Neal Porter Books | 978-0823443253
As you might guess from the title, LET ME FIX YOU A PLATE: A Tale of Two Kitchens is a wonderfully rich and affectionate tale of family, food, and celebration. The story begins…
“Once a year, on a Friday night,
my family leaves the city
and drives for hours and hours…
… to a mountain in West Virginia.”
Author/illustrator Elizabeth Lilly immediately transports the reader to Mamaw’s midnight kitchen. “Let me fix you a plate,” she says, as the three girls drag in, sleepy-eyed and exhausted after hours of traveling. There are hugs, and cake and a comfy couch awaiting.
Soon… Mamaw’s morning kitchen welcomes the family with “sausage sizzling in the skillet, blackberry jam on toast…” and matching coffee cups, one for Papaw, one for Daddy. The warmth of family and food and time together fills each and every page.
CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Elizabeth Lilly
Before long, the family is back on the road, driving and driving “south and south and south to a little orange house on a patch of scratchy grass in Florida.”
This time, when the family pours out of the car, the air is sticky and hot. Abuela runs out to hug one and all. “Hay comidita adentro.” A little bit of food is inside, that “-ita” at the end of “comida” conveying all the love baked into the meal.
There is laughing and aunts and uncles, everyone talking over one another in “loud Spanish words” that the child doesn’t understand.
Soon, Abuelo is teaching his granddaughter all the words… “Boca” means mouth. “Nariz” means nose. “Oreja” means ear.
CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Elizabeth Lilly
After three days, the family vacation must end and everyone piles back in the car. “…tummies full, hearts fuller…”
My heart was certainly fuller after reading this gorgeous book about family, food, and the many different ways and memories of our diverse traditions.
Don’t miss:
- Educator’s Guide and Activity Sheet for LET ME FIX YOU A PLATE
- Pair LET ME FIX YOU A PLATE: A Tale of Two Kitchens with another of my favorites: THE RELATIVES CAME by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell.
