Our Little Kitchen

A group of community members gather weekly in their neighborhood kitchen to prepare meals for locals in need. Through vibrant illustrations and energetic text, readers follow the volunteers as they cook, organize, and serve food together. The story captures the practical realities of running a community kitchen - from checking what ingredients are available to washing dishes. The artwork shows the organized chaos of multiple cooks sharing a space, with speech bubbles and sound effects bringing the kitchen to life. The book centers on themes of community service, reducing food waste, and the power of working together. It presents a straightforward look at how small actions and shared meals can build connections between neighbors.

Readers praise the warm, energetic illustrations and celebration of community in this children's book about a neighborhood kitchen. Parents and teachers report the book helps introduce young children to food insecurity, volunteering, and cooperation. Specific praise: - Shows realistic food prep and cooking techniques - Diverse representation of volunteers and community members - Sound effects and movement make it engaging for read-alouds Common critiques: - Text can be hard to follow with scattered speech bubbles - Some find the pacing too chaotic - A few note it may be better for older children due to complex themes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (240+ ratings) School Library Journal: Starred Review One librarian reviewer noted: "The controlled chaos of the kitchen jumps off every page." Multiple teachers mentioned successfully using it to launch discussions about community service with elementary students.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora An elderly woman's generous spirit brings her neighborhood together through sharing her delicious stew.

Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard A Native American family prepares traditional food while connecting across generations in their kitchen.

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning Two children discover their parents cooking and dancing in the kitchen late at night.

Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell A family works together to shop for groceries and prepare a meal from start to finish.

All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant, Nikki McClure The daily rhythms of cooking and sharing food unfold in a community garden and kitchen.

🥄 Author Jillian Tamaki was inspired to write this book by her real-life experiences volunteering at a community kitchen in Brooklyn, New York. 🥕 The vibrant, energetic illustrations in the book were created using brush and ink, then colored digitally to capture the bustling atmosphere of a busy kitchen. 🍲 The book promotes food sustainability by showing how volunteers use "rescued" food items—produce and goods that would otherwise go to waste—to create nutritious meals. 👥 Many of the characters in the book are based on actual volunteers Tamaki worked alongside, celebrating the diverse community that comes together to help others. 🏆 The book received the 2021 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book award, which recognizes excellence in children's nonfiction literature.