Tasting Words

Nelly Buchet (NellyBuchet.com) is the author of over a dozen books for young readers, including ALA Notables Dog vs. Strawberry and Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family, which received the Irma Black Award. Born in Paris, Nelly has lived in a handful of countries as a newcomer. She is currently learning Italian, which has a lot of tasty words!Dezh Azaad (DezhAzaad.com) is an Afghan writer who has been a refugee his entire life. He also wrote the picture books The Carpet (South Asia Book Award winner) and Sour Cherries: An Afghan Family Story. Dezh also loves to cook and try new flavors.Sara Palacios (SaraPalaciosIllustrations.com) received a Pura Belpré Honor for Marisol MacDonald Doesn’t Match (by Monica Brown), and her numerous other picture books include Between Us and Abuela (by Mitali Perkins) and Plátanos Go with Everything (by Lissette Norman). She lives in San Francisco with her husband.

“A child facilitates friendship between a relative and another older woman, neither of whom speaks the other’s language. . . . Azaad and Buchet’s story is as rich as one of Bibi’s (or Mémé’s) dishes: It touches on the challenges and rewards of learning a new language, the excitement of making a new friend, the importance of showing gratitude, and the satisfaction of facilitating someone else’s happiness. Palacios’ illustrations are glorious, capturing the narrative's emotional subtleties. . . . A bighearted, nuanced, and original tale about assimilation and the universal language of food.” —Kirkus Reviews“The power of food to bridge language barriers is at the heart of this warm story about love, culture, and connection. . . . As the two grandmothers bond through food, Ava discovers that meaningful connections don’t require shared words. The story concludes with Ava and Lucie welcoming a new friend, Omar, and his grandmother into their growing community, reinforcing the book’s message of inclusion and belonging. An author's note provides additional insight into Persian and French language and customs. With its gentle message and rich cultural details, this is a heartwarming read that reminds readers that kindness, generosity, and a shared meal can speak louder than words.” —Booklist