French Toast

“Simply told and cleverly imagined, FrenchToast is a great starting point for talking toyoung children about race, diversity, and respect.”—Quill and Quire ? Starred Review

Phoebe—half Jamaican, halfFrench-Canadian—hates her school nickname of “French Toast.” So she ismortified when, out on a walk with her Jamaican grandmother, she hears aclassmate shout it out at her. To make things worse, Nan-Ma, who is blind,wants an explanation of the name. How can Phoebe describe the color of her skinto someone who has never seen it? “Like tea, after you’ve added the milk,” shesays.  And her father? “Like warm bananabread.” And Nan-Ma herself? She is like maple syrup poured over...well...

In French Toast, Kari-Lynn Winters uses favorite foods fromboth of Phoebe’s cultures to celebrate the varied skin tones of her family. FrançoisThisdale’s imaginative illustrations fill the landscape with whimsy andmouthwatering delight as Phoebe realizes her own resilience and takes ownershipof her nickname proudly.