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Books to Read...When You Want to Share a Meal

This time of year inspires memories of gathering together with loved ones, eating delicious food, and finding ways to express gratitude to one another and our communities. One of the most enduring ways to show we care is by sharing a hot meal or favorite treat with someone. Let these stories of families, neighbors, and friends cooking together inspire you to create deeper bonds and new traditions. Enjoy!

Cooking for your neighbors:

By Felicita Sala
New York, NY: Prestel Publishing, 2019. Picture Book.

In an old apartment building on Garden Street, each resident is cooking up something special to share with their neighbors in a communal meal. Representing a diverse array of cultures with charming illustrations, each neighbor's simple recipe is included for readers to try at home. 

Cooking with your family:

Written by Winsome Bingham
Illustrated by C. G. Esperanza
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2021. Picture Book.

A Coretta Scott King Honor book, Soul Food Sunday celebrates the lasting relationships that are created through the passing down of food traditions when a grandmother teaches her young grandson how to make family favorites. 
   
Cooking with your friends:

Written by Aisha Saeed
Illustrated by Anoosha Syed
New York: Salaam Reads, 2019. Picture Book.

Bilal wants to share his love of a family favorite dish, daal, with his friends. So, he includes them in the process from start to finish, including the great patience necessary to enjoy it at its most delicious!

Cooking for your community:

Our Little Kitchen
By Jillian Tamaki
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book.

Rife with boisterous energy from the lively illustrations, Our Little Kitchen, follows kitchen volunteers as they cook for their community. Resourcefulness in using a limited supply of available ingredients is emphasized, which provides realistic insight into this based-on-true-life tale. 

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