PRESERVATION PARKWAY

In the third volume of Shibi’s picture-book series, after Taste Trail (2025) and Bakery Boulevard (2026), two children are transported to a magical land and learn about food preservation.

Young Black siblings Ayo and Oma have been helping their Grandma in her garden. After picking more fruit and vegetables than they can possibly eat before it spoils, they seize upon the opportunity to visit Yummville again—a wondrous land accessed through Grandma’s Magic Cookbook. The book takes them to various locations along Preservation Parkway, including the Drying Dunes, Canning Canyon, Freezing Falls, Fermentation Fields, and Pickling Ponds. In each instance, a friendly person of color explains how the process in question counters the effects of bacteria and keeps food fresh. When Oma and Ayo return from Yummville, they’re ready to try out their new food-preservation skills in Grandma’s kitchen. Shibi narrates in straightforward, nonrhyming text, emphasizing the story’s episodic nature through refrains such as “‘Where will our adventure take us next?’ asked Ayo. / ‘Let’s see,’ said Oma, opening the Magic Cookbook.” The adult characters offer succinct scientific lessons, albeit using a repetitious structure that may test some adult readers’ patience. Ayle’s colorful illustrations on two-page spreads capture the diversity of Yummville’s locales.

A vibrant, verdant learning adventure.