REVIEWS+

Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging

by Eric Adjepong (text) & narrated by Eric Adjepong
Listening Library. Oct. 2023. 14p. $5. ISBN 9780593745045.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1-3–The potluck is Monday, which means students need to “bring a dish that best represents [their] family’s culture.” Kofi worries his home food is “so different from all the dishes.” It makes him feel “as if he didn’t belong.” Kofi's parents and grandfather are immigrants from Ghana where he’s never been. His parents can’t help with the cooking that weekend, but his Nanbarima (grandfather) steps in, taking Kofi to the market where the ingredients help connect him to his heritage. Kofi shares jollof with his class, and also “the story of his people, of the dish, and of his African culture.” Top Chef–featured Adjepong draws on his own Ghanaian American background to create his debut picture book—which he also invitingly, gently reads.
VERDICT Lala Watkins’s vivid art further highlights important details (market stalls, history, clothing) which makes pairing audio with print highly recommended.
Reviewed by Terry Hong , Jan 01, 2024

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