Something's Happening on Calabash Street: A Story with Thirteen Recipes

A cursory look at cultural influence complicates this celebratory look at a street fair, which includes a mouthwatering set of international recipes. While Mischa's grandmother makes golubtsi (stuffed cabbage), other families get ready, too. The text ""At the market, neighbors fill baskets/ with food for a favorite dish./ The Garcias pick colorful peppers/ The Yamaguchis choose a fish"" appears with an illustration of a Mexican man in a white T-shirt and straw hat evaluating a red pepper, while a Japanese woman in a silk pink coat selects an item for sushi. The multicultural neighbors cook all day, then gather for a potluck dinner and dancing. Ingemanson makes her picture-book debut with acrylic-and-oil spreads in flavorful salsa (or chutney) colors. In the detailed recipes, Enderle and Gordon (Francis the Earthquake Dog) offer suggestions for adult and child cooperation; children are invited to stir ingredients while parents use the stove (some readers may be troubled, however, by errorsD""The Trang's Tropical Fruit Salad"" and ""The Cohen's Matzo Ball Soup,"" for instance). But the trickiest equipment in this kitchen proves to be the melting pot. Grown-upsDwho will understand why the Cohens bring matzo balls and the O'Briens serve stewDwill have to decide how best to teach younger readers the significance of names and menus. Ages 4-8. (May)