Back of Book:
Chocolate is the perfect treat, everywhere!
As a little girl and her father bake her birthday cake together, Daddy tells the story of her Grandpa Cacao, a farmer from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. In a land where elephants roam and the air is hot and damp, Grandpa Cacao worked in his village to harvest cacao, the most important ingredient in chocolate. “Chocolate is a gift to you from Grandpa Cacao,” Daddy says. “We can only enjoy chocolate treats thanks to farmers like him.” Once the cake is baked, it’s ready to eat, but this isn’t her only birthday present. There’s a special surprise waiting at the front door
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from Bloomsbury Press in exchange for an honest review.
Although, I am a huge fan of all things chocolate I have never studied the process of how chocolate is made.
Grandpa Cacao is an informational story that opens readers eyes to the work and dedication of chocolate farmers in the Ivory Coast. The story follows a little girl and her father as they make a chocolate cake for her birthday. As they bake the father tells his daughter all about Grandpa Cacao and his work in the fields. The text beautifully blends the past and the present in a way that flows seamlessly. It ties in the importance of family, culture, and tradition. The illustrations are stunning and full of color and life. I was awed by the details in each picture. , The back of the book has more information about fair trade the science behind chocolate as well as a chocolate cake recipe.
This book is a true experience in a world that is fairly unknown. I learned so much about the chocolate making process and am now more committed to locating items that are certified as fair trade.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
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