Author: Kevin Noble Maillard
Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
There are so many things I love about this book. The prose is lyrical, gentle, nostalgic. The illustrations make you feel warm and happy. The content is thought-provoking. The back matter is rich and the quality of the physical book is top-notch. And I always love a good book about food! When I read the book, my six-year-old held it for a long time, felt his fingers over the pictures, and declared this book was his new favorite. The next day he sat down to make his own book- just like Fry Bread. (He’s still working on it!)
The book describes Fry Bread – what goes into making it, the sensory emotions it evokes – taste, sound, smell, and the history behind it. It touches upon the connectedness of family, a way of living, and identity. We also spent time looking at the pages, in the beginning, naming all the tribes of the Indigenous People. This book is the Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal and A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner. On the occasion of Indigenous Day, I am also grateful for what this book offers – an opportunity to talk to your young ones about the struggles of Indigenous People and understand, respect, and honor them. I would highly recommend it. Its a book to treasure and cherish.
After reading the book, I wanted to oof course try some. It also made me nostalgic for a form of Fry Bread eaten in my native town on Mangalore called Mangalore Buns. I went a little freestyle and made some version of Fry Bread! The recipe may not be authentic, but as the author reminds us, Fry Bread is also about family, connection, joy, and love. The important thing is that – We come together.