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Freedom Soup
“A Haitian grandmother and granddaughter share a holiday, a family recipe, and a story of freedom. . . . A stunning and necessary historical picture book.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The shake-shake of maracas vibrates down to my toes. Ti Gran’s feet tap-tap to the rhythm. Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make Freedom Soup just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle’s family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle’s family is from. In this celebration of cultural traditions passed from one generation to the next, Jacqueline Alcántara’s lush illustrations bring to life both Belle’s story and the story of the Haitian Revolution. Tami Charles’s lyrical text, as accessible as it is sensory, makes for a tale that readers will enjoy to the last drop.
The shake-shake of maracas vibrates down to my toes. Ti Gran’s feet tap-tap to the rhythm. Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make Freedom Soup just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle’s family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle’s family is from. In this celebration of cultural traditions passed from one generation to the next, Jacqueline Alcántara’s lush illustrations bring to life both Belle’s story and the story of the Haitian Revolution. Tami Charles’s lyrical text, as accessible as it is sensory, makes for a tale that readers will enjoy to the last drop.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
December 12, 2022
The story of the Haitian Revolution is remembered and celebrated with Freedom Soup - recipe in the back of the book! Was very happy to learn about this very important tradition; embarrassed to admit that I do not know that much about Haitian history - this book makes me want to learn much more!
February 22, 2023
For starters, what didn't I know?
How every year, "Haitians all over the world ring in the New Year by eating Freedom Soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution."
Time to learn. Time to think "deliciousness." Time to give thanks for freedom.
Quickly I'm immersed in this story, thanks to the vivid writing. It appeals to heart, body, practicality, love of food. Many picture books are mainly visual. I prefer books that present their story to readers with different innate sensory preferences, not just the visual one.
Soon after progressing within this story, it's time for me (and others) to learn how Haitians became free from slavery. What a heartwarming story, youngster appropriate, told without sentimentality, and even supplemented by a delish-looking recipe at the end.
Thank you, Tami Charles (Goodreads Author) and Jacqueline Alcantara (Illustrations). Love this book!
How every year, "Haitians all over the world ring in the New Year by eating Freedom Soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution."
Time to learn. Time to think "deliciousness." Time to give thanks for freedom.
Quickly I'm immersed in this story, thanks to the vivid writing. It appeals to heart, body, practicality, love of food. Many picture books are mainly visual. I prefer books that present their story to readers with different innate sensory preferences, not just the visual one.
Soon after progressing within this story, it's time for me (and others) to learn how Haitians became free from slavery. What a heartwarming story, youngster appropriate, told without sentimentality, and even supplemented by a delish-looking recipe at the end.
Thank you, Tami Charles (Goodreads Author) and Jacqueline Alcantara (Illustrations). Love this book!
December 22, 2020
As a child and her Grandmother gather in the kitchen making soup, freedom soup. Her Grandmother asks her they called it that, then they proceed to talk about the history of her people, the Haitians and their revolution from slavery to freedom. All while dancing to music and preparing the meal.
This book teaches about history and traditions. The learning and making of the soup are past down from one generation to the next.
This book teaches about history and traditions. The learning and making of the soup are past down from one generation to the next.
December 30, 2019
It's a cold, snowy day outside, but inside Ti Gran's kitchen, it is warm and busy. As the beats of traditional Haitian kompa music and dancing fills the kitchen, so does the aroma of traditional Haitian Freedom Soup. And today, Belle, who "has a heart made for cooking," is getting her first lesson on how to prepare her Ti Gran's secret recipe for this celebrated New Year's Day soup.
And as they mash the epis and the herbs, add the meat, the pumpkin, and the vegetables into a big pot, Ti Gran begins to tell Belle why it is called Freedom Soup and what it means to Haitians everywhere. And even though Belle has heard this story every year, she still wants to hear it again.
