2 comments about My Pop Pop and Me.

1. For far too long there didn't seem to be children's books that celebrated relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren. My Pop Pop and Me by Irene Smalls has contributed to what I hope is a growing trend of stories that are fun, informative and celebrate the love between generations.
   
   Pop Pop and his grandson spend the day together in the kitchen cooking. Yes, two guys are cooking! How wonderful. They explore the kitchen and make a luscious lemon cake. The author even shares the recipe with the readers.
   
   The illustrations are cute, big and bold with soft, inviting colors. Children will be drawn to the kitchen scenes and the relationship between grandpa and grandson. I'm always looking for books with racial diversity and My Pop Pop and Me fits my criteria with the African-American characters.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Grandparents, this is a perfect book to purchase for that special grandchild. You can bake the cake together and then snuggle on the sofa reading My Pop Pop and Me.



2. This is a wonderful book that shows the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson. I love the subject of having the relationship take place in the kitchen.
   As the story progress the kitchen gets messy, and it shows child washing his hands cooking and cleaning... The pictures jump off the page. They show the little boy doing boyish things in the story...Beautiful book very warm and I love the ending.

3 comments about If I Can Cook/You Know God Can (Bluestreak Series).

1. I am not an African-American but through Shange's words I can feel the grief, the sorrow, and the triumphs of the African-American experience. By talking about food, which everybody needs and relates to, she paints a far more vivid picture of the African people in the Diaspora than a scholarly historian might. Many of her recipes call for ingredients I've hardly heard of, but her evocative descriptions of the food almost make me able to taste it.



2. Autobiographical and historical and cultural all rolled up in one. With the holidays coming up, these great stories and recipes of great african and african-american dishes--dishes from people and lands of color--would go perfectly with each serving of yams, blackeyed peas and rice and collards. Foods of defiance, comfort, strength. Presented by the superb Ntozake Shange. (For my two cents, all the schoolkids ought to be taught how really influential Ntozake was in black entertainment, period, not just literature. But that sounds like a discussion for another review.)



3. I typed it and now I can't find it and don't want to repeat whatI have just typed. I have no photo.

2 comments about Family (Carolrhoda Picture Books).

1. A little girl named Hope visited her Aunt Poogee house. She goes every summer right before school opens back. She loves visiting her Aunt Poogee's because there is always something to do. One summer one of her Aunt's friends asked "Is this child mixed." Hope heard it and wondered what she meant. Later on she couldn't think about anything but what her Aunt's friend said about her.

   Hope is a great book that teach young children that they are special no matter what they look like. This book is fantastic and will keep readers wondering what the author will write next.




2. I like children's books that have storylines, and this doesn't. Nothing happens except Hope's family gathers for a dinner, and Hope briefly describes what each person brings. It isn't very interesting, and while food could be a great way to discuss how two families come together, especially families from different racial groups, the opportunity is completely missed. A cousin comments that Hope's food contribution is different, "but so is she," apparently a reference to her being biracial. But none of the characters, including Hope, notice what he says, and the comment comes and goes without a ripple.

   Now, if the author had had both families eating together and one had brought collard greens and the other brought pierogies, if the other family members were hesitant about the unfamiliar foods but Hope, the bridge between the two, showed them the way, or if the families simply enjoyed the feast, having already accepted and enjoyed their differences, or if anyone had commented on what the cousin meant.... if any of those things had happened in this book, then I'd have a different review. If you are looking for a message about family and food, there are many other books. If you are looking for a book about multiracial families, the author's earlier book "Hope" is much better.

No comments about Food in Grandma's Day.

5 comments about A Taste of Heritage: The New African-American Cuisine.

1. I love this book. So far every recipe I have tried has turned out excellent. The recipes are easy to read and well written for the home chef. To date I have tried the Oven Roasted Rosemary-Garlic Chicken with Corn Bread Dressing, The Rustic Macaroni and Cheese and the Potato Salad to name a few. I just tried the Sweet Potato Pie and everyone loved it. The Authors did a wonderful job, and I have recommended it to my friends and plan on giving the book as gifts.



2. Absolutely fantastic!!!! Some could ask for pictures to go along with it. However, I feel as though part of utilizing recipes is unwrapping the mystery of it's visual beauty. As a culinary student I find that not having pictures allows me to add my own touches to the dishes without visual bias.



