Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration

by Natalie Daise, Natalie Daise (Illustrator)

Overview

This rhythmic, joyous picture book from Natalie Daise, the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show "Gullah Gullah Island," celebrates a special day of father-son cooking, and serves up a love letter to food, family, Gullah Geechee culture, and tradition—and includes the author's own recipe!

Papa has something special planned for tonight’s family dinner—and Bobo can’t wait! Excited to learn how to make okra stew like his ancestors, Bobo helps Papa pick veggies from the garden, catch shrimp from the creek, rain down rice in the pot, simmer the stew, and even make a tasty side of cornbread. When the stew begins to bubble and pop, Bobo and his family gather around for a mouthwatering feast. Perfect for fans of Fry Bread, My Papi Has a Motorcycle, and Thank You, Omu!

* "A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story.'" —Kirkus, starred review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250356666
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/10/2023
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	67 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Natalie Daise is a magnetic performer, speaker, and artist who has long connected with young people in her community and beyond, sharing Gullah songs and traditions. Best known as the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show "Gullah Gullah Island," Natalie is embarking on a new form of storytelling with her debut picture book, Okra Stew, and hopes to continue to entertain, educate, empower and inspire. She has been married to Ron Daise, her cheerleader, supporter, and committed partner in creativity and life since 1985. They have two children, Sara and Simeon, by birth, and one, Sabrina, by heart.
Natalie Daise is a magnetic performer, speaker, and artist who has long connected with young people in her community and beyond, sharing Gullah songs and traditions. Best known as the co-star of the hit Nickelodeon show "Gullah Gullah Island," Natalie is embarking on a new form of storytelling with her debut picture book, Okra Stew, and hopes to continue to entertain, educate, empower and inspire. She has been married to Ron Daise, her cheerleader, supporter, and committed partner in creativity and life since 1985. They have two children, Sara and Simeon, by birth, and one, Sabrina, by heart.

Editorial Reviews

A 2024 ALSC Notable Children's Book
A 2024 Southern Book Prize Nominee

* "A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story. Delicious from 'dayclean' to 'when the sun red fa down.'" —Kirkus, starred review

* "A beautiful and delicious story that celebrates family and traditions.'" —School Library Journal, starred review

"Daise’s picture book celebrates the deep bond between father and son while also introducing readers to the beautiful and lively Gullah culture. The composition and rhythmic text add energy to the melodious atmosphere . . . An expression of gratitude in the vein of Fry Bread." —BCCB

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2023

PreS-Gr 1—Daise's (from the show Gullah Gullah Island) stunning picture book follows a loving father and son through a day of preparing the special family dinner. The day is a feast for the senses as Bobo's father takes him to the bee-filled garden to pick vegetables among bright and colorful flowers, then to the creek to catch shrimp where Bobo observes the seagulls, seashells, crabs, and turtles in the sand. Once home, they prepare the rice and cornbread, and put all their ingredients in the pot for the stew. Vibrant mixed media collages and lush descriptive language bring the recipe to life, while Bobo discovers that his father learned how to make the stew in the same kitchen with his father. Back matter includes notes on the origins and cultural practices of the Gullah Geechee community, Gullah words and phrases used in the book, and the author's okra stew recipe. VERDICT A beautiful and delicious story that celebrates family and traditions.—Carrie Voliva

School Library Journal

★ 2023-09-09
A loving family, a verdant garden, and Gullah Geechee traditions are key ingredients to this delightful stew of a story.

When our young narrator, Bobo, awakes, Papa is already in the kitchen preparing warm biscuits for the child and the rest of the family: Mama, Big Sis, and Grandpa. But the day’s work is just starting as Papa and Bobo set out to cook okra stew for dinner tonight. The hard work and garden-grown veggies that go into this meal are on full display in illustrations that rely on acrylic paints, textiles, and various natural materials. Bobo describes the smells and sensations of the “dayclean” (a Gullah term for morning) with vivid detail and a youthfully inviting charm. Midday has father and child gathering shrimp and seashells at a nearby creek, and, upon their return home to the kitchen, the cooking finally begins. Chopped veggies fly across the page and take center stage before making their way into the pot, and the warmth of the kitchen gives way to a flashback of Papa and Grandpa cooking together a generation ago. The recipe is mouthwateringly detailed, skillet-baked cornbread is prepped as a side, and Bobo’s glee is palpable when the rice “rains down into the pot.” Mama and Big Sis return from work and school just in time for stew, and Grandpa joins them, too.

Delicious from “dayclean” to “when the sun red fa down.” (more information on the Gullah Geechee people, glossary of Gullah term, recipe for okra stew) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews