Does your family or did your family have a tradition of Sunday dinner? I remember when I was young, we would gather at my grandparents' house for Sunday dinner. Often it would be a steak dinner or some type of beef I believe, but that is not really a memory, but more information told to me. The memory I have is when my cousin was a baby. I remember his holding my finger with his little hands for hours. I was finally not the baby of the family anymore. The funny thing is I don't remember his younger sister as a baby, but I remember him. Today I get to share with you a story about a Sunday dinner tradition in an Ecuadorian-American family and it has a family recipe to try at the end!! (We tried it and I loved it!!) The book is Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona and illustrated by Claudia Navarro. This book is recommended for ages 5 to 8 and this review is for Multicultural Children's Book Day! Join us here, we are co-hosting, on January 28th for the BIG LINKY of all the Multicultural Children's Books and the celebration. There is more information about it all below!
From the Publisher:
"Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita's house. As Alejandra thinks about all the good times her family has had there, she decides that she wants to be brave and try speaking Spanish with Abuelita so that they can deepen their bond. A timely #OwnVoices tale that reflects the experience of many American families."From Me:
This story tells of a multigenerational family connection. The tradition of Sunday dinner and gathering at Abuelita's turned Sunday into Domingo for the author. In the book she shares her own memories of the fun and magic. She shares her desire to know more Spanish so she can connect even more with her abuela. The book uses Spanish words throughout the story to bring the true memories of Alejandra alive.
From the extended family gathering and squishing in to the traditional Ecuadorian food, this story shares true memories from a child's point of view. There are so many wonderful parts from jokes to dancing. At the end of the book Alexandra shares her family's recipe for Ecuadorian locro or potato soup. This was her favorite food served each Sunday and her abuela would sneak her some before the meal. Although Hazel doesn't enjoy cooking with me as much as she did when she was young, I still like to try the various cultural foods with my family, so I cooked some! The recipe in the book is easy and we found it delicious. It is not a recipe I would make all the time, but we enjoyed eating it.
This book shares how it is important to keep family traditions alive and share one's culture with the children. Even as people immigrate to new countries, culture can be kept alive with food, family, and memories. It is a wonderful story and a fun read. Hazel would have loved making the recipe with me when she was young--especially the dance party while the potatoes cook! Be sure to check this one out!
About Multicultural Children's Book Day:
Multicultural
Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th year! This non-profit
children’s literacy initiative was founded by
Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms
who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and
authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of
young readers and educators.
MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’
books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our
Mission & History HERE.
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Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
SUPER PLATINUM: Make A Way Media
PLATINUM: Language
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GOLD: Barefoot Books, KidLitTV, Candlewick, Capstone, Abrams Books
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MCBD 2022 is honored to be
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Illustrator
Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)
Alva Sachs, Brianna Carter, Ebony Zay Zay, Rita Bhandari, Gwen Jackson,
Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted
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Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Josh Funk, Afsaneh Moradian, Eugenia Chu, Maritza Martínez Mejía, Diana Huang, Kathleen Burkinshaw, CultureGroove, Sandra Elaine Scott, Dorena Williamson, Veronica Appleton, Alejandra Domenzain, Lauren Muskovitz and Sandfish Publishing,
Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kimberly Lee, Susan Schaefer Bernardo &
Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Nancy
Tupper Ling, Winsome
Hudson-Bingham, Amanda
Hsiung-Blodgett, Sivan Hong, Michael Genhart, Debbie Dadey, Elizabeth Cureton, Stephanie Wildman, Maryann Jacob, Sherri Maret, Rochelle Melander, Dia Mixon, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young, Shereen Rahming, Linda
Thornburg and Katherine Archer, Rebecca
Flansburg and BA Norrgard , Maxine
Schur Natalie McDonald-Perkins
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FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
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Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
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