"We measure ingredients by the gram.
Mama tells me, "Bread is science."
We mix
FLOUR,
WATER,
SALT,
and STARTER.
The wet dough sticks to our fingers,
Mama's apron, my chin."
Oh, what a splendid family story! A mom and her two children working together every week to create a new and special treat for all. The older child is narrator and participant. The three work together at the science, the patience, the joy of watching the dough rise only to be poked, folded, rolled and shaped until it is round and a ready-to-bake loaf.
The dough is left to rest as the children settle in for their own rest. Dreams of all different types of breads they have made surface.
"I dream of boules, batards,
and baguettes.
Buns and braids and bagels.
Crescents and crowns and chapati.
Bread is art."
In the morning the loaf goes in the oven, and the trio wait to see what it will be. Is it always perfect ... not a chance. Its aroma fills the air and tiny noses with warmth and the comforting smell of their very own loaf of delicious deflated bread. Does it matter? It does not! It is a wondrous meal for their morning: proof positive that BREAD IS LOVE! Now, to wait until next weekend when they will do it all over again.
The story told is full of love of a family spending time together, and the benefits they reap from a shared experience. It engages the senses and the satisfaction that comes from traditions.
The illustrations are full of luminous color and appeal with many details that give the setting a cozy and welcome feel. Readers will mimic the expressions and reactions as the two children work, wait, and help at every stage of the breadmaking process. An author's note and a bread recipe are appended in back matter.
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