Reviews

Kalamata's Kitchen by Sarah Thomas

chip4201's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

dembury's review

4.0

A delightful and sensory adventure that explores both food and being brave all in one go. Although the main message gets a little muddled towards the end, I think plenty of readers young and old will have fun going on this under-the-kitchen-table trip with Kalamata and Al Dente (who is adorbs!!).

ntembeast's review

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a charming little read. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous to behold! The colors and patterns are stunning and were one of my favorite parts of the entire book. Also, the descriptions of the foods made me hungry just to read about, so I'd say they're doing a fantastic job! I also love that the book was depicting how to overcome your anxiousness by being able to rely on the things that make you feel whole and safe, but also that encourage and inspire you. I do think there were a couple of stretches in terms of the story moving from one point to another, which is an opportunity for kids to try to connect the dots or for adults to help explain those moments, but overall, a lovely experience. Absolutely recommend this for anyone trying to expand their reading tastes. ;)

rainmisoa's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

What a beautiful story! First off, the art is incredible. The art and the story compliment each other beautifully. This book is a short but lovely story about Indian culture and food. It reminded me of the video game Venba. This book teaches you to never turn your nose to a dish you never heard of nor have tried. It educates you on the many different cuisine found in Indian and you get to go on an imaginative adventure with Kalamata and her toy alligator, Al Dente. It's a very sweet story about loving one's culture and expanding one's horizons. I adore this book!

rachelwhite11's review

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

smalltownbookmom's review

5.0

I LOVED this ownvoices story featuring an Indian-American girl who is afraid about starting a new school and finds comfort in her mother's kitchen and the amazing food she's used to making. Gorgeous illustrations and a relatable message any child can connect with. Highly recommend this new picture book, especially for fans of Salma the Syrian chef.

sabesaw's review

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This children's book was pretty adorable. Seeing Kalamata's imaginary adventures was fun. The art style was incredibly beautiful and one could get lost in it. I enjoyed getting to know what makes Kalamtata anxious and brave. It's a nice story about finding what makes you brave and I appreciate that part of the story. It's a great read for kids and can be informative of the South Indian food culture. 

The story seemed to end quite abruptly however and I wasn't a fan of that. All in all it was a cute story and I would read more from these series. 

mlottermoser's review

3.0

Kalamata is worried about her first day of school. She finds comfort in the smells of the kitchen.

pib003's review

3.0

Social-emotional, imagination/play, everyday diversity

ofloveandlayovers's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

3.0