SOUL FOOD BABY
From A-Z
By Dr. Talaya L. Tolefree
As people of African descent, part of our culture includes breaking bread together. Even in times of slavery, food and coming together as family could not be erased. I remember watching the movie Soul Food when it was released in 1997, which included Sunday dinner’s soul food as a way of showing love. That being said, I bring to you Dr. Talaya Tolefree’s children’s book Soul Food Baby: From A-Z.
Our story begins with Nia asking her Grandma and Grandpa Sankofa, “Is there such a thing as Soul Food Soup?” This begins a story told by her grandparents about a little girl who was something like her called Soul Food Baby, who couldn’t be satisfied by anything but Soul Food Soup when she was upset. Step by step, from A to Z, Grandma Sankofa names the soul food items that taste good!
Like the movie, when I paged through Grandma Sankofa’s list, my stomach was growling. Having eaten nearly all the items on that list at some point in my life gave me a hearty appreciation and appetite for them. I loved that Tolefree was intentional about making this story multigenerational. Everyone, parents and grandparents alike, cooked and prepared the food, which gave the all-important sense of community. The vivid illustrations and color brought by Joyeeta Neogi enhanced this joyous story.
Another point that was brought home in Tolefree’s story: it is not just preparing soul food, but the spirit and the heart that goes into what is prepared.
Soul Food Baby is available through Sankofa Moments Publishing, Amazon, and the Minnesota Black Authors Expo website.
Thank you, Dr. Tolefree, for bringing us another story of love, joy, family, and community while whetting our appetites, both figuratively and literally!
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
