Joseph misses sharing meals with lots of people like he did back in the refugee camp, so when the neighbors finally come over, it’s a feast! A companion book to Joseph’s Big Ride, described in Kirkus as “a joyful, upbeat tale.”
When Joseph and Mama lived in a refugee camp in East Africa, everyone cooked and ate together. And Joseph could always hear someone playing the awal. It’s much too quiet and lonely in his new home. Though Whoosh, the girl who lives upstairs, is friendly, Joseph misses having more people around, especially his grandmother, who still lives across the ocean. So he invites his relatives in the city to come for dinner, then he invites his teacher, then Whoosh and her mami — but everyone is too busy.
Ever hopeful, Joseph picks the last greens from the garden. At least he and Mama will be ready to cook if someone comes. The next night Whoosh and her mami appear at the door with a big cake, and Whoosh and Joseph cook up a feast.
A touching story about adjusting to a new home and the pleasure of cooking and sharing food with friends.
Key Text Features
glossary
translations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
Joseph misses sharing meals with lots of people like he did back in the refugee camp, so when the neighbors finally come over, it’s a feast! A companion book to Joseph’s Big Ride, described in Kirkus as “a joyful, upbeat tale.”
When Joseph and Mama lived in a refugee camp in East Africa, everyone cooked and ate together. And Joseph could always hear someone playing the awal. It’s much too quiet and lonely in his new home. Though Whoosh, the girl who lives upstairs, is friendly, Joseph misses having more people around, especially his grandmother, who still lives across the ocean. So he invites his relatives in the city to come for dinner, then he invites his teacher, then Whoosh and her mami — but everyone is too busy.
Ever hopeful, Joseph picks the last greens from the garden. At least he and Mama will be ready to cook if someone comes. The next night Whoosh and her mami appear at the door with a big cake, and Whoosh and Joseph cook up a feast.
A touching story about adjusting to a new home and the pleasure of cooking and sharing food with friends.
Key Text Features
glossary
translations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Sep 1, 2021 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 9 in x 9 in |
| Keywords | award-winning author; |
| Written By |
TERRY FARISH is the author of The Good Braider (YALSA and SLJ Best Book for Young Adults), Either the Beginning or the End of the World (Maine Literary Award) and A Feast for Joseph (with OD Bonny and illustrated by Ken Daley). She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. |
| Written By |
OD BONNY is a writer, producer and songwriter, as well as an artist of traditional Acholi music and dancehall/Afrobeat. He was born in South Sudan and fled to Uganda with his two older brothers, where they lived in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. In 2003, they moved to the United States. OD attended the University of Maine in Orono, and he began composing and singing traditional Acholi music. He has toured all around Canada, the US, Australia and Ireland. This is his first book. He lives with his family in Omaha, Nebraska. |
| Illustrated by |
KEN DALEY is an award-winning illustrator who draws inspiration from his African Caribbean roots. He has illustrated over thirteen books, including Joseph's Big Ride by Terry Farish, which received a Skipping Stones Honor Award for International Multicultural Books, A Feast for Joseph by Terry Farish and OD Bonny, and Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings by Francie Latour, an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book about History and Tradition. Ken lives in Kitchener, Ontario. |
| Written By |
|
TERRY FARISH is the author of The Good Braider (YALSA and SLJ Best Book for Young Adults), Either the Beginning or the End of the World (Maine Literary Award) and A Feast for Joseph (with OD Bonny and illustrated by Ken Daley). She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. |
| Written By |
|
OD BONNY is a writer, producer and songwriter, as well as an artist of traditional Acholi music and dancehall/Afrobeat. He was born in South Sudan and fled to Uganda with his two older brothers, where they lived in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. In 2003, they moved to the United States. OD attended the University of Maine in Orono, and he began composing and singing traditional Acholi music. He has toured all around Canada, the US, Australia and Ireland. This is his first book. He lives with his family in Omaha, Nebraska. |
| Illustrated by |
|
KEN DALEY is an award-winning illustrator who draws inspiration from his African Caribbean roots. He has illustrated over thirteen books, including Joseph's Big Ride by Terry Farish, which received a Skipping Stones Honor Award for International Multicultural Books, A Feast for Joseph by Terry Farish and OD Bonny, and Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings by Francie Latour, an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book about History and Tradition. Ken lives in Kitchener, Ontario. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Reading Levels |
Guided Reading N
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level N |
| Key Text Features | glossary; translations |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 |
Commended, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2022
A wonderful book that humanizes refugees through a focus on joy in everyday life, even in asylum. STARRED REVIEW
” —Kirkus ReviewsThe robust illustrations use saturated colors and shading to help convey a mood of happiness and warmth.
” —BooklistA heart-warming, powerful story.
” —Open BookA Feast for Joseph captures and celebrates the magic that happens when individuals come together over food and friendship.
” —CM: Canadian Review of MaterialsFull of food and fun.
” —Winnipeg Free PressThe vibrant illustrations, full of color and movement … nicely complement the poetic text.
” —Horn BookPraise for authors Terry Farish and OD Bonny and illustrator Ken Daley for A Feast for Joseph:
"A wonderful book that humanizes refugees through a focus on joy in everyday life, even in asylum." — Kirkus, starred review
"The robust illustrations use saturated colors and shading to help convey a mood of happiness and warmth." — Booklist
"A heart-warming, powerful story." — Open Book
"A Feast for Joseph captures and celebrates the magic that happens when individuals come together over food and friendship." — CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Full of food and fun." — Winnipeg Free Press
"The vibrant illustrations, full of color and movement … nicely complement the poetic text." — Horn Book
”