Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama's assistant chef. And of all the delicious Filipino dishes that dance through Cora's head, she and Mama decide to make pancit, her favorite noodle dish. With Mama's help, Cora does the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken and soaking the noodles (perhaps Mama won't notice if she takes a nibble of chicken or sloshes a little water on the floor). Cora even gets to stir the noodles in the pot carefully-- while Mama supervises. When dinner is finally served, her siblings find out that Cora did all their grown-up tasks, and Cora waits anxiously to see what everyone thinks of her cooking. Dorina Lazo Gilmore's text delightfully captures the warmth between mother and daughter as they share a piece of their Filipino heritage. With bright and charming illustrations by Kristi Valiant, Cora's family comes alive as Cora herself becomes the family's newest little chef.
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About the Author
Dorina Lazo Gilmore grew up in a Filipino-Italian family in the kitchen with her mama, aunties and grandmas. She loves to create healthy recipes and share stories in the kitchen with her friends and daughters. Dorina has a B.A. in English and Journalism and is completing an M.F.A. degree in Children s Literature at Hollins University. She is also the author of two other children s books, Children of the San Joaquin Valley and Stone Soup: A Hmong Girl s Journey to the United States. Dorina is originally from Chicago and lives with her husband and two daughters in Fresno, California.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cora Cooks Panict- a warm and much shared memory for adults as well..,
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This review is from: Cora Cooks Pancit (Hardcover)
Although "Cora Cooks Pancit" is likely to be viewed as a children's book by many, in truth it is much more than a children's story. For anyone who grew up in a Filipino family (I did not,though I am happily a part of one now) or who has made pancit or other Filipino dishes(I have) or simply grew up in a large, loving family, I believe that this book will feel more a memory from a childhood long ago than simply a child's story. Why? First, the author has wonderfully included shared memories from childhood- jobs given to older children, the longing by younger children to help, the chance to lick the spoon, etc. Secondly- the author has woven into the story specific details that authenticate the Filipino experience, e.g. lumpia and adobo, the size of the family and the names of the children,the description of the pancit pan, "salamat", the mother's experssion and reaction upon the spill, etc. More importantly is the inclusion of the reflections upon "Lolo"- his life as a boy in the Philippine countryside, his work with immigrant farm laborers, etc., all help to create a memory shared by many Filipinos today for cherished loved one long gone. Finally, the author's description of the creation of pancit is completely authentic and mirrors my own lessons from my Pinay wife- shredding chicken with a fork, soaking noodles, stirring in the ingredients, and finally sending carrots and mushrooms and chicken out of the all-to-full pot when stirring! I am sure I am not alone in these memories..
Lastly, illustrations in this book accurately and wonderfully capture the Filipino persona (appearance, expressions, stance, smiles) as I have come to know it. The illustrator has also captured other details- the Filipino flag side-by-side with the American flag on the refrigerator, the tsinellas on the family's feet, images of tropical fruit on the walls, spoons and forks, but no knives on the table, and lastly, Cora's look as she awaits the response from her family as they try the pancit. I am sure I had the same look as I presented my first pancit to family and friends! I recommend this book unconditionally to children of all agaes who still remember what it was like to gain new responsibilities within their family.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect book for a budding young cook,
By ilovebooks4kids (Somerset County, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cora Cooks Pancit (Hardcover)
I have two young children who love to help Mommy in the kitchen. So I often look for picture books which depict parents and children preparing meals together. I was delighted to discover Cora Cooks Pancit, as it introduces my children to another culture's cuisine. Pancit is a traditional Filipino dish of noodles, chicken, egg and vegetables.
The first thing that impressed me about this book were the colorful, adorable illustrations by Krisi Valiant. The parent-child bond is so thoughtfully reproduced. There's sweet moments of Mama presenting little Cora with her grandfather Lolo's special apron and Mama leaning on the kitchen chair recalling how Lolo taught her how to make Pancit. The body language is so expressive and accurate, the characters feel as if they're moving on the page. Cora's little face is tentative as she soaks the rice noodles for the first time. Mama's smile is encouraging. Truly, the illustrations made my heart warm. After making a mistake with the noodles, Cora is apprehensive as the family tastes her first attempt at Pancit. But when they say it tastes just like Lolo's pancit, Cora proudly stands atop her chair and shows off her apron. "Salamat," she cries out. "Thank you!" Cora Cooks Pancit demonstrates the importance of passing on family traditions and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones. And the bonus is a wonderful pancit recipe, which is delicious! (I know, I've already made it twice to rave reviews!)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cora Cooks Pancit,
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This review is from: Cora Cooks Pancit (Hardcover)
If I say this was a delicious book I would not be kidding. The story is about a young Filipino child who is too small to help cook in the kitchen. One day her sisters and brother leave the house and she is left to help her mother cook. Her mother lets her choose what they will eat. She chooses Pancit, her favorite dish. She gets to put the noodles to soak to soften them, help shred the chicken and check when the noodles are done. She also gets to help stir the pancit. Her sisters and brother are surprised to learn that she did their grown up jobs. They and their father tell her how proud they are of her. I loved the glossary of words that explain some of the foods. The end of the book contains the recipe for the noodle and chicken dish called Pancit. I loved the pictures. They were fun, but realistic enough that they made me hungry.
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