In My Momma's Kitchen

From Publishers Weekly
"Seems like everything good that happens in my house happens in my momma's kitchen," begins the young narrator of this cozy picture-book collection of vignettes, set, appropriately, in the kitchen. There the girl's older sister, Nadene, announces she's won a scholarship to college; her aunts gather to cook and chat on "Talking Pots Day"; and Daddy sings "La Cucaracha" and does the cha-cha as he makes corn pudding. Employing her talent for comfortably paced storytelling and evocative description, Nolen (Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm) uses one- to three-page scenarios to evoke the rhythms and rituals of a close-knit, dynamic African-American family. Whether describing "Gran Lee," the old hand-me-down stove Momma would never part with, or a curious pet cat, Nolen's subtle details add color and depth to the proceedings. Bootman's (Oh, No, Toto!) softly lit, realistic oil portraits match the text's warm mood, capturing many tender moments between the narrator and her relatives. Art and text work together to transport readers to a place where abundant love and sweet memories are staples of daily fare. Ages 5-up. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-"Seems like everything good that happens in my house happens in my momma's kitchen." So begins the narrator of this book, an unnamed girl. Following are eight short vignettes that detail the various activities that take place in the heart of this loving African-American family's home. As Momma and her sisters gather to make the biggest pot of soup in town, Great-aunt Caroline celebrates her 95th birthday, and the whole family ends up in the kitchen raiding the refrigerator and listening to Daddy's stories. An especially pleasing tale depicts the father's autumn ritual of taking over the kitchen to make corn pudding. The narrator says that, "Watching Daddy make the corn pudding is a lot better than actually eating it" but when he "presents it at the dinner table wearing that smile of his and humming 'Glory Hallelujah,' having to eat it is worth it." Bootman's full-page illustrations, done in rich oil paints and framed against a white backdrop, nicely reflect the warmth that radiates from the stories. While the book has no high drama or overt humor, those who read it will share this family's feeling of contentment and quiet satisfaction.Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
PLB 0-688-12761-4 These brief episodes from a mother's kitchen showcase Nolen's enticing prose and her inclusive world. A young African-American girl narrates a handful of stories that broadcast harmony, affection, the timelessness of childhood, the memories of those no longer children, and a penchant for hope and good fortune. These are tales plucked from the everyday: her mother's sisters gathering for their weekly gabfest and soup production (``Even the African violets are blooming, just like my aunts''), the wedding arranged for the cat and the doll, her father whipping up his inedible corn pudding (``Watching Daddy make the corn pudding is a lot better than actually eating it''), the blessings of cooking in Momma's mother's old stove, the announcement of her sister's scholarship. Although these events could have filled out a short-story collection, Nolen keeps her narration trim, relaying the incidents in an eager, celebratory voice. Bootman fills his handsome illustrations with smiles all around; this is a happy place and no one will deny its obvious joy. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
From Talking Pots Day, when the aunts all gather to make the biggest pot of soup in town, to gathering round Gran Lee's stove on a cold winter afternoon, to serenades and stories late at night, when the rest of the world is asleep, "seems like everything good that happens in my house happens in my momma's kitchen." A celebration of African-American families and mommas everywhere, In My Momma's Kitchen tells the story of a year's events in everybody's favorite room.From Talking Pots Day, when the aunts all gather to make the biggest pot of soup in town, to serenades and stories late at night, when the rest of the world is asleep, "seems like everything good that happens in my house happens in my momma's kitchen." A celebration of African-American life and the bonds that unite all families, generation after generation.


Card catalog description
A child describes the family events, like making apple butter and having relatives visit, that center around Momma's kitchen.


About the Author
Jerdine Nolen grew up with five sisters and two brothers in Chicago, Illinois. She is the author of Big Jabe, In My Momma's Kitchen and Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, which won the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award, the Kentucky Bluegrass Award, the Delaware Blue Hen Award, the Arizona Young Readers Award, the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, and the Indiana Young Hoosier Award, and was named both an ALA Notable Book and an IRA-CBC Children's Choice. Jerdine lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband, Tony, and their two children, Matthew and Jessica. In Her Own Words..."I was born in Crystal Springs,Mississippi, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, along with five sisters and two brothers. Growing up in such a large family, I had to have a good sense of humor--to make up for a lack of space. My sisters and brothers were pretty funny, too--but my father said I was 'right witty.'"During author visits, children sometimes ask where I got 'such a good imagination.' I tell them that while I was growing up, being bored was out of the question! You see, if we told our parents we were bored, they were sure to find some work for us to do. So we made sure to keep busy. We told stories; played 'rock teacher,' baseball, dodgeball, and Red Rover; had tea parties; and-my favorite--dressed up and put on our plays."I can't remember a time when I wasn't writing and collecting words. Cucumber was a favorite word once, then chutney. 'Chutney, chutney, chut-ney,' I would chant over and over again. I still love the sound of words and the feelings they evoke as they come out of me."In fact, I love everything about writing right down to the sound my pencil makes as it travels across the page. In second grade, I had a Thanksgiving poem published in our school newspaper. It was printed on pink paper, and I still remember the joy I felt to see my name in print. Sometimes people think I'm weird when I tell them how much I love having my stories edited and critiqued by my editor. I tell them that editing means that someone cares about my work as much as I do. I have to admit, I don't often agree with my editor at first, but on my second or third reading, I usually come around."I'm probably most well known for my book Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, but publishing takes time, and it seemed like it took forever before Harvey Potter was finally published. It was worth the wait, though. I tell kids that things don't always happen overnight--you do the work, and then you wait, sort of like waiting for holidays or birthdays. I always autograph Harvey Potter the same way: Hold fast to your dreams, as you would your balloons!"


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices