Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Cooking Up a Storm in Picture Books


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Cover art for TOO MANY TAMALES
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 15, 1993
by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez

"This one should become a staple on the holiday menu. (Picture book. 4- 8)"
 The whole family is coming for Christmas, so Maria and her parents are busy making tamales—Maria helps Mom knead the masa, and her father puts them in the pot to boil. Read full book review >
Cover art for WARTHOGS IN THE KITCHEN
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 1998
by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole

"Cole's great toothy warthogs and manic action make for an ideal mix of comedy and energy, all the way to the end, when there are no cupcakes left (it's nice to see zero make an appearance in a counting book, as do two recipes) and the warthogs collapse from their efforts. (Picture book. 4-9)"
A slap-happy counting book in which first one warthog then gradually more whip up a batch of singular cupcakes. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE LITTLE RED HEN (MAKES A PIZZA)
ADULT
Released: Sept. 1, 1999
adapted by Philemon Sturges

"I will."(Picture book/folklore. 5-7)"
In the best refashioning of a classic folktale since Eugene Trivizas's Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig (1993), Sturges hilariously extends and modernizes the original. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE GREAT PANCAKE ESCAPE
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 2001
by Paul Many, illustrated by Scott Goto

"A rhythmic, rip-roaring romp. (Picture book. 5-8)"
"Our dad is a magician, / who can make a bird go poof, / but the day he cooked us pancakes, / he made an awful goof." Read full book review >
Cover art for FANNIE IN THE KITCHEN
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2001
by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

"Delicious! (Picture book. 7-10)"
Hopkinson (Band of Angels, 1998, etc.) documents domestic history in the making, using real people and fleshing out a true, little-known episode. Read full book review >
Cover art for PASCUAL AND THE KITCHEN ANGELS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 1, 2004
by Tomie dePaola, illustrated by Tomie dePaola

"A note about the saint and a dedication to a number of notable foodies complete this utterly charming work. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)"
Using acrylics and gesso to make his beautiful, cheerful, and warmhearted images that are so familiar to children, dePaola recounts the story of St. Read full book review >