Ti Gran, who was born in Haiti, recounts how long ago the people in her country were enslaved, and forced to work hard for their masters. Part of that work was making Freedom Soup, a dish they themselves were never allowed to eat: "Freedom Soup was only for the free," Ti Gran tells Belle. But finally, the Haitians had had enough and rebelled, driving out the people who have enslaved them, and, having won their freedom, celebrated by making and eating Freedom Soup, because now they, too, were free.
And so every New Year's Day, Haitians prepare and eat Freedom Soup, remembering their past and their fight for freedom with every bite.
Some of the reason I really liked about this story of family, history and Haitian independence:
I love stories about traditions, both family and national traditions. Tradition is what connects people to each other, and when shared, has the power to inform and enlighten and add to the lives of others. That is just what this book does. And luckily, there is a recipe for Freedom Soup in the back matter and it looks as delicious as Belle and Ti Gran made it sound.
I loved the warm intergenerational relationship between Belle and her Ti Gran and how connected to each other they feel. Also, knowing important cultural traditions is one of the ways for a young person to feel connected to their past and understanding who they are, and Freedom Soup is a perfect example of just how that can happen.
I loved the dynamic pencil, marker, and gouache illustrations done in a palette of bright blues and yellows that reminded one of the warmth and brightness of Haiti and the surrounding Caribbean waters. Well, except for the last two pages, which bring the reader back to winter's cold and snow, but a look into the windows readers can see how everyone has their own way of celebrating the New Year, including Belle and Ti Gran.
Freedom Soup is such a beautiful story, and can't recommend it highly enough, not just for New Year's but for everyday.
What more can I say, except
I wish you a very Happy New Year!
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was gratefully received by me from Candlewick Press
And as they mash the epis and the herbs, add the meat, the pumpkin, and the vegetables into a big pot, Ti Gran begins to tell Belle why it is called Freedom Soup and what it means to Haitians everywhere. And even though Belle has heard this story every year, she still wants to hear it again.
Ti Gran, who was born in Haiti, recounts how long ago the people in her country were enslaved, and forced to work hard for their masters. Part of that work was making Freedom Soup, a dish they themselves were never allowed to eat: "Freedom Soup was only for the free," Ti Gran tells Belle. But finally, the Haitians had had enough and rebelled, driving out the people who have enslaved them, and, having won their freedom, celebrated by making and eating Freedom Soup, because now they, too, were free.
And so every New Year's Day, Haitians prepare and eat Freedom Soup, remembering their past and their fight for freedom with every bite.
Some of the reason I really liked about this story of family, history and Haitian independence:
I love stories about traditions, both family and national traditions. Tradition is what connects people to each other, and when shared, has the power to inform and enlighten and add to the lives of others. That is just what this book does. And luckily, there is a recipe for Freedom Soup in the back matter and it looks as delicious as Belle and Ti Gran made it sound.
I loved the warm intergenerational relationship between Belle and her Ti Gran and how connected to each other they feel. Also, knowing important cultural traditions is one of the ways for a young person to feel connected to their past and understanding who they are, and Freedom Soup is a perfect example of just how that can happen.
I loved the dynamic pencil, marker, and gouache illustrations done in a palette of bright blues and yellows that reminded one of the warmth and brightness of Haiti and the surrounding Caribbean waters. Well, except for the last two pages, which bring the reader back to winter's cold and snow, but a look into the windows readers can see how everyone has their own way of celebrating the New Year, including Belle and Ti Gran.
Freedom Soup is such a beautiful story, and can't recommend it highly enough, not just for New Year's but for everyday.
What more can I say, except
I wish you a very Happy New Year!
This book is recommended for readers age 5+
This book was gratefully received by me from Candlewick Press
May 31, 2021
There is joy, dancing, and music on New Year’s Day as Ti Gran teaches her granddaughter Belle how to make Freedom Soup. The colorful images and words vibrate as Ti Gran recounts how her people in Haiti rebelled against the slave owners. Freedom Soup or Soup Joumou celebrates the revolution and Haiti’s independence every generation thereafter. A marvelous gem of Haiti’s heritage. Enjoy the recipe. Bon appétit!
