A Haitian grandmother and granddaughter share a holiday, a family recipe, and a story of freedom.This tale features characters for whom cooking is an elaborate dance as well as family bonding, and the soup looks so tempting readers will swear they smell it. A stunning and necessary historical picture book. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) From Ti Gran ceremoniously adorning Belle with a matching apron to the final view of city windows full of revelers, this book is a start-to-finish celebration of family, history, and culture. A delectable first purchase for libraries. --School Library Journal (starred review) The dynamically detailed mixed-media artwork swirls with motion, feeling, and references to Haitian culture, and Alcántara ( The Field ) creates memorable characters in Ti Gran and Belle. Complete with a soup recipe and a personal note from Charles ( Like Vanessa ) honoring her family and Haitian history, this vibrant title is bound to teach, empower, and rumble the bellies of its readers. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Each and every page effortlessly flows into the next, emphasizing the strength of Belle's ancestors and the poignancy of a beautiful, celebratory tradition created out of respect for those who fought for freedom.

Alcántara does an equally wonderful job, imbuing her mixed-media artwork with lively movement and bold color while Belle and Ti Gran are busy in the kitchen and movingly juxtaposing those scenes with images of the Haitian revolution. This well-told story is a natural choice for multicultural holiday collections, as well as for sharing stories about heritage and tradition. --Booklist.