A review by mutuallyinclusive
Kalamata's Kitchen by Sarah Thomas
4.0
Kalamata’s Kitchen is the first book in a series following a young girl named Kalamata and her sidekick, an alligator name Al Dente. Kalamata is nervous about the first day of school when she remembers how brave she felt during her trip to India, where she and Al visited the spice market and fearlessly tried new foods and flavors.
Luckily, Kalamata has a “magical” kitchen table that she and Al can climb under and transport anywhere they want to be. Kalamata and Al travel back to the spice market in hopes of finding their bravery, as Kalamata’s mother cooks in the kitchen, filling the house with the delicious smell of dal. By journeying back to the market in India, Kalamata is inspired to connect with the children at her new school through food.
The illustrations by Jo Kosmides Edwards are wonderful. The bright colors are fun, but I was most impressed by the way she portrayed the spices on the page. Taste and smell can be such a tough concept to convey though text and illustration, but I could practically taste the cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric on the pages!
The back matter is also quite extensive for a fiction book. Readers will find a recipe for dal, a glossary of culinary terms, and a map of India highlighting the country’s unique regional dishes.
Kalamata’s Kitchen is set to launch as a full brand, including an upcoming animated TV show and themed toys and activities on their website. I’m personally a big fan of the Kal & Al Pals, a set of Kalamata and Al Dente plushies that young readers will certainly love.
Thank you so much to Random House Kids for providing me with a review copy of Kalamata’s Kitchen. It was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait to see what other cuisines Kalamata and Al Dente explore throughout the series.
Luckily, Kalamata has a “magical” kitchen table that she and Al can climb under and transport anywhere they want to be. Kalamata and Al travel back to the spice market in hopes of finding their bravery, as Kalamata’s mother cooks in the kitchen, filling the house with the delicious smell of dal. By journeying back to the market in India, Kalamata is inspired to connect with the children at her new school through food.
The illustrations by Jo Kosmides Edwards are wonderful. The bright colors are fun, but I was most impressed by the way she portrayed the spices on the page. Taste and smell can be such a tough concept to convey though text and illustration, but I could practically taste the cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric on the pages!
The back matter is also quite extensive for a fiction book. Readers will find a recipe for dal, a glossary of culinary terms, and a map of India highlighting the country’s unique regional dishes.
Kalamata’s Kitchen is set to launch as a full brand, including an upcoming animated TV show and themed toys and activities on their website. I’m personally a big fan of the Kal & Al Pals, a set of Kalamata and Al Dente plushies that young readers will certainly love.
Thank you so much to Random House Kids for providing me with a review copy of Kalamata’s Kitchen. It was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait to see what other cuisines Kalamata and Al Dente explore throughout the series.
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