Celebrate with Me!: Recipes, Crafts, and Holiday Fun from Around the World

Gr 2-6--This celebration of holidays in several cultures is diversity at its finest. Twenty-five holidays are presented in order of the Western calendar year, January to December, with a different contributor for each writing about favorite ways to celebrate. One side of each spread gives a tiny bio about the contributing author, why they love this holiday, and a little background on the holiday itself. The facing page has a recipe and a celebration idea provided by the contributor. The recipes have detailed instructions and ingredient lists; a note at the beginning of the book tells readers that adult supervision is essential. A massive variety of ingredients representing foods from around the globe are featured, but substitutes are often included. Celebration suggestions range from prompts such as asking for an elder's blessing to creating nature art. A few of the crafts are less accessible, either because they do not come with detailed instructions or because they call for items such as basket-weaving reed that may be difficult to locate. Each spread is packed with delightful illustrations of the authors, a diverse cast celebrating the holiday, and depictions of the recipe and craft. The final spreads discuss birthday traditions across cultures, ideas for learning about other holidays, and full bios of the contributors that include how to find them online. Even if young readers don't create a single craft or recipe, they will come away educated and excited about the beautiful ways different cultures celebrate special days. VERDICT Bursting with color and joy, this book vibrantly shines with life, hope, and diversity. Recommended for purchase.--Emily Beasley