June 1, 2022
A racially diverse group of kids must navigate a tumultuous school lunch. Students sit down at tables amid piles of colorful lunchboxes. Despite the various lunch sack designs, only sandwiches are packed with the exception of one student. As Preeti excitedly digs into their favorite foods of dhokla cake topped with vagar, with mango pickles on the side, a classmate replies that their food "smells stinky!" Even though Preeti pushes back, they later ask their mother for a sandwich for lunch tomorrow. A similar pattern is observed over several days when Mina is interrupted as she eats her gimbap or when Niki unpacks her bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers, and tomato. Ray also receives backlash when he eats his tortilla filled with cut-up hot dog, a scrambled egg, and melted cheese packed by his abuela. Even though each child defends their food choices, they all succumb to peer pressure and eat sandwiches instead. Li fills each page with bold color combinations and detailed portraits and backdrops that make each spotlighted lunch delectable. The concise narration reveals that the children all eventually tire of their daily sandwiches and decide to reclaim their favorite foods with pride. An afterword reveals that the four students are based on the childhood experiences of professional chefs. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Bold colors and flavors serve as a reminder to embrace your heritage and all its culinary glory. (Picture book. 5-8)
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August 1, 2022
The contributors credited in this picture book, Niki Russ Federman, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, and Mina Park, are all professional chefs, but they were also once kids encountering peers—and the “lunchbox moment”—when each brought their family’s culture to school in the form of packed lunches. These meals are lovingly described by Stein and depicted in vibrant color by Li in this epicurean picture book. For Preeti, it’s “soft dhokla cake, topped with fried spices called vagar, and a side of bright mango pickles”; for Mina, it’s gimbap; Niki has an everything bagel with lox; and Ray arrives with a cheese, hot dog, and scrambled egg burrito. Stung by “weird,” “stinky,” and other judgmental words, the children briefly insist that their families provide only “regular sandwiches” going forward. But monotony, combined with burgeoning identities nurtured in the family kitchen, creates an unstoppable force: the kids not only choose their favorite foods, they become passionate advocates for culinary inclusion, too. Ages 3–6.
August 1, 2022
Grades 1-3 It's lunchtime at school, and the kids have all brought sandwiches--except for Preeti, who has dhokla cake and mango pickles ("Yum, my favorite!"). But their enthusiasm is tempered when a classmate says, "It smells stinky!" and though Preeti disagrees, they decide to bring a sandwich tomorrow. Subsequent days highlight kids at other tables--Mina, who's brought gimbap; Niki, an everything bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers and tomato; and Ray, a hot dog, egg, and cheese burrito. Their lunches are also criticized, so they decide to just bring sandwiches, too. But next week, each of the four brings the food they love and shares why it's meaningful. Stories about lunch differences are common, and this touches on familiar themes, like positive portrayals of diversity and inclusiveness and appreciating the connections between food, culture, and family traditions; the four kids in this story, however, are based on real people, each of whom is now a professional chef, which adds meaningful weight to their experiences. Bright, naturalistic art vibrantly depicts the kids in the classroom and, of course, their delicious-looking lunches.
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