HOW TO MAKE A SANDWICH
by Lorena Proia written and illustrated by Lorena M. Proia
In Proia’s picture book, a young girl tries to prepare a sandwich but is repeatedly thwarted by her pet dog.
Rae dresses in an oversized artist’s smock, which, when imagination strikes, doubles as the attire of a scientist, doctor, or chef. When she decides to make a sandwich, she explains to her cat, Nero, how its ingredients are like a family: The bread is the safe embrace of parents, the turkey is love, and the lettuce is crunchy fun. When the turkey mysteriously goes missing, Rae starts over, but then other foodstuffs vanish—pilfered by her dog, Phebe. Rae grows increasingly frustrated but later realizes that love truly is the most important ingredient, even if it’s not turkey. Rae and her parents are depicted as light-skinned, and the girl’s diminutive size and tiny fingers evoke Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts characters. Proia’s exquisite images favor grainy, textured pastels that capture the warmth and detail of Rae’s home environment while leaving plenty of space for text. Rae and Phebe have lots of personality, and the attention to nuance—the loose curl of the paper towel, the jumble of colors in the laundry basket—makes the story feel real. Best of all, the didactic story of Rae’s lunch preparations changes into a playful adventure that makes a solid point.
A beautifully illustrated story that children and caregivers alike will savor.