Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas

January 1, 2008
K-Gr 2-It's New Year's Day, and Shanté's Grandma is "weak in the knees" from cooking "chitlins, baked ham, /macaroni and cheese, /Greens and hot corn bread, /but no black-eyed peas!" If the family doesn't eat "cowpeas," it means a year of bad luck, so Shanté goes out into the neighborhood in search of "blackeyes." She visits a Chinese woman, a Scottish grocer, a Mexican restaurant owner, and a Hindu family. In turn, each neighbor explains his or her culture's differing New Year's practices with an oversimplification that leans toward ethnic stereotypes. The book tries to do too much, taking the focus off Shanté and her family. The illustrations, done in candylike colors, are unappealing. On the plus side, the lighthearted rhyme presents various cultural food customs associated with the holiday. A look at New Year's traditions around the world and a recipe for Hoppin' John are appended."Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2007
In rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this upbeat story celebrates family, community, and multiculturalism, highlighting an African American familys New Years food traditions, including lucky black-eyed peas. Grandma hasprepared a delicious meal, but something is missing: Mercy! cries Grandma. Im weak in the knees. I cooked lots of food, but forgot black-eyed peas! Young Shant'is sent to check with the neighbors: Miss Lee, who is Chinese;grocerMacGhee, from Scotland; Shant's friend Hari, who isHindu. None of them havepeas, but on her visits, Shant' learns about their celebratory food traditionsfrom dumplings to haggis and cheese. Finally, she finds peas, which Grandmaprepares, and the neighbors happily share at the festive dinner. The story, with abundant dialogue, is written in couplets, withall lines endingina long e sound, and the expressiveart warmly portrays characters interactions in bright, rich hues and lively detail.Notes on a few other cultures special New Year foods and a recipe for Grandmas hoppin Johnare appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)