What a blast! One of my dear kidlit friends, the incredible Keila Dawson, just stirred up a new book, YUMBO GUMBO, illustrated by the talented Katie Crumpton, that launches from Charlesbridge on February 20, 2024. And I am so honored to participate in the celebration with the COVER REVEAL.
TA-DA!!!
What a fun cover! The illustrator, Katie Crumpton, really knows how to portray emotion! And the color palette just pops off the page!
I asked Keila if she’d tell us the inspiration behind the story…I think it’s valuable for writers because it gets them thinking about the different ways we can access ideas for our new manuscripts. And it valuable for parents and teachers because they can share the information with their children to create a richer enjoyment and engagement with the story itself.
KEILA: The inspiration behind this story: I have always loved the memories and photos of my mama teaching my son how to make gumbo.
Passing along family recipes from generation to generation is a universal concept. And in Louisiana, one recipe we teach our kids to make is gumbo! People are familiar with Louisiana’s food, holidays and traditions. But few understand the origin of our pre-American culture. Gumbo is one way to explain it. To ensure accuracy, I provided my editor, Alyssa Pusey, and TERC math expert, Marlene Kliman, with lots of Louisiana history and colonial research. For this project, it was equally important to have the math and culture delivered organically through the storytelling. One funny exchange I had involved the opening scene. The main character greets her grandmother with “Good morning!” said Annabelle. “I’m ready to cook.” Alyssa wondered if it made sense that the story takes place over the course of an entire day. I thought four adults could make gumbo in a day, because with just me and my mama, it was typically a two-day process. “Two days!” Alyssa responded. This was such a fun project to work on. And Katie’s fun illustrations add so much to the story. I can’t wait to share this intergenerational stir the pot story that has a pinch of sibling conflict spiced with math that celebrates Creole Louisiana. YUMBO!
YUMBO GUMBO is available for pre-sale at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Hudson Booksellers
Here’s a little bit about the book from the flap copy:
Annabelle is finally going to learn how to cook gumbo! But her family can’t agree on what type to make. Annabelle wants okra gumbo, but her little brother, Beau, thinks it’s too slimy.
Yumbo!
Yucko!
Annabelle tells everyone to vote for their favorite gumbo, but each vote ends in a tie. And everyone is getting hungry. Mudbugs! How will they choose?
What a fun premise! And Keila’s writing combined with Katie’s art creates the magic we always hope for in a picture book!
Keila V. Dawson writes fiction and nonfiction picture books. A two-time Ohioana finalist, her latest release is NO WORLD TOO BIG: YOUNG PEOPLE FIGHTING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, a companion title to the International Reading Association Award-winning title, NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY. She is the author of OPENING THE ROAD: VICTOR HUGO GREEN AND HIS GREEN BOOK, THE KING CAKE BABY, and the forthcoming YUMBO GUMBO (February 20, 2024). A New Orleans native, Dawson has also lived and worked in states across the U.S., in the Philippines, Japan, and Egypt. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Her books have been featured on the New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, John F. Kennedy Library and Kirkus Best Books lists, and nominated for various awards, including the 2023 Charlotte Award, the 2023-2024 Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award, and the Illinois Bluestem State 2023-2024 Readers’ Choice Award.
When Dawson isn’t reading, writing, and visiting schools, she’s traveling or playing tennis, or digging in genealogical archives. Follow her on her website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Thanks for stopping in and spending your precious time with us, dear friends. This has been a weekend of blog posts here at Picture Books Help Kids Soar! Please remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this fabulous book (maybe you can relay a memory of the first time you helped prepare food) – the winner will need to wait till next year to receive it because it launches February 20, 2024. In the meantime, please put it on your Goodreads Want to Read list, pre-order a copy, and share this post on your social media so lots more people find out about it.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
What fun to read this post! As a native of New Orleans, I adore gumbo! I definitely need this book 😁
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Gumbo lovers unite! Rachelle, then you know when people ask where they can find the best gumbo in the city, we say, “My kitchen.” LOL!
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I love to hear the inspiration behind a book!
