Our Italian Christmas Eve

The siblings Sedita set a place for readers at the table of their extended Italian family’s holiday Feast of the Seven Fishes in this picture book look at a cherished tradition. A labeled portrait introduces the child narrators’ smiling wide-eyed fam, all portrayed with pale skin, gathered at hostess Aunt Babe’s house. After “we kiss all eighteen people and get big hugs,” Babe quickly puts her “darlings” to work grating big hunks of parmesan, and sounds the alarm about a dessert shortage. The “bambini” delightedly whip up a sweet treat of their own before describing the parade of seafood dishes. A busy evening of Christmas music, naps, and mouthwatering baked goods unfolds before Babe ushers everyone on to attend midnight Mass. The authors sustain a warm, bubbly tone, a mood matched by Lozano’s scribbly depictions of a loving family exhibiting countless distinct and often-humorous facial expressions. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)