Our Ancestors' Kitchen is a captivating read, for kids! I love how the book uses vibrant illustrations to make it easier for children to understand the significance of food in culture. It’s a wonderful way to teach kids about the connection between family traditions, both past and present.

This book beautifully highlights how food is a vital part of our heritage and helps children connect with their roots.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this! The little girl in the story is making a dish from her culture (I’m still not sure what it’s called but I desperately wanting to eat it), and along the way, the child pictures her ancestors gathering the ingredients or explored memories about those foods (like maple taffy!). Though the book doesn’t explicitly say, I think the Indigenous words included are from the Objibwe tribe (based on my googling, at least).

This is a great book for anyone and can either act as a mirror for Indigenous people or a window for those who don’t know much about the culture. When I read books from cultures other than my own, I tend to adore the ones that include language and food as they feel like the backbone of a culture and this book has that. It also includes a recipe in the back for soapberry ice cream, and now I need to figure out where to find fresh soapberries.

I also adored the way the animal spirits were drawn. They looked magical with their intricate details and blue hue. It definitely added to the sense of respect of plants and animals that this book conveyed.

Our Ancestors' Kitchen, written by Willie Poll, tells the story of a young child learning the recipes of her ancestors, including her grandmother's favorite recipe. This picture book, with beautiful words and illustrations, talks us through the traditions of harvesting, as well as different Indigenous foods. I also loved the way that the grandchild is encouraged to remember her ancestors and their language - something the grandmother was not permitted to do in the same way when she was growing up.

I really appreciated this book, and the way it shows the different foods and traditions that the characters celebrate. I can see this as being a wonderful book for families to share together, or as a way to learn about Indigenous traditions.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, illustrator, and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The beautiful illustrations, cultural importance, and narrative that reflects on Indigenous peoples' traditions made this a beautiful book. The references to Native American culture do not directly name a tribe or language, but the author uses the names of the food, the tradition of gathering it, and the family reference to languages that were not allowed at one time to tell the story.

This is a beautiful book that can be enjoyed by all readers. I recommend this for schools and libraries.

Beautiful story about how food connects us to our cultures. I'm sure this will be a future storytime hit.

What a wonderful book about family and food's significance to culture. The illustrations are colourful and perfectly depict the story being told. I love that the theme introduces kids to how important food is to bringing people together and keeping memories and ancestors in our hearts.

5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a wonderful story about how food brings a culture together and tells us about our ancestors.

I loved how the illustrations brought history/the culture to the kitchen.

There is also a recipe in the back that helps children interact with the text and connect to the story even further.

I love getting to explore new cultures and learning about their stories.

I recommend this story to everyone.

I love books that teach us about indigenous culture and this one didn’t disappoint. I especially loved how they handle the moose 🫎(you’ll have to read it to find out). Thank you Annick Press and Net Galley for the ARC.

Gorgeous illustrations. It is a heartwarming story with elders and young ones connecting through food. Well Done!

This beautiful picture book introduces younger audiences to the concept that food unites us. As we eat traditional foods there is an opportunity to pass on ancestral wisdom. The illustrations and tone of the book are wonderful and most importantly not too overwhelming for younger readers.
While the book is specifically about a Native family the lessons carry over to all people, and could lead to an interesting discussion about traditional foods and regional farming/harvesting practices.

Our Ancestors’ Kitchen is a beautiful and soulful account of how our ancestors live on in our traditions and no tradition holds more soul than food! This book blends history, family, and food in a way that shows its importance to children of all ages.

Excellent picture book. The story and artwork work together. It feels warm and comforting. The authors note is thought provoking.

This is an amazing book! I love how the author decided to make the central theme about food/recipes and how they connect to memories and family history. Additionally, I love how this book is about Indigenous culture and their foods. This is so important in a kids' book because it's important for Indigenous culture to be present in ALL kids' lives, and especially meaningful for Indigenous children to learn about their heritage and ancestors. I even learned a lot about Indigenous culture, and all of the stuff included in this book is utterly beautiful and highly fascinating. I know for sure that, due to the variety and structure of this book, readers will be engaged for the entire story and will enjoy it as well. This book is definitely well-written and I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. Lastly, the illustrator made *breathtaking* and flawless pictures that perfectly captured the wonder and enchantment that come with exploring memories through family recipes.
Bravo!!!

Our Ancestors’ Kitchen is a gorgeous children’s book about how food can connect us with our past and memories of family.

The love and level of detail that went into every illustration is amazing. As soon as I finished the book I immediately started it again just to fully take in all of the pictures.

The recipe in the back was also such a nice added touch! I can’t wait to try making this ice cream with my children.

Thank you NetGalley, Annic Press, and Willie Poll and Shaikara David for the early access copy of Our Ancestors' Kitchen.

Our Ancestors' Kitchen is a beautifully illustrated children's book that tells the story of a young girl learning how to make her grandfather's favorite recipe with her grandmother. As the ingredients are listed, the readers go on a journey of past ancestors with the ingredients. The illustrations are stunning, showing the symbolism of the story clearly and beautifully. The language and illustrations also do an amazing job of showing the culture.

This will be a great tool for elementary school libraries to show Indigenous culture, love of the land, and impact of the cooking experience.

"Our Ancestors' Kitchen," highlights the crucial role food plays in every culture, illustrating how it has the power to unite people—whether they are family or strangers—and serves as a bridge for sharing cultural traditions. The author eloquently explores the deep connection between humans and the plants and animals we consume, emphasizing how harvesting food fosters a bond with the natural world. However, the book also touches on the impact of colonization and modern farming practices, which have threatened to sever these vital connections. With a focus on indigenous agricultural practices, this book educates readers of all ages about the importance of preserving these cultural traditions while also encouraging reflection on the foods and lands that once nourished our ancestors. The inclusion of a delicious recipe adds a tangible element to the narrative, and the rich use of imagery makes this a visually and emotionally engaging read for both children and adults.

This book is a celebration of the cultural importance of food, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous traditions. There is even an easy, but intriguing, recipe at the end of the book that is worth trying.

Sweet and inspirational.

What an enchanting tale that captures the hearts of young readers! From the moment you open the book, you’re transported into a world. The illustrations are absolutely stunning, bursting with color and detail that complement the story beautifully. The storytelling is engaging and age-appropriate, with just the right balance of excitement and heart. Young readers will love following along.

Honoring our loved ones through the foods we share.

A sweet reminder that our memory of our loved-ones lives on through us and our shared connection with food. Blue spirits dance as a young girl recalls the stories and the land tied to the dish she prepares. Cooking with grandma helps her honor those who came before her and remember them with love and gratitude.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this DRC with me for an honest review.

This is a sweet story about a girl and her grandmother cooking and all of the culturally significant memories that the ingredients and the meals bring up for them.

A solid choice for primary grades especially during autumn, winter, or indigenous units.

The illustrations are cute, love how they tied into her memories, but some were almost a little anime-esque. My child had some difficulty r understanding what was happening because the emotions displayed were a bit over the top.

Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for the advanced copy.