It explores
traditions around food, cooking, recipes passed down through the generations,
the absolute joy of eating and family life – all of which are squished together
into a tangle of mouth-watering hope and delight.
The story is told through the voice of a young narrator, who is sad that she’s too little to collect salt water from the seaside. (This is not just ANY salt water mind you – it’s special water for making special ricotta for the special family apple cake!).
Readers
identify with the child’s mission to be seen as bigger and more responsible in
her family’s eyes – and suffice to say, she does end up at the windy beach to
gather water!
The images
are delightful – full of colour, movement, engaging faces and with great
amounts of detail to pore over. Gorgeous and enticing at the same time.
The first
page that opens into a bedroom (with the smell of mum’s cooking wafting in from
the kitchen) brings so much interest and tactile sensibility that the reader
cannot help but fall into the book itself.
The cover
is just gorgeous – the happy image of our narrator under a lemon tree with her
hopeful face and a large slice of cake, is truly beguiling.
This is
such a delightful, hopeful narrative.
Highly recommended.
Title: Sundays Under The Lemon TreeAuthor: Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Illustrator: Myo Yim
Publisher: Scribble, $24.99
Publication Date: 4 November 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761381485
For Ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
