GRANNY'S KITCHEN

A young girl learns to cook from her grandmother.

Shelly-Ann lives in Jamaica with her grandmother, who is a wonderful cook. Shelly-Ann decides she wants to try her hand at making meals—from dumplins to ackee to saltfish to plantains—and asks her grandmother for help. To her dismay, Shelly-Ann’s attempts at each dish are disappointing: “I can’t cook!” she cries each time. But her grandmother reassures her, “You will get it right next time.” Shelly-Ann continues to cook, but finally, her confidence shaken, she decides to give up. However, one morning when her grandmother is too tired to cook, Shelly-Ann decides to try again. This story is warm and inviting. Daley’s vibrant, highly saturated illustrations bolster the appeal and are sure to entice young readers—and perhaps encourage them to try their own hand in the kitchen. Recipes for each of the dishes mentioned can be found at the end of the book along with fun facts about Jamaica. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A vibrant, upbeat story of a determined girl and her love of food.