GOOD DEEDS, Indeed! A PLATE OF HOPE

 I've referenced in prior posts the lyrics for a Rogers and Hammerstein classic, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY TAUGHT. Its powerful lyrics recount the ways in which all of us, in early days, view the world with openness, but hate and bias can (and are) taught through exposure to those vile practices. I know these are also beliefs, abstract concepts, but, like kindness, words are far less potent as teachers than are actions. Especially when practiced by and observed in those we love and admire.

RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO, 2024

In this new picture book, A PLATE OF HOPE: The Inspiring Story of Chef Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen, by Erin Frankel and Paola Escobar, that truth resonates on every page. In this case, the lessons learned are of love and acceptance. The chef and founder of WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN learned his lifelong love of sharing food and support within his family, through their actions and lived commitment. Readers learn of Andres' early years in Spain visually (and with deftly-used bilingual lines throughout) in which his family shares meals with many in their community. His papa not only concocts a gloriously generous paella, he reminds Andres that "keeping the fire burning" is essential, even more important than stirring or adding ingredients. That metaphorical charge pairs with the occasional language patterns that mirror "the house that Jack built" to set Andres on a course for his lifetime mission. 

Endpapers brilliantly convey how global lives are actually interconnected individuals, depending on each other while also uplifting others, with the food of the world as a unifying force. We follow childhood Jose through his dream of creating food that would warm hearts and inspire others. Into adulthood, his travels and learning, lead to developing his own restaurants and chefs, earning accolades for innovation and irresistible cuisine. His mission remained to reach all people, especially those who most need to have their stomachs and hearts filled with acceptance and courage. It was an enormous goal, but he believed ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

His first "mass kitchen" emerged in Haiti after an earthquake that devastated the small island country. He dreamed even bigger and founded WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN with a goal that none should ever go hungry. When Hurricane Maria caused unparalleled destruction in Puerto Rico, Andres got to work. Throughout the country he and his ever-growing team of chefs and volunteers prepared food at kitchens across the island to feed hungry people, and to make clear that they were not forgotten, they were cared for. His standard was always high- the food must be hot and good! It always inc lauded Paella is much more than rice. It is a message of love and connection. 

Since then, WCK (World Central Kitchen) has grown and served throughout places of natural disaster, war, chronic hunger (right here inn the US) and more. They are recognized by governments and warring parties with respect, although their work is far from safe. In April of this year a convoy was attacked and workers were killed while heading to a distribution site in  Gaza. Despite his heartbreak about this horror, Chef Andres and WCK workers remain committed to serving those who hunger and feel ignored. His story is made both appealing and accessible in this outstanding new picture book. It's a book that can help us make sure young folks are "carefully taught" and inspired to grow and know- Anything Is Possible.

TO THE FRONT!

As I type this, Ukranians of every age, interest, gender, and background are finding "The Front" of an  uninvited, unwanted, and unjust invasion by Russia at their front doors. I wish them well and hope that their individual stories of bravery will make their way to a wider public, on the page or film or screen, after they have sustained a free and independent country against this onslaught. I listened to a report today by an emergency physician who is giving one-hour intensive lessons to everyday citizens to provide instruction and equipment meant to save lives- tourniquets, sutures, and other procedures that should require medical training to learn. Wash, rinse, repeat, hour after hour. I struggle to decide who is the greater hero, the doctor, exhausting himself and knowing the likely futility of his efforts and theirs, or the individuals who are willing to step up, to do SOMETHING to try to save lives and make a difference. None were giving in to feeling overwhelmed, they were simply moving forward.

Calkins Creek, 2022
Astra Publishing House

 

That's very much the frame of mind of Clara Barton and her crew of volunteer men. TO THE FRONT! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam is written by history-lover and storyteller Claudia Friddell, with evocative and informative illustrations by Christopher Cyr. This is a revelation of the early acts that distinguished Clara Barton as a brave, dedicated, and knowledgeable woman whose efforts were essential in saving lives and reducing suffering among the wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Friddell sets the stage for these harrowing scenes by blending actual text from Barton’s journals in blue font, paired with the author’s own free verse text in three-line stanzas and full paragraphs. This clear-eyed but dramatic account relates events through intimate perspectives of Clara’s wagon, Clara’s men, Clara’s hands, Clara and the doctors, her discoveries, her comforting, her endurance, her impact. 

Clara’s own words and the author’s text weave seamlessly but distinctly. Together they forge an effective trail that leads readers into the battlefields, into her makeshift and groundbreaking support efforts, and into connections and empathy with Clara, the doctors, the men who volunteered to serve as her team, and the victims of war. Back matter includes short perspectives on Clara, the consequences of her efforts, her personal missions before and after the war years, and her connections with other leaders of the time.

 

The bibliography and notes included offer a wealth of reliable resources to answer curious questions or launch further research. The illustrations are also a rich source of historic information, tone, social patterns, and gender expectations. The shifting perspectives of panoramic scenes and close portrayal of Barton’s reactions and worries feel theatrical and compelling, raising the suggestion that a nonfiction story told this well would make a valuable film or video. 

 

The name “Clara Barton” is one of the better known in American history, yet the extent of what most would know about her could fit on a JEOPARDY “answer” cue. A deep dive, as this is, dense with well-selected and appropriately placed primary source quotations, is exactly what it takes to waken all of us, at any age, to the full truths of Clara Barton’s life, and of our national history. 

Sharing Another "Kindred Spirit" Post

Once again I'm sharing a post about picture books from another source. This one caught me from the first lines. I was all but singing the Halleluiah Chorus!

YES, picture books are for older readers. 

YES, the content has relevance for older readers.

YES, everyone should be reading these titles, and the entire essay.

I hope this quotation by blogger/educator Valerie Stein will convince you to read the full post:

"I have found that one great way to connect with students and to engage that deeper thinking is to use picture books. It’s easy to discount this format as “too young” for many students, but in reality, even the simplest-seeming of them can be powerful tools for scaffolding a topic, for generating new questions, and most importantly, for beginning a conversation with students that gets them thinking more deeply about a subject in new and different ways."

AMEN, sister, AMEN!

The titles featured in her post are particularly suited to discussions that should take place in classrooms at any time, but particularly now, when questions of war, terrorism, and violence are splashed across screens on a daily if not hourly basis.

Sharing this post with you is a shortcut for posting my own thoughts, I admit it, but if I had days and days to create a post on these books and this topic, I wouldn't have done as well. Do me a favor, do your self a favor, and click over to read it now. HERE. 

Then get your hands on these books and share them with people- especially with older readers.