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Our Little Kitchen: A Picture Book
Eisner Award Winner for Best Publication for Early Readers
STARRED REVIEW *“Visually brilliant. . . . Convey[s] the power of thrift, collective action, and community-building.” — Publishers Weekly
Tie on your apron! Roll up your sleeves! Pans are out, oven is hot, the kitchen’s all ready! Where do we start?
A lively celebration of food and community from Caldecott honoree Jillian Tamaki, this lively, rousing picture book tells the story of a crew of resourceful neighbors who come together to prepare a meal for their community.
With a garden abundant with produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen, and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and looking out for one another.
You can almost smell the veggies on the stove! Ingredients and steps for making vegetable soup precede a swirl of steam that leads into an introduction to a small community kitchen. Here a diverse group of friends, family, and neighbors unite to prep the meal with “what we’ve got, what we’ve grown, what we’ve kept, been given, and bought!”
The group prepares soup, chili, apple crumble, salad, warm bread, and more. The sounds of the kitchen “sizzle, chop, glug, slice, peel, trim, toss, splash, squish.” Helpers serve as neighbors wait and anticipate the joy of sharing in a time of need.
The book’s bright, full-color illustrations, speech bubbles, simple words, varying perspectives, and exciting action encourage young readers to jump from page to page.
Bonus materials include recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.
STARRED REVIEW *“Visually brilliant. . . . Convey[s] the power of thrift, collective action, and community-building.” — Publishers Weekly
Tie on your apron! Roll up your sleeves! Pans are out, oven is hot, the kitchen’s all ready! Where do we start?
A lively celebration of food and community from Caldecott honoree Jillian Tamaki, this lively, rousing picture book tells the story of a crew of resourceful neighbors who come together to prepare a meal for their community.
With a garden abundant with produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen, and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and looking out for one another.
You can almost smell the veggies on the stove! Ingredients and steps for making vegetable soup precede a swirl of steam that leads into an introduction to a small community kitchen. Here a diverse group of friends, family, and neighbors unite to prep the meal with “what we’ve got, what we’ve grown, what we’ve kept, been given, and bought!”
The group prepares soup, chili, apple crumble, salad, warm bread, and more. The sounds of the kitchen “sizzle, chop, glug, slice, peel, trim, toss, splash, squish.” Helpers serve as neighbors wait and anticipate the joy of sharing in a time of need.
The book’s bright, full-color illustrations, speech bubbles, simple words, varying perspectives, and exciting action encourage young readers to jump from page to page.
Bonus materials include recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
About the author
Jillian Tamaki
36 books863 followersJillian Tamaki is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Toronto. A professional artist since 2003, she has worked for publications around the world and taught extensively in New York at the undergraduate and graduate level. She is the co-creator, with her cousin Mariko Tamaki, of Skim and This One Summer, the latter of which won a Caldecott Honor in 2015. She is the author of the graphic novels SuperMutant Magic Academy, originally a serialized webcomic, and Boundless, a collection of short comic stories for adults. Her first picture book, They Say Blue, was released in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
July 25, 2021
The art takes the center stage in this picture book about a community kitchen in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where the artist Jillian Tamaki volunteered for several years. The point of the book is to communicate swirling colorful celebration, lots of movement, lots of noise, and people working together to make good food for a community in need, folks of all shapes and sizes, folks in wheelchairs, one night a week.
Reminded me of other food memoirs such as Lucy Knisley's Relish: My Life in a Kitchen, which is similarly inviting in its warmth and joy, also in bright colors, though this book of course has the added dimension of serving others in collaboration.
Reminded me of other food memoirs such as Lucy Knisley's Relish: My Life in a Kitchen, which is similarly inviting in its warmth and joy, also in bright colors, though this book of course has the added dimension of serving others in collaboration.
January 25, 2021
I think this book is missing the most crucial part - why this neighborhood needs a kitchen that offers free meals. Without it, it's just a story about people utilizing non-traditional quality produce - garden-grown veggies, day-old bread, slightly spoiled fruit - in cooking, which would have been a fine topic if this was the main point. Underbaked, from where I stand.
March 30, 2021
This book might work better if you have a little context by reading the back cover and the Author's Note at the end first, but that wouldn't do much to make up for the erratic and weak rhyming and the sometimes confusing flow.
October 3, 2020
This made me cry. It's such good visual storytelling, and it's got a breadth of human diversity not often seen.