3. I'm impressed with the author's use of authentic as well as contemporary ingredients and techniques. And I was quite taken by the vast coverage of the topic - appetizers, gumbos, salads, sides, entrees, desserts, lovely book!!



4. This book is excellent. I like it because the recipes are good for everyone to try. Chef Joe's cooking school in Savannah is a rare treat also for an activity during your Savannah weekend.
   After he tortures and teases you with the sights and aromas, he gives you a meal you'll never forget.



5. I love this cookbook. The recipies are well written and easy to follow! Try the Shrimp Creole!! You wont Regret it!!!

2 comments about Leah Chase: Listen, I Say Like This.

1. Written largely in the words of Leah Chase, herself, this book makes the reader feel he or she really KNOWS Leah Chase, and what a lady to know! She is a piece of our national history and a national treasure. Her willingness to express her opinions on just about everything evokes laughter as well as tears. Her life is awe-inspiring,sometimes humorous and sometimes sad. Leah Chase is one of those rare human beings who can walk with kings or sit on the floor with poor folks and be just as comfortable with either.



2. The glowing review above, titled "Everybody Loves Her; What's Not to Love?" seems to have been ghostwritten by her publisher. It is written in the same style as the book--which is equally over-the-top in it's fauning style and sachrine praise.
   
   Leah's FOOD is supberb! However, her storytelling is nauseatingly nacisistic and quickly grows wearisome. If you really feel compelled to read this book order it from the library. I wish I spent the money on one of her cookbooks instead!
   Bon Appetite

No comments about SOULFUL GOURMET.

No comments about The Black Families Health-Giving . . . Spice of Life Cookbook: A Cultural Guide to Good Eating.

5 comments about Afrodita: cuentos, recetas y otros afrodisíacos.

1. As I am a person that likes to eat desserts (especially) chocolate I would really even Love it more to explore in a book written by such a succesfull author as Isabelle Allende... It seems a delicious book to explore in, there it has so delicious and beautiful things to eat and read in...



2. To me, this book is just a waist of time!



3. Es sobresabido que nosotros los latinos o al menos una gran parte de nosotros TODO lo festejamos alrededor de la comida, y creo que en este libro se hace un honor al ejercicio de convivir en familia
   
   No esperes encontrar la gran historia, pero si una perfecta y maravillosa narracion sobre comida e interesantes recetas



4. Es inevitable, no arrepentirse de las cosas de las que se arrepiente la autora.
   Las recetas están bastante bien introducidas en el texto, aunque lo veo un poco forzado, no hay una unidad, son historias aisladas que a veces no pegan demasiado bien con la receta en cuestión y te quedas un poco a medias, ( en la receta y en la historia), pero es ameno y original.
   A mi entender éste y los demás libros de Isabel Allende, pecan un poco de "aburguesados" y ésto no me gusta demasiado, tniendo en cuenta que pretende escribir precisamente para un público no burgués.
   Tampoco me gusta la excesiva diferencia entre las ediciones existentes. La calidad del papel y de las ilustraciones es abismal, no así los precios.Que también pecan de "burgueses".



5. I wanted to read this book since the first time it was published in 1997 but I think I was to young to have appreciated. Now that I finished it I just can say it was a real feast for the mind and soul, it was just the best meal I ever had. Isabel Allende writes after a terrible moment in her life which was the dead of ther daughter Paula but she does it with so much passion, such zeal for life as if celebrating it together with love and lovemaking, just couldn't help but devouring the book in 3 nights. Is not only a novel (if you can call it that way) but is also a cooking book with so many exquisite recipes that you would like to try with your partner (or on your partner) at once. If you happen to speak spanish native or have a good knowledge of this language I'd recommend you to buy the spanish version to enjoy Isabel Allende at her best.

1 comments about Kwanzaa Keepsake.

1. Ms. Harris' book, "A Kwanzaa Keepsake: Celebrating the Holiday With New Traditions and Feasts," is excellent. I knew nothing about Kwanzaa when I picked it up but felt as though I had been thoroughly introduced to a marvelous seven-day series of ceremonies, feasts and celebrations. I came away with a great deal of respect for Kwanzaa and the seven principles behind it. It is unfortunate, however, that the creator of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, felt it necessary to discriminate against all but African Americans, for all mankind would benefit from participating in this moving celebration. We could all stand to be affirmed and reaffirmed as members of our families, our communities and our cultures on an annual basis.