Author Winsome Bingham brings authenticity to his reading of this animated adaptation of his popular picture book, Soul Food Sunday, a 2022 Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and celebratory ode to dinners at Granny’s house. Every week a big extended family gets together on Sunday while Roscoe Ray tends an outdoor grill and the kids play outside. But on this special day, one young boy follows his grandmother into the kitchen to help with the meal. Granny’s voice is warm and inviting as portrayed by narrator Sullivan Jones who repeats “Good job, baby” every time the youngster finishes certain tasks.
The refrain “It’s not soul food Sunday” unless certain foods such as mac ‘n’ cheese, mixed greens, and various meat dishes are on the table is expressively repeated. Charles G. Esperanza’s vibrant color-washed drawings are slightly animated and realistic sounds of slamming car doors, honking horns, beeping car alarms, and clinking ice cubes add to jazzy background music. In deeper vocal tones, Sullivan Jones voices Roscoe who announces that the grill is ready to cook the ribs, chickens, and sausages that the youngster has helped cut and slice.
The story ends with the family gathering around a bountiful table of delectable foods. Concluding author and illustrator notes begin with Bingham saying how she learned to cook in pre-internet days by calling her grandmother on the telephone to get step-by-step recipe instructions. In the illustrator's comments, we learn that Esperanza’s Sunday meal experiences revolved around family get-togethers in the Bronx.
And finally, viewers are treated to a recipe for mac ‘n’ cheese that relies on four grated kinds of cheese, macaroni, seasonings, butter, and cream mixed together before baking. Youngsters are reminded to ask for help before attempting the recipe. Family bonding, teamwork, love, and fellowship are subtle messages in this joyful production. Highly Recommended for children's library shelves focusing on inclusivity.