Nana's Rice Pie

A grandmother and granddaughter bake together and build a family tradition in this sweet storybook—includes a recipe for Nana’s Rice Pie.

Nana, in the endearing way of grandmothers, tells Sara of the importance of rice for their family and explains why her pa must work so long and hard. Sara, reluctant at first, slowly begins to listen to the story and then to participate in telling it. Together, they make a delicious, sweet rice pie, and soon, the two are singing a song that spans the generations of their family.

This book tells a tale of warmth, simplicity, and tradition—yet also features an innovative storytelling technique. Atop each page is a band of illustration with a gingham-framed picture at each end. While the main illustrations depict the action of the story, this additional element serves to illustrate what the characters are thinking and talking about—conveying a wordless narrative that is woven seamlessly throughout the book and raises the story to a completely different level. In addition, families can create a new tradition themselves by following the recipe for sweet rice pie included in the book.