January 18, 2020
The best picture books take big ideas and make them fit between their pages, this one does that marvelously. Dynamic, colorful illustrations and a cozy family story frame the history of Haiti with slavery and revolution presented in simple, straightforward ways that make sense to kids without losing depth. Highly recommended for kids ages 5-9.
November 23, 2019
Gorgeous! Exuberant story of a family tradition and Haitian history and even includes a recipe! This one makes readers want to dance and cook.
December 17, 2020
I loved how this talked about the connection between food, family, and history. At times it went into a few too many details about the food or the history, but it had a lot of fascinating information. The artwork had a ton of movement to it that makes you really feel the story.
January 30, 2020
Read, cook, dance, eat, dance more! This is definitely not bedtime reading!
February 1, 2020
"Together, we mash the garlicky herbs to the kompa beat."
This one is a rare perfect balance of gorgeous illustrations and a rolling story that makes you feel lucky to be in the kitchen with Belle and her grandma.
This one is a rare perfect balance of gorgeous illustrations and a rolling story that makes you feel lucky to be in the kitchen with Belle and her grandma.
December 16, 2019
I loved everything about this bright, vibrant, hopeful, beautiful book! A grandmother is sharing a beloved family recipe celebrating the Haitian New Year and while they cook together, they dance and celebrate and the grandmother shares the beautiful story behind the traditions. This is so well-done and fun to read.
July 5, 2024
This story shares the history and family traditions behind the celebration of Haitian Independence Day and the making and eating of Freedom Soup also known as Soup Joumou by Haitians all over the world. It tells of the most successful slave revolt for freedom the world has known, and shares the recipe for the soup at the end of the book.
December 11, 2019
The story of Haitian Freedom soup. (yum)
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December 31, 2019What an exuberant lovely celebration of tradition and intergenerational love. Gorgeously illustrated and beautifully written.
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October 18, 2022Joyful
July 22, 2021
This is a solid introduction to Haitian history and culture for young readers. The narrative format works really well, and the illustrations are joyful.
April 13, 2020
This first-person narrative recounts the New Year's Day that little Belle learns how to make Freedom Soup with her beloved Ti Gran in a cold, snowy urban locale. However, it not only tells this present-day story but also one of the past through author Tami Charles’s story frame device and illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara’s symbolism, based on the work of the French artist, Paul Gauguin. This artistic style allowed Honduran American Alcántara to depict "the relationship between the characters in the foreground and the objects/paintings in the background and the sense of a “painting in a painting.” (See: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2...) As such, she visually depicted the story of the past within the present time—much like the way a child imagines a story that is told aloud while it is being told.
When reading both the text and the visual narrative of Freedom Soup, I felt that the latter helps the younger reader better make sense of this complex story-within-a-story. This happens in the striking, colorful illustrations, many of which are borderless spreads bleeding through the gutter, and the way these are offset by bright white accents of color (e.g., Belle’s outfit, the kitchen cupboards) or as a backdrop for text-heavier pages with smaller illustrations. In fact, it is the strategic use of white which made me better FEEL the color and motion of both the text and the illustrations because it truly highlighted them.
Additionally, the use of curving, circular lines accentuate diverse body types, warm relationships, movement, rhythm, and music. This is particularly apparent when Ti Gran and Belle are INSIDE the story as Belle says, “I see them—the fire dancing in their eyes as they fight to take back what’s theirs.” Here the pair are framed by bluish, moving trees that remind me of the biblical story where Moses parted the waters for the Israelites to stay safe. Ti Gran and Belle are in the safety of freedom, although a soldier’s foot remains in a small corner of the present, linking the times in a more permanent way.
All these visual aspects perfectly match Charles’s rhythmic, musical text (The trumpet blares. “I hear it, Ti Gran! The revolution is here!” The kompa beat drums through my skin”), the subtle use of onomatopoeia, (“Click! Clack! Click! Clack!) and of repetitive text (“In our house, we celebrate until the last drop of soup is gone, gone, gone!”).
