Sarah Thomas (5)

There’s a lot of things I really like about this book. First, I like that it shows how kids can use stuffed animals and other such things to express their feelings when they feel like it’s too hard to say the words from themselves. And the mom totally got that. Second, I love how Kalamata was able to feel braver and stronger after thinking about something so important to her and her parents culture. Third, the book did such a great job of really immersing all the senses as Kalamata returns to that Indian market in her imagination and smells the wonderful aromas, tastes the delicious spices, sees all the vibrant colors, hears the sounds of the popping oil cooking, and feels the soft texture of rice. There’s even a special place (under the kitchen table) that Kalamata loves to go to that can transport her anywhere she wants to imagine. Plus, I also love food, so I totally get this book on a deeper level haha.… (mehr)