Tea Cakes for Tosh

Tea cakes actually came to the U.S. via British colonists, who liked these sweet round buttery cookies served with their afternoon tea. While American slaves working in the kitchens were not allowed to eat them, they were required to bake and serve them. Following the emancipation of the slaves, however, African-American cooks continued to make them, and they became a tradition in black families.

Tea Cakes for Tosh celebrates that tradition with the touching story of young Tosh who loves spending time with his Grandma Honey and hearing her stories of the old days as she bakes tea cakes.

Honey tells Tosh about his “great-great-great-great-grandma Ida”: "’…[she] made the most delicious collards, chicken, and make-you-dance show more biscuits,’ Honey said. ‘Her tea cakes were the best around. But those tea cakes were not for Grandma Ida’s children or any other young slaves. They were never supposed to taste the cookies she baked. But some days Grandma Ida made a few extra, just the right size for hiding in her pocket. She risked being whipped to give the children a taste of sweet freedom.”

Illustrator E.B. Lewis deftly changes the tone of his watercolors to reflect the mood being conveyed by the text.

As the story continues, Honey and Tosh continue to share stories over tea cakes. But eventually, Honey can’t remember things like she used to do. Tosh even has to take over the cooking.

At the end of the book, the author has included the entire recipe for tea cakes, portions of which appear throughout the text.

Evaluation: Who me? Cry over a kid’s book? Don’t be daft! And would you please pass the Kleenex…?. show less

Summary:

This is a story of the bond between Tosh and his grandma Honey, and how she bakes him sweet teacakes and the two bond over the food. She tells him stories of how their ancestors were enslaved long ago and how his great-great-great-great grandma made not only collard greens and biscuits but the very same teacakes. The teacakes were only for the white children on the plantation, but she always stole a few for her own children and told them that was how freedom tasted.

Personal Comments / Reflection:

I liked the historical theme, as well as the commentary on African American food and culture. This is something that I feel like I missed out on in my public schooling, as most of the books I read growing up had a Euro-centric theme. show more This would be a good book to introduce to young children to not only teach them about the history of slavery but to give them a glimpse of African American culture. show less

A poignant story celebrating the loving bond between grandchild and grandparent and the stories that keep family bonds strong superbly illustrated with E.B. Lewis's remarkably realistic watercolors.

In this story, Tosh's love for his grandma and his love for her tea cakes drives him to make things better. When Toshs' grandma starts to forget things, Tosh finds a way to save the day and the recipe.

In this intergenerational tale, Tosh listens while his grandmother tells familial stories and prepares tea cakes. As his grandmother’s memory begins to fail, Tosh steps in to tell the stories. Tender color and sepia-toned paintings. Recipe.