Title: Rice & Rocks
Author: Sandra L. Richards
Illustrator: Megan Kayleigh Sullivan
Genre: Kid Lit/ Picture Book
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Published: August 23, 2016
Page Count: 32 pages
Format: eARC
Source: From publicist
Summary:
Tradition takes flight in Rice & Rocks, a picture book celebrating culture and diversity.Giovanni’s friends are coming over for Sunday dinner, and his grandmother is serving rice and beans. Giovanni is embarrassed—he does not like “rice and rocks” and worries his friends will think the traditional Jamaican dish is weird. But his favorite Auntie comes to the rescue. She and Giovanni’s pet parrot, Jasper, take him on a magical journey across the globe, visiting places where people eat rice and rocks. This exciting story celebrates the varied traditions of every culture while also highlighting the delicious similarities that bring us all together.
*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 5/5 stars
Oh, you guys. I don’t know if I’ve told you this but besides from YA books, I have a serious love for children’s picture books. Maybe it’s because they are the ones that helped me learn English quicker when I was in USA, or maybe because they are just too fun and incredible to look at, but either way, I really must tell you all how utterly amazing Rice & Rocks is.
I feel as if Rice & Rocks was written for the 7 year old me stuck in a foreign country. I wish I could have read it when I was a kid since it would have really helped me to feel a lot more comfortable with my roots, my traditions, in a foreign place with people of other colors & customs. I remember how I would feel embarrassed with the kind of food I ate, including Rice & Rocks a.k.a Rice and Beans. And it’s such a silly thing because Rice and Beans were one of my favorite dishes when I was a kid (as long as they had chopped purple onions on top!) and it’s still is (tho I can now eat with any type/color of onions now ;). But as a kid you want to blend in when in a different place and possibly show how you aren’t any different from them. Even when it comes to food!
So I love the message that this book sends. I love how in just a few pages, it shows that you should never be embarrassed by your roots or your traditions. How they are beautiful, special, and part of who you are. I even learned that my Rice and Rocks (beans) are also shared and cherished all over the world – in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, New Orleans and all the way to Japan. ♥
However, not only the story is beautiful, but the art drawn in the 32 pages is simply stunning. The characters and the different cultures are richly represented, making Rice & Rocks a true joy to look at. Kudos to the talented Illustrator!
I truly cannot recommend Rice & Rocks enough. Picture books lovers, you are in for a treat!
<3! I'm so glad you loved the book! I also love the message within and the pictures are stunning. I just got my print copy today and the colors are so rich!