OUR LITTLE KITCHEN by Jillian Tamaki. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. 32p  ISBN 978-1419746550 hc. $17.99     Gr. K-3     E PIC

What does it take to provide a community meal for a large group of hungry people?  It takes workers, food ingredients, and a menu.  This particular community kitchen supplements its food pantry with a garden.  The workers evaluate and organize ingredients on-hand to create a complete healthy meal.  The lively illustrations show a flurry of activity that doesn't slow down until all the guests have been served.  It's apparent that the author has volunteered in a community kitchen, as stated in the Author's Note, because every aspect of meal preparation and service have been covered.  Illustrations are hand-drawn in ink and computer-filled with color, consistently telling the story.  Speech bubbles provide the process of preparing a meal, along with a few basic recipe ideas.  Readers will need to combine visual and verbal ques to comprehend the whole story.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI