FICTION

A Taste of Home

Roaring Brook. Aug. 2024. 40p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781250834171.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1–The Lower East Side of New York City is the setting for this story of a boy who goes out of his apartment one day with the mandate from his mother to “bring back a taste of home.” His mother’s home is Israel. But while the boy is clear that for him, “home” is his neighborhood, he knows that for many of his neighbors, home is somewhere far away. The text expands and encompasses his neighbors’ homes, whose flavors have been captured in the shops, bodegas, and Asian restaurants in the area. A culminating picnic with the diverse population of his community features children and adults with roots that span the globe, and flavors that cover an entire picnic blanket. Illustrations capture the immediate location with ties to distant locales effectively connecting near and far. Notes at the end extend the story for children not familiar with the Lower East Side, but this book will be relatable where cultures and communities continue to mix, no matter where readers live.
VERDICT This is a highly effective tool for encouraging children to look into the rich diversity in their communities and realize the many ways immigration adds to the American experience for all who live here.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?