Bread Is Love

PreS-Gr 2–A mother with two young children makes bread each week. Every loaf teaches the children a life lesson: the bread can be moody and sometimes doesn’t turn out the way the children had hoped; the loaves can come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, but they’re always delicious; bread takes time and can’t be rushed; bread-baking is a science but sometimes it’s a mess. All the interactions of the characters are kind and loving, even when things go awry. Makhuani’s text includes lots of sensory words, making the process of baking inviting; Naidu’s warmly colored artwork glows with love and affection. This is a lovely, gentle discussion of baking as a means for learning; it might inspire readers to fire up the oven, with back matter that includes a bread recipe.