Cooking with Grandma

by Chef Nadia Bloom

A story about finding magic in the kitchen.

Grade 1 (Level F): Early readers10 pages

A child learns family recipes from their grandmother while discovering the stories and culture behind each dish

Characters

Sofia

Abuela

Pop Art Bright

Story Arc

Sofia stood in the kitchen. He watched Abuela. Cooking seemed very slow.

“Come, Sofia,” Abuela said. “Let us bake cookies.” Sofia sighed a little bit.

Abuela told Sofia about her grandma. “She made these same cookies,” Abuela said. “Long, long ago.”

Sofia held the mixing spoon. He slowly stirred the dough. The kitchen smelled sweet.

Next, Abuela showed Sofia big green leaves. “These make a special dish,” she shared. “From my family’s old home.”

Sofia helped wash the green leaves. He imagined faraway places. Cooking felt less boring now.

Abuela told another story. It was about growing rice under a big sun. Sofia imagined the fields.

Sofia helped chop colorful vegetables. He hummed a little song. His apron had new splatters.

Soon, many dishes filled the table. Cookies and green leaves and rice. They looked wonderful.

Sofia smiled at Abuela. Each bite held a story. Cooking was not boring at all. It was love.

Make one of your own next.

Abuela: It means grandma in Spanish. Sofia's grandma is called Abuela.; He watched Abuela.
sighed: This is when you let out a long breath, sometimes when you feel a little sad or tired.; Sofia sighed a little bit.
dough: This is the soft mixture you make for cookies or bread before it is baked.; He slowly stirred the dough.
shared: This means you let someone else have or use something, or you told them something.; “These make a special dish,” she shared.
imagined: This means you thought about something in your mind that is not real right now.; Sofia imagined faraway places.
bored: This means you feel tired and uninterested because you have nothing fun to do.; Cooking felt less boring now.
vegetables: These are healthy foods that grow from plants, like carrots or lettuce.; Sofia helped chop colorful vegetables.
splatters: These are small drops of something, like food, that have splashed onto a surface.; His apron had new splatters.
dishes: These are plates or bowls that hold food.; Soon, many dishes filled the table.
wonderful: This means something is very good, amazing, or beautiful.; They looked wonderful.