About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts asking questions about where our food comes from or shows a burgeoning interest in the 'gritty' side of history. It is perfect for the middle-grader who enjoys hands-on learning and wants to understand how real people survived before supermarkets and modern kitchens. Lila Perl moves beyond dry dates and battles to explore the sensory world of the nineteenth-century American frontier through the lens of the dinner plate. The book highlights the incredible resilience and creativity of pioneer families who had to improvise with meager supplies. By blending historical narrative with twenty authentic recipes, it teaches children that culture is something we create and carry with us even in the harshest conditions. It is a secular, informative, and highly engaging look at the diversity of the West, suitable for ages 10 to 14, providing a wonderful bridge between social studies and practical life skills like cooking and resourcefulness.
