Yumbo Gumbo
Keila V. Dawson, author
Keila V. Dawson was born and raised in New Orleans. When she grew up, she traveled the world, working as a community organizer, teacher, school administrator, educational consultant, and advocate for children with special needs. Nowadays she lives in Cincinnati, where she writes books for children, including The King Cake Baby and Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book. She is also the coeditor of No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History and No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change.
Read more about Keila.
Katie Crumpton, illustrator
Ever since she was five years old, Katie Crumpton knew she wanted to be an artist. To pursue her art education, she moved from South Carolina to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now lives and works as a freelance artist. Katie is the illustrator of several children's books, including A Stitch Through Time and I, Too, Sing America.
Read more about Katie.
- Coming soon!
Booklist
Visiting her grandparents Mamí and Papí, with Mom, Dad, and little brother, Beau, Annabelle’s excited about learning to make gumbo—“Yumbo!”—especially with okra. But Beau wants to use chicken instead (“no slimy okra!”), and won’t budge. So, Annabelle has everyone vote—but they’re evenly split. PapÍ suggests another option—seafood—which also brings a tie. Then Annabelle tries a different tack: they all vote for their most “unyumbo” choice, and that outcome, with Anabelle’s creative thinking, ultimately provides a solution that satisfies everyone. Bright, cartoon illustrations enliven, depicting Annabelle and her multicultural family happily cooking together. This title under the "Storytelling Math” banner positively portrays family and traditions around an inviting, relatable food theme, all while accessibly introducing concepts around gathering data and finding workable resolutions through voting, as well as logic problems and considering multiple perspectives. An appendix for adults/educators includes a glossary of Louisiana Creole terms interspersed throughout, a brief history of gumbo and its ingredients, discussion prompts, and ideas for linking the concepts in the story to kid-friendly situations, like selecting snacks for a group.
School Library Journal
This engaging picture book introduces the cultural importance of food, family traditions, and decision-making as Annabelle and her brother Beau embark on a culinary adventure at their grandparents’ house. There, they face the delicious dilemma of choosing what type of gumbo they should make. The story skillfully blends entertainment with education while incorporating elements, such as data collection and deductive reasoning. The digital media illustrations vividly depict a large and diverse Creole family and provide a visually appealing experience for readers. The book seamlessly weaves in the history of gumbo with making choices, demonstrating the importance of conflict negotiation, and the democratic process. The story not only celebrates cooking and culture but also highlights the significance of compromise and family traditions. Back matter includes a Creole glossary to fill out more cultural nuances of the story, as well as an author’s note and other valuable content to help readers make connections. VERDICT While all readers will miss and crave a recipe for yumbo gumbo, this is a must-read for future chefs, budding data analysts, and aspiring family counselors. Its appeal extends to STEM book collections, making it an excellent addition for diverse learning.
Children's Literature
Annabelle is full of excitement when the day arrives for her grandparents to teach her how to cook gumbo. As the family begins preparing to make the gumbo, Annabelle and her brother Beau can’t agree on what type to cook. Annabelle wants okra gumbo, but Beau wants chicken gumbo. Annabelle suggests everyone vote in order to choose which one to make, but there ends up being a tie between the two. Annabelle’s grandfather proposes both groups compromise and make seafood filé gumbo instead. So, the family takes a second vote, now with seafood filé gumbo as a third option, but the vote results in a three-way tie. Annabelle decides to create another vote, but this time everyone is asked to vote for their least favorite option. After all the family members voted, Annabelle realized no one voted for seafood filé gumbo, therefore, that was the option they should choose. As they begin to cook, Annabelle sees that her younger brother is still upset about the choice of gumbo, so she proposes that they combine all three types, adding okra, chicken, and seafood to the pot. Together they make a new family recipe, “Yumbo Gumbo.” In this unique story, children are introduced to mathematical concepts and how they can be used in real-life situations to resolve conflicts. Dawson demonstrates how voting can help you fairly decide between multiple options. The tale also depicts how with a little compromise and creativity, you can find a way to put a smile on everyone’s face.
Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-325-9
Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-326-6
Spanish Bilingual Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-402-7
Spanish Bilingual Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-403-4
Ages: 3-6
Page count: 32
91/2 x 91/2
Publication date: February 20, 2024