The review from Kirkus sums it up well:
We come together to feed our own in this upbeat picture book. Tamaki's latest is a delight for the senses, bursting with bright colors, enticing scents, and effervescent prose. There's not really a story here, nor much gastronomic wisdom—and that's precisely the point. Instead, readers shadow a diverse group of people who come together every Wednesday to prepare a meal for their neighbors using whatever materials are at hand. Their garden is far from perfect, but it yields plenty of produce; leftovers and community contributions fill in the gaps. Whether donated, grown, or saved from the fridge, all foodstuffs are welcome—this is no place for premium ingredients or brand names! The kitchen's warmth emanates not only from the oven, but from the cacophony of voices and cascade of culinary noises sustaining it. It's a place for gratitude and camaraderie, not gripes and complaints—a disposition evident in Tamaki's singsong, occasionally rhyming first-person plural prose. Onomatopoeic actions—"glug glug glug / CHOPCHO PCHOP / Sizzzzzzzzle"—and volunteers' hearty exclamations pop in spreads characterized by Tamaki's trademark fluidity and playfulness. Nib-and-ink linework swooshes across the pages, emulating the controlled frenzy and depicting a thoughtfully diverse cast of warmhearted people. Endpapers offer simple recipes for vegetable soup and apple crumble; adults familiar with Lucy Knisley and Samin Nosrat will swoon at the sight of these graphically rendered recipes. An author's note explains the real-life experience that inspired the project. Simply delectable!
The review from Kirkus sums it up well:
We come together to feed our own in this upbeat picture book. Tamaki's latest is a delight for the senses, bursting with bright colors, enticing scents, and effervescent prose. There's not really a story here, nor much gastronomic wisdom—and that's precisely the point. Instead, readers shadow a diverse group of people who come together every Wednesday to prepare a meal for their neighbors using whatever materials are at hand. Their garden is far from perfect, but it yields plenty of produce; leftovers and community contributions fill in the gaps. Whether donated, grown, or saved from the fridge, all foodstuffs are welcome—this is no place for premium ingredients or brand names! The kitchen's warmth emanates not only from the oven, but from the cacophony of voices and cascade of culinary noises sustaining it. It's a place for gratitude and camaraderie, not gripes and complaints—a disposition evident in Tamaki's singsong, occasionally rhyming first-person plural prose. Onomatopoeic actions—"glug glug glug / CHOPCHO PCHOP / Sizzzzzzzzle"—and volunteers' hearty exclamations pop in spreads characterized by Tamaki's trademark fluidity and playfulness. Nib-and-ink linework swooshes across the pages, emulating the controlled frenzy and depicting a thoughtfully diverse cast of warmhearted people. Endpapers offer simple recipes for vegetable soup and apple crumble; adults familiar with Lucy Knisley and Samin Nosrat will swoon at the sight of these graphically rendered recipes. An author's note explains the real-life experience that inspired the project. Simply delectable!
October 24, 2020
I really liked this picture book! The text is sort of a light rhyme about a group of people preparing for a community meal. I really like that there's a bit about using food that isn't quite the prettiest because it's totally still good! One thing I really noticed is the number of disabled folks in the illustrations! One of the main kitchen helpers uses a purple cane (like me!). There's also a power chair user and someone seen both sitting on and walking with a walker! I like the gestural comic style of the illustrations and the whole community feels like an actual community and not just a bunch of background identity checkboxes.
November 25, 2020
Note: I am finally taking full advantage of having Edelweiss in order to screen picture books and kids fiction. Because I've bought too many dreadful books based on reviews--and Kirkus, I'm looking at you in particular...
I am giving this 2 stars mostly for the concept. The art is scratchy and not terribly attractive, though it does provide that multicultural milieu without which a lot of books will get rejected.
But the big problem here(and thank you, Edelweiss for the DRC which warned me) is that I am not sure if the author was trying to make this rhyme. If so, the rhymes are dreadful, and mostly don't really rhyme. And if it's supposed to be a rhyme, well, rhymes are rhythmic and this one jumps all over the place. You could use this to explain the term "herky-jerky" to someone learning English.
Nice concept, poor execution. No sale.
I am giving this 2 stars mostly for the concept. The art is scratchy and not terribly attractive, though it does provide that multicultural milieu without which a lot of books will get rejected.
But the big problem here(and thank you, Edelweiss for the DRC which warned me) is that I am not sure if the author was trying to make this rhyme. If so, the rhymes are dreadful, and mostly don't really rhyme. And if it's supposed to be a rhyme, well, rhymes are rhythmic and this one jumps all over the place. You could use this to explain the term "herky-jerky" to someone learning English.
Nice concept, poor execution. No sale.