Additionally, the inclusion of a recipe for the soup and the author’s note at the end of the text helps to contextualize the story within her own family traditions and history, as well as lends authenticity to the story. I do wish the publishing company/editors had given space for an illustrator’s note where she could share about her in-depth research process that underlies her images and reveals the steps she took to ensure her work was true to a cultural heritage different from her own.
Freedom Soup does more than simply outline the way war and a revolution (and by inference, violence) were necessary for Haitian slaves (African descendants) to attain freedom from their European masters. Rather, the overarching themes of the value for and celebration of freedom are clearly connected to themes of peace and social justice. For example, Ti Gran’s statement that “Nothing in this world is free, not even freedom” made me stop and think about the way that freedom and peace, particularly in this specific historical instance, so often seem to require sacrifice. And yet the symbolism of eating soup together immediately following this period of violence, and in the many years that ensued, is so powerful in regards to peace. For me, this is because graining freedom was remembered, celebrated, and maintained through relationships built around the peaceful making and sharing of food, a process that both connects and builds relationships, and one in which women played a crucial role.
When reading both the text and the visual narrative of Freedom Soup, I felt that the latter helps the younger reader better make sense of this complex story-within-a-story. This happens in the striking, colorful illustrations, many of which are borderless spreads bleeding through the gutter, and the way these are offset by bright white accents of color (e.g., Belle’s outfit, the kitchen cupboards) or as a backdrop for text-heavier pages with smaller illustrations. In fact, it is the strategic use of white which made me better FEEL the color and motion of both the text and the illustrations because it truly highlighted them.
Additionally, the use of curving, circular lines accentuate diverse body types, warm relationships, movement, rhythm, and music. This is particularly apparent when Ti Gran and Belle are INSIDE the story as Belle says, “I see them—the fire dancing in their eyes as they fight to take back what’s theirs.” Here the pair are framed by bluish, moving trees that remind me of the biblical story where Moses parted the waters for the Israelites to stay safe. Ti Gran and Belle are in the safety of freedom, although a soldier’s foot remains in a small corner of the present, linking the times in a more permanent way.
All these visual aspects perfectly match Charles’s rhythmic, musical text (The trumpet blares. “I hear it, Ti Gran! The revolution is here!” The kompa beat drums through my skin”), the subtle use of onomatopoeia, (“Click! Clack! Click! Clack!) and of repetitive text (“In our house, we celebrate until the last drop of soup is gone, gone, gone!”).
Additionally, the inclusion of a recipe for the soup and the author’s note at the end of the text helps to contextualize the story within her own family traditions and history, as well as lends authenticity to the story. I do wish the publishing company/editors had given space for an illustrator’s note where she could share about her in-depth research process that underlies her images and reveals the steps she took to ensure her work was true to a cultural heritage different from her own.
Freedom Soup does more than simply outline the way war and a revolution (and by inference, violence) were necessary for Haitian slaves (African descendants) to attain freedom from their European masters. Rather, the overarching themes of the value for and celebration of freedom are clearly connected to themes of peace and social justice. For example, Ti Gran’s statement that “Nothing in this world is free, not even freedom” made me stop and think about the way that freedom and peace, particularly in this specific historical instance, so often seem to require sacrifice. And yet the symbolism of eating soup together immediately following this period of violence, and in the many years that ensued, is so powerful in regards to peace. For me, this is because graining freedom was remembered, celebrated, and maintained through relationships built around the peaceful making and sharing of food, a process that both connects and builds relationships, and one in which women played a crucial role.
January 4, 2020
This lyrical book tells the story of a girl and her grandma, Ti Gran, fixing a stew called Freedom Soup. This dish is commonly eaten in Haitian households at celebrations for the New Year to commemorate the end of slavery. Ti-Gran tells Belle that slaves had to make the soup for their masters, but never got to eat it themselves until they were free. As the author explains in a note at the end of the story:
“My husband’s late grandmother, Ti Gran, gave me my first bowl of Freedom Soup, also known as Soup Joumou. As soon as I tasted it, I knew there had to be a story behind the flavors of pride, victory, and joy. Ti Gran was a feisty yet gentle soul who taught me the history of the soup.”
