In My Momma's Kitchen

Jerdine Nolen's book is a brilliant slice of life collection for young readers. The overarching idea is that sometimes the most important things in your childhood happen in the home, and more specifically in a specific room (like the kitchen). The structure of the book interested me. Each tale was only one to two pages long, but was separated with a title and set up like a chapter book, complete with large first letter. I felt like this could easily make itself reachable for younger readers who want to feel more advanced. As an adult, I found it refreshing, and more like a child would actually tell a story; sometimes short and sweet but separate and meaningful. The illustrations in this book also bring out the realness and relatability show more of the book. The paintings are in a realism-like style, where it looks like photographs rather than cartoons. Each image looks like it could jump out of the page and happen in real life. show less

This was a collection of anecdotes about one child's kitchen. It incorporates all elements of her family life by connecting them to this central gathering place in her home. It would lend well to a writing piece for children about the most important room in their own home. The writing is stellar and the illustrations are comfortingly warm and lifelike. They really convey emotion.

I had mixed feelings about this book after I read it. I liked some parts of it but others I didn’t. I like that the book was descriptive in the language. When reading the pages, I could create an imagine in my mind after I read each page. For example, on one page it says Every October, Momma makes crab-apple jelly. I wash the apples. Nadene peels them, Momma cooks them, and we all fill the jars. This descriptive language helps me create an imagine of the little girl washing the apples, another person peeling them, and her momma cooking them and everyone then scooping it up and filling jars with it. Another thing about the book I liked was the illustrations. Not all the writing has an illustration to go along with it but some pages do show more and the illustrations match perfectly with the writing on that page or the next page. It helps me better understand and imagine what I am reading. I do not like though how the book has different stories in it. I understand that different things have happened in the little girl’s momma’s kitchen but when its skips to different stories it can make it difficult to understand what is going on. Even though I had mixed feelings about the book, I could figure out the message the book is trying to teach. The message is that a lot happens in the kitchen and the kitchen is where the family comes together. When people come together, it usually involves food and the kitchen is where the food is prepared so the kitchen brings together family. In the book, family was always involved in each little story and it all happened in the kitchen. show less

I had mixed feelings about this book after reading it. I liked the book because of the different stories that were told and how they all occured in Momma's kitchen. On the other hand, I didn't like how there wasn't a chronological sequence of events leading up to something. Personally, I like to read a stories where there is a definite plot line and the reader can see how the characters develop over that particular span of time established by the story. However, this book did something slightly different.
This book is divided into eight short stories that occured in the kitchen of this house, specifically referred to as "Momma's kitchen". These stories differ by the characters involved, the time of year/seasons, and the particular show more situation but they all have the same setting of Momma's kitchen. In addition to the setting, there are overarching feelings/emotions of harmony and affection anchored into each story. Even if there is a chaotic situation such as in the story "Janie's Apples" with baskets of apples are spilling onto the floor along with water and the cat running from the kitchen, the family seems to laugh about it in the end. I believe that this is the main purpose of the book because it shows how a family grows through the experiences and events in one room. show less

In My Momma's Kitchen is a great picture book about family traditions. This is a book that many children can relate to. The story shows that the most important things in your childhood happen at home, and more specifically in a specific room (like the kitchen). This story is a collection of short stories that all relate to family unity and togetherness. Also, this book shows traditions and each one is unique. The kitchen is an important place for family and that is where traditions are. The descriptive language in the story shows this. For example, “Every October, Momma makes crab-apple jelly. I wash the apples, Nadene peels them, Momma cooks them, and we all fill in the jars.” Next, the structure of this book is very interesting. show more Each story was a few pages long, but was separated with a title. The set up of this book was similar to a chapter book. Next, the illustrations were remarkable. Each illustration enhanced the message of each story while helping bring the stories to life. Overall, the main idea of this book is the importance of family and the traditions within a family. ( show less

In My Momma's Kitchen is a great picture book about family traditions. This is a book that many children can relate to. The story shows that the most important things in your childhood happen at home, and more specifically in a specific room (like the kitchen). This story is a collection of short stories that all relate to family unity and togetherness. Also, this book shows traditions and each one is unique. The kitchen is an important place for family and that is where traditions are. The descriptive language in the story shows this. For example, “Every October, Momma makes crab-apple jelly. I wash the apples, Nadene peels them, Momma cooks them, and we all fill in the jars.” Next, the structure of this book is very interesting. show more Each story was a few pages long, but was separated with a title. The set up of this book was similar to a chapter book. Next, the illustrations were remarkable. Each illustration enhanced the message of each story while helping bring the stories to life. Overall, the main idea of this book is the importance of family and the traditions within a family. show less

A girl tells stories about things that happen in her mommas kitchen. Shows importance of the home, the one room where everything is done, family, heritage.