What's in a dumpling, Grandma? by Linda Meeker. Illus. by Sandra Eide

It's a special day for Grey and his cousin Mila because they are going to Grandma's and she is going to teach them how to cook bánh loc, traditional Vietnamese dumplings. But it becomes more than just a cooking lesson as Grandma tells of her memories of sharing this heritage comfort food with other loved ones.

Celebrating the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, this is a story that shows that there is so much more in traditional family recipes beyond the physical ingredients. As well as inspiring young readers to investigate their traditional family recipes so they too can learn to make them and pass on their heritage, it has the recipe for Grandma's fish sauce and a guide to the pronunciation of some of the key Vietnamese words used in the story, perhaps an encouragement for them to learn their ancestral language too.

The names we have, the way we look and the food we share are perhaps the most important cultural ties that families share, so used with Joanna Ho's Say My Name , Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and Eyes that Speak to the Stars, this could form the basis of a significant unit that not only welcomes all children to the class but encourages each of them to explore and share their heritage.

Themes: Vietnamese cooking, Grandmothers.

Barbara Braxton