The text mostly focuses on Ti Gran and her granddaughter Belle preparing the soup, emphasizing the savoriness of the soup and the sweetness of freedom.
As they cook, Ti Gran explains how the people in Haiti were slaves until they were liberated by a revolution. Belle can visualize the history from Ti Gran’s descriptions:
“I see the colors of freedom: the tan streets of Port-au-Prince, covered in broken black chains, kettles of hot yellow soup, a sweet pumpkiny-garlic aroma filling the air.
I see Ti Gran’s people. My people.
Eating soup to celebrate the end of slavery.
Eating soup to celebrate the start of freedom.”
The story ends in a riot of color as the whole extended family comes over to share Freedom Soup, and talk, sing, and dance. Belle is proud that she helped prepare the meal, and that it turned out so well:
“We share stories of Ti Gran’s faraway island, and taste freedom again . . . and again . . . and again . . . ”
A recipe for the soup is included at the back of the book.
Illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara uses lush colors and fluid lines to depict cooking, dancing, fighting against slavery, and celebrating freedom.
Readers in the recommended age group of 5-9 won’t learn how or why slavery was imposed on Haiti, nor by whom, unless an adult fills them in; background is provided in the Author’s Note. The Note is written in a way that will be understandable to a young audience if adults care to share its contents. But even without the history of Haiti, the message that freedom is never “free” comes through loud and clear in the story.
Evaluation: It is commendable that children will learn from this book a glimmering of a counter-narrative to the usual Christopher Columbus story. In fact, when Columbus and his men came to Haiti and the nearby islands of the Caribbean they instituted astoundingly vicious policies. As an article from the Harvard Magazine “The Crimson” recounts:
“By 1515, on Hispaniola alone, war and slavery had killed 200,000 Arawaks, or 80 percent of the original population, by conservative estimates. Eventually, all of the natives were wiped out. Harvard historian Samuel Eliot Morison has written that the ‘cruel policy initiated by Columbus and pursued by his successors resulted in complete genocide.’”
[Hispaniola is one of the Caribbean islands where Columbus made landfall when he “discovered” America. Today it is divided into two separate, sovereign nations, the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic to the east and French / Haitian Creole-speaking Haiti to the west.]
Following the near decimation of the indigenous people from forced labor, disease, suicide, and war, the Spanish, under advisement of the Catholic priest Bartolomeu de las Casas and with the blessing of the Catholic Church, began importing Africans as slaves. During the French colonial period beginning in 1625, the economy of Haiti (then known as Saint-Domingue) was also based on slavery, and the practice there was regarded as the most brutal in the world.
Though this story focuses on family bonds and celebratory traditions of Afro-Caribbean culture, children of other backgrounds may be curious enough to inquire about the history of Haiti and its sad legacy. Regardless, it will be hard for non-Afro-Caribbean readers to resist sharing Belle's joy and enthusiasm as she participates in this ritual. Readers can be prompted to compare her celebration to other holidays they know about, and will realize how similar all of them are in many ways, but with different spices and stories flavoring the festivities. One hopes this will lead readers to an appreciation for the richness and diversity of America as a nation of immigrants. We have so much to gain by focusing on what we share and how much we can learn from each other, rather than being fearful of any differences.
“My husband’s late grandmother, Ti Gran, gave me my first bowl of Freedom Soup, also known as Soup Joumou. As soon as I tasted it, I knew there had to be a story behind the flavors of pride, victory, and joy. Ti Gran was a feisty yet gentle soul who taught me the history of the soup.”
The text mostly focuses on Ti Gran and her granddaughter Belle preparing the soup, emphasizing the savoriness of the soup and the sweetness of freedom.
As they cook, Ti Gran explains how the people in Haiti were slaves until they were liberated by a revolution. Belle can visualize the history from Ti Gran’s descriptions:
“I see the colors of freedom: the tan streets of Port-au-Prince, covered in broken black chains, kettles of hot yellow soup, a sweet pumpkiny-garlic aroma filling the air.
