Jake is Hungry!
About this book This book was written collaboratively by community members in the spring of 2020 in support of Reading Partners Twin Cities.
Authors Laurie Casagrande Alix Cogan Becky Crouse Sarah Dischinger Jake Dunn Dixie Grace JoAnn Hardy Marissa Heim Kelley Jewett Claire Pautz Carlye Rooney Kelly Rynda Danica Stewart Graham Sutherland
Illustrator Blaishia Lee
My name is Jake, and I'm a very hungry boy! What do you think I should eat? A banana? Hmm, no... A carrot? Hmm, no... A cookie? Hmm, no...
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Wait, I know! Something special! Something that reminds me of home. Yes, that’s it! My grandmother’s rice - the recipe traveled all over the world before my father brought it here with him.
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Jake had many childhood memories of how his father would talk about his home at their dinner table. Everyone would listen closely as he spoke of people they had never met and a far off land. His father would talk about how his mother had made this rice and his mother's mother and so on.
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This rice was special, blending past and present together. Jake knew that things would be okay if only he could have his grandmother's rice. He too would be transported.
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Jake's stomach rumbled and grumbled. He offered to help his dad make the rice, following the carefully written recipe his grandmother had written. Dad was happy, but his face looked worried. "I just don't think we can make it as good as she did," Dad sighed. "Maybe not," said Jake. "But we won't know unless we try!"
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When Jake opened his eyes, he wasn't in his kitchen! He was in his grandmother’s warm and tiny house! Her dog Pooky, who Jake had always loved, was on his lap, licking his face. And he could hear his grandmother happily humming away in the kitchen. Jake’s stomach rumbled again.
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Jake gently pushed Pooky to the floor and walked to the kitchen to greet his grandmother. "Hello, Jake!" said Grandma. "Would you like some rice?" "Aren't you surprised to see me?" asked Jake.
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“Well of course not, silly. You only left the kitchen a few minutes ago to let Pooky outside!” his grandmother laughed. “Come, bring over a chair and I’ll fill your plate.” Jake slowly walked toward his grandmother’s old, green table and pulled up a rickety chair. Pooky placed his head of brown, curly hair on Jake’s lap and looked at him with eyes the size of saucers. Jake’s grandmother slowly ambled over to the table and began spooning rice onto the plate sitting in front of Jake.
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Jake closed his eyes and let the steam from the rice fill his nostrils. He remembered all of the times his grandmother had filled his plate for family gatherings, holidays, or when sneaking a little snack before his mom and dad made dinner (Jake is always, always hungry). And then he realized he was in one of his most important memories. He opened his eyes and asked his grandmother, "Will you show me how to cook it?"
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Jake's grandmother smiled and took out a pot."It is very easy. First, we put water in the pot."Jake listened carefully as he followed his grandmother's instructions. When it was all cooked, he and Pooky each had a taste.
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"Wow!" said Jake. "This is the best-tasting food I have ever eaten!" Pooky, however, made a very funny face and immediately spit his out on the floor.
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"Well, I guess my Pooky isn't in the mood for my rice today!" said Grandma. "Maybe my other friend, Snakey, would like to try my delicious rice today." Snakey was Grandma's pet snake. He usually showed up for dinner around 6 o'clock every night.
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And sure enough. Grandma and Jake heard a soft, swishing sound. They looked down and there was Snakey, gliding toward them on the floor. He quickly licked up the grains of rice that had fallen out of Pooky’s bowl. Was that a smile on Snakey’s face?
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“Grandma!” yelled Jake as his eyes grew big and round with excitement. “Snakey likes our rice!” They quickly spooned a mound of sweetsmelling rice onto the floor, where Snakey quickly ate it. Jake grinned and ate his own bowl of rice. “Look, Grandma, there is still plenty of rice. I wonder who else might like some?” asked Jake.
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“It’s very generous of you to think of others,” said Grandma. “Why don’t we walk next door and see if my neighbor Mrs. Eddy would like some?” “Great idea!” said Jake. So Grandma and Jake walk to Mrs. Eddy’s door, but there is no answer.
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“Hmm..” said Grandma. “She must be out visiting her grandson. We can package up some of the rice to give her when she returns. We’ll write her a nice note to let her know that we enjoyed the rice so much and we didn’t want her to miss out.” Grandma and Jake walk back to Grandma’s house and begin putting away the rice. “Jake, would you like to take some rice home to your father?”
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That’s when Jake remembered this was just a memory, he had to leave and go back home to his dad. “I think he would really like that, Grandma! I will make sure to remind him the correct recipe for our rice, so it’s just like yours!” “That’s a great idea, Jake.” Grandma picked up one of her special boxes, packaged up her rice, and handed it to Jake with a wink, and as his hands touched it he was right back in his own kitchen with his dad.
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“Dad I think it needs a little more saffron,” said Jake. His dad looked at him, eyes wide, “You know what, buddy, you just might be onto something.” The rice was so scrumptious that not a single grain was left.
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The End
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