Today is day two of the new picture books released this week. I have four to share with you so make sure you check out yesterday's and the next couple of days' posts! Today we are going to look at Chef Edna by Melvina Noel and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. It is a book that shares the life of the Queen of Southern Cooking, Edna Lewis with 4- to 8-year-olds.
From the Publisher:
A warm and inviting picture-book portrait of African American culinary legend Edna Lewis, who brought Southern cooking to the masses.Edna loved to cook. Growing up on a farm in Freetown, Virginia, she learned the value of fresh, local, seasonal food from her Mama Daisy, how to measure ingredients for biscuits using coins, and to listen closely to her cakes to know when they were done. Edna carried these traditions with her all the way to New York, where she became a celebrated chef, who could even turn traditional French food into her signature Southern style. The author of several cookbooks and the recipient of numerous awards, Chef Edna introduced the world to the flavors of her home.
From Me:
Edna Lewis lived an interesting life. At the age of 16 she lost her father and left home to work. She moved to New York City and worked as a laundress as well as a seamstress. She was known for making her own clothes with African designed fabric and made dresses for movie stars (including Marilyn Monroe source). While she was successful as a seamstress and dress designer, she really wanted to cook. She got her chance and soon introduced Southern cooking to New York. This book shares snippets of Edna's life with kids. It is a fun book to read and kids will be interested. It shares a bit of Black history as well as a bit of culinary history.
The illustrations in the book are detailed and beautiful. The people gathered at restaurants and the Edna's busy life in New York as well as her sanctuary back home. I love how the pictures show the time period of Edna's life as well as the culture that there was in New York City. As an adult you may recognize some of the faces of the famous people she served in the illustrations. There is so much history packed into the book.
At the end of the book there is the Author's Note with more biographical information about Edna's life including that she stayed as the executive chef of a restaurant into her seventies! It also lists some of the ways she has been honored. Then there is a recipe for Edna's Biscuits. I haven't tried it, but I hope to! This book is perfect for introducing kids to the genre of biographies as well as to Southern cooking, Black history and so much more. I hope you will check it out!