I see Ti Gran’s people. My people.
Eating soup to celebrate the end of slavery.
Eating soup to celebrate the start of freedom.”
The story ends in a riot of color as the whole extended family comes over to share Freedom Soup, and talk, sing, and dance. Belle is proud that she helped prepare the meal, and that it turned out so well:
“We share stories of Ti Gran’s faraway island, and taste freedom again . . . and again . . . and again . . . ”
A recipe for the soup is included at the back of the book.
Illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara uses lush colors and fluid lines to depict cooking, dancing, fighting against slavery, and celebrating freedom.
Readers in the recommended age group of 5-9 won’t learn how or why slavery was imposed on Haiti, nor by whom, unless an adult fills them in; background is provided in the Author’s Note. The Note is written in a way that will be understandable to a young audience if adults care to share its contents. But even without the history of Haiti, the message that freedom is never “free” comes through loud and clear in the story.
Evaluation: It is commendable that children will learn from this book a glimmering of a counter-narrative to the usual Christopher Columbus story. In fact, when Columbus and his men came to Haiti and the nearby islands of the Caribbean they instituted astoundingly vicious policies. As an article from the Harvard Magazine “The Crimson” recounts:
“By 1515, on Hispaniola alone, war and slavery had killed 200,000 Arawaks, or 80 percent of the original population, by conservative estimates. Eventually, all of the natives were wiped out. Harvard historian Samuel Eliot Morison has written that the ‘cruel policy initiated by Columbus and pursued by his successors resulted in complete genocide.’”
[Hispaniola is one of the Caribbean islands where Columbus made landfall when he “discovered” America. Today it is divided into two separate, sovereign nations, the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic to the east and French / Haitian Creole-speaking Haiti to the west.]
Following the near decimation of the indigenous people from forced labor, disease, suicide, and war, the Spanish, under advisement of the Catholic priest Bartolomeu de las Casas and with the blessing of the Catholic Church, began importing Africans as slaves. During the French colonial period beginning in 1625, the economy of Haiti (then known as Saint-Domingue) was also based on slavery, and the practice there was regarded as the most brutal in the world.
Though this story focuses on family bonds and celebratory traditions of Afro-Caribbean culture, children of other backgrounds may be curious enough to inquire about the history of Haiti and its sad legacy. Regardless, it will be hard for non-Afro-Caribbean readers to resist sharing Belle's joy and enthusiasm as she participates in this ritual. Readers can be prompted to compare her celebration to other holidays they know about, and will realize how similar all of them are in many ways, but with different spices and stories flavoring the festivities. One hopes this will lead readers to an appreciation for the richness and diversity of America as a nation of immigrants. We have so much to gain by focusing on what we share and how much we can learn from each other, rather than being fearful of any differences.
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October 28, 2020This book was such a sweet book to read about a traditional Haitian dish called Freedom Soup. The story follows a young girl Belle and her grandma on New Years Day as she learns for the first time how to make this famous Haitian recipe. Each step of the process is full of fun lyrical texts and lively illustrations to match the excitement of the cooking and it leaves the reader in a festive mood. While entertaining to read, Freedom Soup the book is also informative, sharing the story of Haitian independence. The grandma teaches little Belle the origins of Freedom Soup and its now symbolic representation of Haitian slaves attaining the freedom they fought for. This book is great for its multifaceted purpose of being a fun and entertaining book while sharing an important history lesson. It was interesting to read from an outsider's perspective who knew nothing about Freedom Soup until reading this book!
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September 20, 2020 Freedom Soup is a must read. It is on the list of must read books. This tale takes the reader on a journey back to the Hatti revolution. A mother explains to her daughter the history regarding the soups they eat every year and how during slavery their people were only able to make soup and serve it. They weren't allowed to eat it. After their people fight and obtain their freedom, they eat soup as a symbol of remembrance of their history. This story is easy to relate to being an African American woman. The similarities regarding slavery's food and dance is ironic. I remember stories about how slaves were only allowed to eat the most disgusting part of the pig ( pigs feet and ears etc.) After gaining our freedom some of the same food's are reminders during holidays. I loved this book and felt it would allow a young Hattian girl to feel proud about her culture.
