"Today Nenek is visiting from Indonesia. Lintang is so excited...[to meet] her grandma for the first time!" Nenek speaks only a little English, so Papa translates (the mom in the story presents as white). Lintang is eager to connect, but when she tastes Nenek's sambal, it is...SPICY! SPICY! HOT! (a hilarious sequential illustration of Lintang reacting to the heat and finally putting her whole head in a bucket of water). Lintang feels left out while the rest of her family enjoys all different kinds of sambal, and she's determined to like it, so she tries many kinds until she finds one that is not too spicy for her. Nenek teachers her about the different kinds of chilies and their level of heat (accompanied by a nice labeled illustration). As a parting gift, Nenek leaves behind her mortar and pestle for Lintang.

Back matter/back endpapers: Recipe of Sambal Mangga.

See also: Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua

Sambal ( )

Indonesian family and food ( )