Rainbow Stew

March 15, 2013
Vibrant multimedia collage harkens back to Falwell's Feast for 10 (1993), this time with a homegrown feast for four in a concept book about colors rather than counting. Three African-American children visiting their grandfather are disappointed when they awaken to a rainy day, but Grandpa doesn't keep them cooped up indoors. Instead, they all don rain gear and go outside with baskets to harvest vegetables from a backyard garden. Subsequent pages show the family gathering first green veggies, then a veritable rainbow of yellow peppers, purple cabbage heads, rosy radishes, red tomatoes, orange carrots, purple eggplants and even brown potatoes. After romping about for a bit, they go inside, dry, off and clean up, and then Grandpa and the children cook up a pot of his famous rainbow stew. The final page of the book even offers readers a recipe to try out--an enticing possibility after reading a story that positively revels in family togetherness and good food. The typeface of key words changes color as the rhyming text carries readers through the day, reflecting the theme. A treat. (Picture book. 2-6)

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May 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 1-Falwell's familiar multimedia collages are at their best in deep cobalt, lime, and garnet in this celebration of family gardens. Awesome Grandpa not only prepares pancakes for breakfast, but also makes the most of a rainy day by gearing up his three grandchildren to harvest his veggies despite the weather, "lifting up the drippy leaves, /we see what colors grow." The four fill their basket with kale, spinach, zucchini, radishes, and more. Luckily, Grandpa also endorses mud play, followed by thorough washing and a family preparation of Rainbow Stew. The author provides a slice of cozy family life. A lengthy recipe for the title dish appears on the final page.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

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