Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Top Chef contestant and culinary personality Hall relays a sweetly nostalgic tale following young Carla, who, with her sister Kim and their mother, visits her grandparents on Christmas Eve. Carla's favorite tradition is her grandma's cast-iron skillet cornbread; after enjoying the treat, spending time with her grandparents, and donning her Christmas jammies, Carla finds a cookie laying out--only to discover, after she chomps into it, that it's for Santa. Carla fears she's ruined Christmas, but Granny helps her bake a fitting substitute. Hall conveys the familial love permeating every interaction in accessible dialogue: "Don't worry about that ol' cookie. I've got a better idea." In warm, vintage-toned acrylic inks and digital art, Harris beautifully renders the nuances of Christmas in a close-knit Black family, from taking off shoes at the door to foam rollers adorning the girls' hair as they lay down to sleep, in this gift of a book. Back matter includes a recipe for Carla's Christmas Cornbread and Cinnamon Butter. Ages 4--8. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--The celebrity chef gives us a warm tale with a nostalgic tone. The book follows young Carla on her way to her grandmother's house for Christmas Eve. Harris's detailed illustrations portray a Christmas dinner filled with soul food favorites, including Carla's favorite corn bread. Everything is going well for Carla, until she accidentally takes a bite of Santa's cookie. Granny swoops in to the rescue, and together Carla and Granny make Santa fresh corn bread and cinnamon butter. The story is slow to get started, but students won't mind relishing and discussing their favorite details of holiday traditions. The colorful illustrations will support readers' comprehension and engagement. with the narrative. Back matter includes a recipe for corn bread and cinnamon butter. This book provides a positive and authentic representation of a family of color, including Black Santa, and is a sweet Christmas story. VERDICT Recommended for elementary collections, especially those in need of positive, authentic representation of families of color, especially in holiday books.--Christina Salazar, Mesquite I.S.D., TX
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Review by Horn Book Review
Chef and Food Network star Hall presents an affectionate food-and-family story. Young Carla, her sister, and their mother take their customary festive drive to the girls' grandparents' house on Christmas Eve. Of all the delicacies on offer there, Carla is most excited for Granny's cornbread: "my favorite." After dinner, disaster strikes: Carla mistakenly takes a bite out of the cookie left out for Santa. What other sweet (and savory and starchy) treat might Santa -- and readers, too, if they follow the appended recipe -- enjoy? Acrylic and digital illustrations provide details that are culturally specific (nighttime hair rollers; Black Santa ornament); period-setting (roll-up car windows, antenna TV); and mouth-watering (cinnamon butter!). Elissa Gershowitz November/December 2021 p.21(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
It's Carla's favorite night of the year--Christmas Eve--but will one mistake ruin everything? Carla loves everything about Christmas Eve, when she, her mom, and her sister drive to her grandparents' house for "the best holiday ever: Christmas!" Her favorite part of the drive is the sight of twinkling lights on the houses, and her favorite thing to eat is Granny's cornbread. She watches Granny pour the batter into the cast iron skillet and put it in the oven. She sits with her Grandpa, whom everyone calls "Doc," while they wait. They talk about where Santa is, and Doc shares stories of his time in France. Dinner is delicious, though the Christmas feast will be much bigger. After putting her pajamas on, Carla sees a perfect sugar cookie sitting on a plate--and she takes a big bite. Her sister yells, "That's Santa's cookie!" Oh, no. How can Carla rescue Christmas from this big mistake? Granny has an idea, and it hinges on Carla's favorite food. With expressive illustrations that set the story in the early 1970s and evoke the Christmas mood in the context of a loving Black family, this tale reminds readers that love and good intentions can almost always save the day. Readers will be eager to try out the cornbread recipe included in the endmatter. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Heartwarming and cozy. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