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Me, too! And photos are great for idea generation.
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Love, Love, Love this story. My mother taught me how to make gumbo months before she passed. Our family recipe preserved and I’m passing it down to my children. Congrats!
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Love lesson!
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Another great book! This looks like another winner! Congrats, Keila, and thanks for sharing, Vivian!
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Thanks so much, Ellen. It was a fun one to write.
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Wonderful concept!! Can’t wait to read. Congratulations!
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Thanks so much, Meredith.
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My mom was not a good cook or baker, so I learned on my own how to prepare meals and I still enjoy trying new recipes and flavors and learning more. It turns out I love to bake and my favorite memories are baking sugar cookies with my kids and decorating them. This book sounds wonderful and one to make me hungry.
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I think so, too, Danielle. And I will share a recipe for adventurous cooks who’d like to try making gumbo. YUMBO!
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Love the title & premise, Keila. Can’t wait to read it. Congrats!
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Thanks, friend! We all have our comfort foods that keep home in our hearts.
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I love the cover! But gumbo – my face might look like the child on the right, who’s not so sure she wants to try it. Congratulations!
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HA! That’s my son listening to instructions from my mama. He’s a hell of cook and professional chef, today.
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I love the idea of kids in the kitchen, learning of their heritage through cooking. Nothing beats those old family recipes. Congrats on another great book, Keila!
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Thank you, Marty! I wish my mother was still alive to know that my son is now studying pastry arts in Paris. She would be “tickled pink” as she said back in the day.
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That’s so cool, Keila! Her legacy lives on 🙂 Guessing she knows!
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Oh, how I love family recipes that are passed down. I have some from my mom, grandmother, and great aunts. There have been no male chefs in our family (except for my father’s oyster stew and whiskey sours, LOL). I’m interested to see how the math portion of the story factors in. Is it the measuring of ingredients? or something else? Inquiring minds want to know!
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Well a whiskey sour needs a recipe, am I right? LOL! No counting or measurements allowed in the Storytelling Math Books. I worked with a math expert and learned to write math for 3-6-year-olds so the math was more about reasoning. Hint: there’s something unyumbo that happened. LOL!
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I love stories about food, family, and traditions! And of course as an educator, I love that math is part of the story, too. The cover is really cute, and I’m curious about the chicken looking in the pot! Congrats, Keila! I can’t wait to read your book Yumbo Gumbo when it comes out.
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Hi Lillie! The chicken is definitely a secondary character in the book. LOL! And thanks for your support!
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YUMBO GUMBO…Yum! We love sharing recipes from my mom, grandmoms and 2 very special aunts. I have to admit, my husband and oldest son are the best cooks in our family! 🙂
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My son is a chef with skills that far surpass mine. And Papí, her grandfather, is the one who takes the lead in teaching Annabelle. 🙂
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My memories are all about desserts–the many cakes and holiday cookies I made with my mom. Food books are near and dear to me. I enjoyed hearing what’s behind Keila’s book and can’t wait to read it. I’m already wanting to eat some gumbo!
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YUMBO! Thanks for reading, my friend!
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While I wait for your book release, I’ll look for my favorite recipes. My favorite memory is making tamales for the holidays! Everyone has a different take on the family tamale recipe. Thanks for inspiration.
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Oh, I can’t wait to spark a recipe exchange! And the family stories behind them.
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These story telling math books are terrific! Congrats on the release.
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I agree, Deena. I love learning how about the different cultural traditions, celebrations, holidays, and food. YUM.
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I KNOW HER!!!! Keila I was so excited to see your book on the fabulous Vivian Kirkfiel’s blog❤️❤️ CONGRATULATIONS Keila❤️. Cooking with grandma was very special at our house, except it was hard to get a real recipe out of mom. Oh a little of this and a pinch of that….always with lots of love. Congratulations Keila and thank you Vivian . Emmie
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Hi Emmie! I totally identify with you! I’d ask for those cooking spoon measurements? Two tablespoons, three or more? AHHHH… Thanks so much for reading my friend.
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