2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Kids

Hilwa's Gifts

Ali has arrived in Palestine for a visit just in time for the olive harvest. His grandfather, Seedo, and Hilwa-his favorite tree-greet him in the grove, where Seedo explains that Hilwa has many gifts to share. Other family members whack the trees' branches with sticks, singing "Zaytoon, ya zaytoon" while cousins clap and dance and happily pick up fallen olives. (Luckily, a gentle whack is all it takes for Hilwa's fruits to rain down!) The next day, at the olive press, Ali watches the drip of gold liquid into a can, another of Hilwa's gifts.

Halal Hot Dogs

Every Friday Musa's family takes turns picking out a Jummah treat which they use to try all different foods, but when it is Musa's turn he sticks to his favorite halal hot dogs to share.

Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought

Gigi can't wait for her Ojiji--Japanese grandpa--to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, like playing tag, reading books, and teaching Roscoe, the family dog, new tricks. But her plans don't work out quite the way she'd hoped. And her grandpa doesn't seem to like Roscoe. Will Gigi find a way to connect with her Ojiji? The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions and pronunciations.

Dumpling Day

Savor a rhyming celebration of one of the world's most universal foods! Readers follow ten diverse families as they cook dumplings inside their homes in preparation for a neighborhood potluck. Dumplings are added to plates one by one, encouraging children to count with each new addition. Authentic recipes for all the dumplings and a map showing their regions of origin are included in the endnotes.

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods

From fried dumplings to fortune cookies, here are the tales behind your favorite foods. Do you know the stories behind delectable dishes--like the fun connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Or how dumplings cured a village's frostbitten ears? Or how wonton soup tells about the creation of the world? Separated into courses like a Chinese menu, these tales--based in real history and folklore--are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks. This book will bring you to far-off times and marvelous places, all while making your mouth water.

Chaiwala!

When their train makes a ten-minute stop at the station in Jaipur, a young girl and her mother hurry to get in line for a cup of chai. The girl orders two cups, and then delights in watching the chaiwala at work--grinding the spices, adding scoops of tealeaves and sugar to the bubbling, boiling milk, then cooling the chai by pouring it from high, back and forth, back and forth--the girl is mesmerized. With a biscuit and a rusk added to their order, mother and child find a spot in the crowded station torest and enjoy the moment.