Bibliographical information:

Creech, Sharon. Granny Torrelli Makes Soup. Illus. Chris Raschka. New York: Harper Collins, 2003.

Brief summary:

Rosie and her best friend Baily experience some bumps in their relationship, first as Rosie surprises Bailey (who is visually impaired) by learning Braille, and then when a new neighbor moves in down the street. As they cook soup, pasta, and sauce, Granny Torrelli tells them stories about her childhood friend Pardo and a young woman named Violetta who moved into their town. They find sustenance in her stories and in the food.

Comments:

The characters are warm and real, and the mix of storytelling, friendship, and cooking is very appealing. Given the age of the characters and the pre-adolescent relationships, the text is pretty accessible--the language is rich, but the pages aren't dense with words, which might make this book both appealing and accessible to kids who are not advanced readers.

Grade/Age level:

Ages 9-12

Cautions:

This book is likely to make your child hungry.

If you like this book, you might also like . . .

--Lisa Gordis

Feel free to add comments by clicking the comments tab above.