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annabannana's review against another edition
This book should be read with your child or discussed with them afterward. The discussion should include the topics of slavery and gender equality and gender roles.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Oh boy. There's a lot to be said about this book. At first, I did really enjoy it, despite the depictions of the smiling slaves, which is hugely problematic in itself. And I say "despite" because immediately after I read it and even now, I'm not sure whether I have any sort of authority to really discuss that.
I mean, overall, at face value, this book does a good job of tying in history through narrative, and showing how this dessert is something that can be used to bring people together and create memories. Which is great! But, like, yikes about the smiling slaves. So here's the deal--I'm white, and definitely have opinions about this, but if y'all are interested in the discussion surrounding this book, I'd highly recommend reading reviews and thinkpieces written by black authors because it's ultimately their voices that should have the authority.
So I suppose my thoughts can be summed up in one sentence: this is a pretty good book, if you can get past the smiling slaves.
I mean, overall, at face value, this book does a good job of tying in history through narrative, and showing how this dessert is something that can be used to bring people together and create memories. Which is great! But, like, yikes about the smiling slaves. So here's the deal--I'm white, and definitely have opinions about this, but if y'all are interested in the discussion surrounding this book, I'd highly recommend reading reviews and thinkpieces written by black authors because it's ultimately their voices that should have the authority.
So I suppose my thoughts can be summed up in one sentence: this is a pretty good book, if you can get past the smiling slaves.
pacifickle's review
5.0
Fascinating to compare the lives of four parent/child combinations as they make the same dessert through the centuries. 1710 mother/daughter in England, 1810 slave mother/daughter in South Carolina, 1910 mother/daughter in Massachusetts, and 2010 son/father in San Diego. Watch as everything changes- clothes, homes, technology, hairstyles. Meticulously researched, I found this book fascinating, especially the backmatter: notes from the author and illustrator, and a recipe.
I already loved the author and illustrator, so I wasn't very surprised about that, either! Check out Jenkin's "Water in the Park" and "Lemonade in Winter," or Blackall's illustrations in "The Mighty Lalouche" and her own book "The Baby Tree" for more high quality picture books! Blackall even used blackberry juice to paint the endpapers, people. That's ingenuity!
I'm so obsessed with this book, I spent my Valentine's Day date talking about it with my husband. He's into this book, and he's an engineer. I have my second grade team of teachers working on a book study with me on this- we're going to talk about how the technology changes over time, how Jenkins & Blackall researched to write & illustrate this fictional book, and then, of course, we're making blackberry fool together!
I already loved the author and illustrator, so I wasn't very surprised about that, either! Check out Jenkin's "Water in the Park" and "Lemonade in Winter," or Blackall's illustrations in "The Mighty Lalouche" and her own book "The Baby Tree" for more high quality picture books! Blackall even used blackberry juice to paint the endpapers, people. That's ingenuity!
I'm so obsessed with this book, I spent my Valentine's Day date talking about it with my husband. He's into this book, and he's an engineer. I have my second grade team of teachers working on a book study with me on this- we're going to talk about how the technology changes over time, how Jenkins & Blackall researched to write & illustrate this fictional book, and then, of course, we're making blackberry fool together!
hulahoopes's review
1.0
I think this is a book that needs quite a bit of conversation. I wanted to judge it just on the great qualities but I have a school with many African American students. Can I bring in this book that has offended so many? I have to say no.
mrsalliea's review
5.0
My pick for the Caldecott 2016. Interesting things to discuss (roles throughout history). Author's and illustrator's notes should not be missed!
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fantastic portrayal of changing social and technological norms.
When I first started the book, I thought, “This is a recipe, not a picture book.” As I turned the pages, I saw how the author showed the changes in how people cooked. I was impressed that in the past, she showed slaves hiding in the closet to eat the dessert and compared that to modern times when people of different races came together to eat. This book was so much more than a recipe. Well done!
When I first started the book, I thought, “This is a recipe, not a picture book.” As I turned the pages, I saw how the author showed the changes in how people cooked. I was impressed that in the past, she showed slaves hiding in the closet to eat the dessert and compared that to modern times when people of different races came together to eat. This book was so much more than a recipe. Well done!