November 25, 2020
I miss OUR Little Wednesday night Kitchen, and all the people i got to meet each week.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
April 24, 2021
A picture book about a community kitchen with gorgeous, whimsical illustrations. Includes a diverse representation of characters, including disabled characters.
October 30, 2020
Lovely with the underground thrum of frenetic focused teamwork time. Reminded me so much of my childhood (my dad ran a homeless dining hall/ shelter in my neighborhood). This wasn’t that story or even a story with an arc at all but it felt.. authentic. Like a piece of art created out of a real experience recognized. I enjoyed it immensely and appreciate what it poked at in me to remember in my own life. If that’s not what art is I dunno what is!
June 9, 2020
I was lucky enough to read this digitally before its release and I have to say, this is a special little book. It shows readers of all ages that the magic of community and hard work can transform not-a-lot of food into a meal for those who need it. The spreads are energetic and vibrant, whisking readers along in swoops and swirls, making for a dynamic reading experience. Gently rhyming text means this will make for an excellent read aloud and a variety of races, genders and abilities depicted in the kitchen and beyond means every reader will find themselves in the pages. Highly recommend!
November 8, 2020
A big-hearted picture book about a diverse group of volunteers who gather regularly to cook and serve a community meal. The lively illustrations and rhyming text capture the group's joy at working hard to provide delicious, nutritious food. It is an inspiring story that may encourage older readers to want to help if not in a community kitchen, then maybe in their kitchen at home. Don't miss the yummy recipes on the endpapers!
July 28, 2021
Charmingly illustrated with a great premise, this picture book could have easily been 4 or 5 stars for me -- what threw me off was the rhyme scheme (which frequently got awkward with non-rhyming words and interrupted syllable patterns) and the sometimes too-cluttered word bubbles (for a couple spreads, I couldn't tell what order they should be read in; if there hadn't been an attempt at rhyming, maybe it wouldn't have totally mattered). This impacted readability overall for me.
April 11, 2022
the great thing about jillian tamaki is how she shows us that sometimes life is an angst-ridden supermutant magic academy, but yet also sometimes just a community kitchen wanting to feed people a good meal.
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September 13, 2021cute …saw this in a comic book store with my friends. went home and read it a few hours later. the power of libby. <3
April 18, 2021
My new favorite book! This shows an actual slice of humanity, and a really diverse cast. One day a week, this group gets together to make dinner with whatever they have on hand. Bruised produce, still good. Beans again?! We'll make it work. As an added bonus, it includes an easy recipe for apple crumble.
October 14, 2020
I was so excited for this but the text fell short for me. I really struggle with not-quite-rhyming and off-rhythm picture books, my brain just feels all muddled up when reading them. The concept and illustrations in this are beautiful, though - I especially loved how the scenes flowed across the pages so fluidly.
December 12, 2020
Great story about taking what you have and whatever you can cobble together, and using it to help others in need. Your offering of assistance doesn’t need to be “perfect”, just be humble and gracious and get to work helping others.
January 10, 2021
This book is amazing! And completely unexpected. Just look at the cover and tell me what you think this book is about. Hmm? Well I shall tell you - this book is about a group of people who come together once a week and create a meal from whatever they have. Beans from the food pantry. Salad from the garden. Three bags of slightly bruised apples. Day old bread from a local bakery. They create a feast which is then consumed by - their neighbors! So delightful, so heartwarming, so uplifting.
The book has both text and speech bubbles so it is a nice introduction to a graphic novel format just like The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann, which I reviewed yesterday. In fact, it would be perfect to pair those two books and read them together. Two different types of illustration but similar formats.
When I look at the illustrations, they remind me a bit of a Gibli movie. I love Gibli so that was a huge plus for me. AND I also love cooking - and this book is all about cooking and the joy (and frustration) it can bring plus it has not one but two recipes for you to try!
Read this book and then see what you and your family can create from what you have on hand. And once the virus subsides, maybe volunteer to cook at a local soup kitchen or work at your food bank. Focus on the good we can do.
The book has both text and speech bubbles so it is a nice introduction to a graphic novel format just like The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann, which I reviewed yesterday. In fact, it would be perfect to pair those two books and read them together. Two different types of illustration but similar formats.
When I look at the illustrations, they remind me a bit of a Gibli movie. I love Gibli so that was a huge plus for me. AND I also love cooking - and this book is all about cooking and the joy (and frustration) it can bring plus it has not one but two recipes for you to try!
Read this book and then see what you and your family can create from what you have on hand. And once the virus subsides, maybe volunteer to cook at a local soup kitchen or work at your food bank. Focus on the good we can do.
