Let Me Fix You a Plate - by Elizabeth Lilly (Hardcover)

About the Book

A girl describes her family's annual visit with Mamaw and Papaw in West Virginia, then Abuela and Abuelo in Florida, especially the foods and cultural elements that make each kitchen unique.

Book Synopsis

Whether you're settling in for a heaping plate of Mamaw's banana pudding or Abuela's arepas and tostones, a good meal always brings family together.

A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
An ALSC Notable Children's Book

This tale of a family road trip highlights the author's joy in both her American and Colombian heritage, and captures all the warmth and love of her family's two distinct cultures.

Once a year, on a Friday night,
My family leaves the city
And drives hours and hours . . .

After a long drive to visit family--whether in the mountains of rural West Virginia or the sticky heat of Florida--what could be a better welcome than a homemade meal?

Inspired by Elizabeth Lilly's childhood vacations and the sense-memories of late-night journeys down the coast, Let Me Fix You a Plate is a vivacious exploration of family traditions old and new-- from toast with homemade blueberry jam, to fresh orange juice and arepas with queso blanco, to midnight waffles at home.

Vivid illustrations explore the heart of the home--the kitchen--and the treasures found when a family gathers to celebrate their culture, and one another. Joyous, bright, and mouth-watering, this celebration of family and our diverse, delicious traditions is sure to leave readers hungry for more!

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choice

Review Quotes

"Written and drawn with a refreshingly droll realism, like the best offbeat documentaries. . . . the love they share is evident on every page."--New York Times

★ "The journey is told on multiple levels across pictures and text that entice readers, like the mouthwatering portrayals of home-cooked meals prepared and served by two extended families and two cultures. Lilly's loose yet warm illustration style, awash in a rainbow of colors and textures, captures the love in these families. . . . A storytelling feast for the whole family, no matter where you live."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "With clear, bighearted text and an expressive ink line drawing the variously shaped bodies of her characters, Lilly . . . pays tribute to familial richness across generations and cultures."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "Like a cozy cuddle from a beloved family member, Let Me Fix You a Plate is a warm squeeze that leaves you grinning and a little bit breathless."--BookPage, Starred Review

"The warmth and love of the family and their relatives is abundantly clear in colors and lines that evoke emotion and details of the two different cultures that are also similar to one another. The end papers are full of details that invite readers to think about the artifacts that are part of their family's heritage. . . With rich sensory details in the text to accompany detailed and inviting illustrations, this title is a wonderful and celebratory addition to all library shelves."--School Library Journal

"Colombian American author-illustrator Lilly takes readers along on a family road trip in this 'tale of two kitchens' (and two cultures). . . . Layering color and shadow over a loose pen-and-ink line, Lilly's illustrations convey warmth, atmosphere, and a wealth of detail."--The Horn Book

"This is a warm, loving look at the homes and families of parents who come from two cultures. . . . The story exudes warmth and love without being cloyingly sweet. Illustrations burst with energy and detail while the colors used for each house and setting suit the areas and the people. This book is truly a delight for eye and ear alike."--School Library Connection

"Each gemütlich scene is vibrantly hued and cozily dense with detail; two double spreads in map form feature elements from each grandparent home, which presents a golden opportunity to examine scenes carefully for a seek and find. Particularly observant viewers will also enjoy seeing mismatched elements of decor--the cat plate; the tiny house with key hooks--testify to a family that finds comfort in tradition even as they cherish their own homey rituals."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Elizabeth Lilly is an author-illustrator, animator, and graphic designer. Elizabeth was a reading, doodling daydreamer in high school, and, unsure of her path, went to architecture school at Virginia Tech for college. Her debut picture book, Geraldine received three starred reviews. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.