. Armand includes sidebars that give factual information about topics talked about in the story, from the Atlantic Slave Trade to definitions for different foods. Creole words are interspersed through the text, but the narrator sounds them out phonetically. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, inviting readers into the space with Frances and showing off the different foods she and her grandmother make. Back matter includes a recipe for pecan pralines, author's note, sources, and a further reading list. VERDICT Excellent for any collection needing to expand the New Year offerings; display it before the December break.—Jennifer Ritzie - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 08/01/2024 This food-focused offering about the rich Black cultural heritage of New Orleans is a welcome addition to picture-book collections. In it, Armand provides a robust description of Southern Black gulf traditions from field to kitchen, discussing the origins of foods like sweet potato pie, jambalaya, red beans and andouille sausage, pralines, and hoghead cheese. The family tradition of growing veggies, such as sweet potatoes and collard greens, and cooking these foods during holidays and for family gatherings serves as a relatable touchstone for a deeper discussion of Black history woven throughout. The illustrations are warm and set a mood of togetherness. The use of contrasting coloring to distinguish the time periods helps differentiate between the historical scenes (cast in aged, muted tones) and bright, contemporary moments. A recipe for pralines follows the main story, which makes a nice selection for units on the family, cooking, and cultural traditions. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