May 17, 2021
'Every Wednesday for many years, I volunteered at a small community kitchen in Greenpoint, Brooklyn...'
So begins Tamaki's 'Author's Note' at the back of 'Our Little Kitchen'. It provides both the premise and history behind this bright, delightful picturebook in which frame, form and presentation are simply bursting off the pages. With little regard for the standard form of picturebooks, Tamaki's double-page spreads are sizzling with action, pace and perspective as a group of people from different ethic backgrounds all come together to prepare a meal for the locals.
The setting is not ideal and there is a lot of working with little resources but this group of cooks are determined to give the best they can to those who need it. Tamaki's inkwork and colours complement the rolling, rounded speech bubbles and onomatopoeic sounds of the kitchen and its happy consumers. This book might be a far step away from the world and community we recognise in some parts of the UK but that sense of coming together should not be. A gorgeous picturebook for all ages.
So begins Tamaki's 'Author's Note' at the back of 'Our Little Kitchen'. It provides both the premise and history behind this bright, delightful picturebook in which frame, form and presentation are simply bursting off the pages. With little regard for the standard form of picturebooks, Tamaki's double-page spreads are sizzling with action, pace and perspective as a group of people from different ethic backgrounds all come together to prepare a meal for the locals.
The setting is not ideal and there is a lot of working with little resources but this group of cooks are determined to give the best they can to those who need it. Tamaki's inkwork and colours complement the rolling, rounded speech bubbles and onomatopoeic sounds of the kitchen and its happy consumers. This book might be a far step away from the world and community we recognise in some parts of the UK but that sense of coming together should not be. A gorgeous picturebook for all ages.
December 11, 2020
This was a delightful book about a number of multi-ethnic people of different ages and abilities coming together to make a meal for the community. Tamaki has also written graphic novels, so the illustrations here are in the style found in a graphic novel, but they are not in panels. The cooks make salad from the produce in the community garden, they make bean soup from canned beans supplied by the food bank, and they make an apple crumble. They also had day-old bread donated by a bakery. Then they carried the food out to the table where other folks joined the meal. On the front endpapers is an illustrated recipe for vegetable soup, divided into 7 steps (each step is illustrated). On the back endpapers is the illustrated recipe for apple crumble, in 4 steps. A very enjoyable story.
March 13, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4
This is a wonderful book about coming together, but as some others have commented, the author's note at the end might have been better at the beginning as an explanation of why these people need to come together and make the best of what they have to feed the community. Love the garden and use of all the bits they have. Great energy to this story.
This is a wonderful book about coming together, but as some others have commented, the author's note at the end might have been better at the beginning as an explanation of why these people need to come together and make the best of what they have to feed the community. Love the garden and use of all the bits they have. Great energy to this story.
December 7, 2020
I love the illustrations and story of this book. My 3 year old really loves it, and requests it nightly. She has lots of it memorized and always yells "Fifteen minutes!!!" when we get to that page. A wonderful story about community and food and using what you have.
December 17, 2020
Just a sweet lil’ book about community and the food that brings it together. I adore the attention to cooking with not-so-perfect ingredients and making so with what’s available. The casual diversity in this book and the chaos of so many different people keep this book lively and ultimately human.
January 11, 2021
The hustle and bustle and love that goes into making a sustaining weekly meal for a small community is evident within these colorful, noisy, and hectic pages. Jillian Tamaki’s book will be a classroom favorite.
March 29, 2021
The energy, beauty and kindness that oozes from this book are off the chart! It's like nothing I have read in a long time. Hats off to Jillian Tamaki for letting us have a peak inside their little kitchen full of love.
April 29, 2021
This was a charming book about a community who comes together once a week and makes meals out of whatever food they can grow or is donated. They feed the hungry, but also provide a time and space for people to work together for a common purpose and create a respectful, caring community for everyone. This book should inspire some thoughtful conversation among children who hear it or read it.
June 15, 2021
this was good but the reason behind having a neighborhood kitchen is way more important and should be emphasized at least once in this. also the author's note was good until that last line wkwkwkww 🥴😵💫
really dynamic, sweet & cheesy rhymes, love the dialogue bubbles etc.
really dynamic, sweet & cheesy rhymes, love the dialogue bubbles etc.
January 1, 2021
Pair this with Last Stop on Market Street. Love this story of a community kitchen and the various people who come together to prepare a meal together.
February 11, 2021
I love Jillian Tamaki! Her illustrations are great (as usual) and the story is really sweet.
June 20, 2021
i loved this book and anyone who doesn't like it is my enemy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews