Okra Stew

Starred review from October 1, 2023
A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story. When our young narrator, Bobo, awakes, Papa is already in the kitchen preparing warm biscuits for the child and the rest of the family: Mama, Big Sis, and Grandpa. But the day's work is just starting as Papa and Bobo set out to cook okra stew for dinner tonight. The hard work and garden-grown veggies that go into this meal are on full display in illustrations that rely on acrylic paints, textiles, and various natural materials. Bobo describes the smells and sensations of the "dayclean" (a Gullah term for morning) with vivid detail and a youthfully inviting charm. Midday has father and child gathering shrimp and seashells at a nearby creek, and, upon their return home to the kitchen, the cooking finally begins. Chopped veggies fly across the page and take center stage before making their way into the pot, and the warmth of the kitchen gives way to a flashback of Papa and Grandpa cooking together a generation ago. The recipe is mouthwateringly detailed, skillet-baked cornbread is prepped as a side, and Bobo's glee is palpable when the rice "rains down into the pot." Mama and Big Sis return from work and school just in time for stew, and Grandpa joins them, too. Delicious from "dayclean" to "when the sun red fa down." (more information on the Gullah Geechee people, glossary of Gullah term, recipe for okra stew) (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from November 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Daise's (from the show Gullah Gullah Island) stunning picture book follows a loving father and son through a day of preparing the special family dinner. The day is a feast for the senses as Bobo's father takes him to the bee-filled garden to pick vegetables among bright and colorful flowers, then to the creek to catch shrimp where Bobo observes the seagulls, seashells, crabs, and turtles in the sand. Once home, they prepare the rice and cornbread, and put all their ingredients in the pot for the stew. Vibrant mixed media collages and lush descriptive language bring the recipe to life, while Bobo discovers that his father learned how to make the stew in the same kitchen with his father. Back matter includes notes on the origins and cultural practices of the Gullah Geechee community, Gullah words and phrases used in the book, and the author's okra stew recipe. VERDICT A beautiful and delicious story that celebrates family and traditions.-Carrie Voliva

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