February 3, 2020
This is a well done culture and history story for the primary grades about the revolution freeing slaves in 1791. This Freedom Day is observed by making soup. As the grandmother interacts with the granddaughter one sees the love and joy they share together and it is this warmth and act of sharing time together that make this story accessible and appropriate for children in the primary grades.
Included is a recipe for freedom soup which uses butternut squash and not pumpkin. Looks delicious. All picture book cultural stories should aim for this level of competence and accessibility.
Included is a recipe for freedom soup which uses butternut squash and not pumpkin. Looks delicious. All picture book cultural stories should aim for this level of competence and accessibility.
January 17, 2020
Lots of action and vibrant color as a grandma and her young granddaughter prepare Freedom Soup and share a story about its history in celebrating Haitian independence. I learned something and you might, too! I liked that there was a recipe in the back, and I really liked that the author suggested that you can leave out the meat and it works as a vegetarian soup. I think I'll make it with seitan or one of the many brands of vegan chik'n strips available on the market.
February 12, 2025
Freedom Soup tells a story about a young girl Belle making the freedom soup with her grandma. As they are making the soup she tells her why they make it , she tells her how her ancestors were slaves and how they fought for their freedom and that’s why it’s called freedom soup. The book is full of details and colors that pop. The reason I read this book was because it was an age appropriate way to teach young children about slaves and why their story is important. I would read this in a second grade classroom .
November 15, 2020
Lively, vivid illustrations bring this story to life! As a blizzard rages outside, a young girl and her Haitian grandmother make a pot of freedom soup to celebrate the new year and Haiti's independence. We see joy, love, and time honored traditions as the grandmother retells the story of Haiti's struggles and the history of the soup. The story ends with the extended family coming together for soup and celebration. An author note and recipe round out the offering.
June 26, 2021
A Haitian grandmother and granddaughter prepare Freedom Soup to celebrate the New Year. A wonderful way to celebrate Freedom, Haitian culture, and the New Year.
Recipe included. Author's Note tells how she learned of this from her husband's grandmother and carries on the tradition with her son. "...freedom comes at a price, that the price you pay is the work you put in, and that the ultimate reward is tasting the sweet freedom that you craved all along."
Recipe included. Author's Note tells how she learned of this from her husband's grandmother and carries on the tradition with her son. "...freedom comes at a price, that the price you pay is the work you put in, and that the ultimate reward is tasting the sweet freedom that you craved all along."
February 1, 2021
Cooking w your gran is a beautiful thing. Throw in learning about your family history and a holiday gathering and you get a sense of the joy this story and these illustrations impart. Back material includes a recipe for the soup, and more about the Haitian Revolution and the author’s connection to this history and tradition.
February 25, 2021
Snow is falling outside, but inside it is warm and smells sweet. Ti Gran and her granddaughter Belle are making the traditional Freedom Soup. Soon family members, close and extended, will gather for the New Year celebration. The star of the celebration is always the Freedom Soup. With Haitian Kompo vibrating throughout the kitchen, Belle and Ti Gran move to the rhythm as Belle learns how to make her grandmother’s Freedom Soup; soup she learned from her mother, who learned from hers, and so on down the generational line. With a pilon (mortar and pestle) between her knees, Belle begins to mash herbs in rhythm to the Kompo beat. When finished, they add the mash to the meat, letting the meat rest and absorb the flavors.
But there is no rest for Belle or Ti Gran. They must peel the boiled pumpkin, removing the unwanted skin. Soon, Ti Gran places the marinated meat into a new pan and browns it. She cuts the remaining ingredients Belle will add to the pot. Just like last year and every year prior, Ti Gran asks Belle if she knows why the soup is called “Freedom Soup.” Just like last year and the years before, Belle gives her the standard answer, which makes Ti Gran belly-laugh. Ti Gran’s Freedom Soup comes with a history lesson about the soup and its connection to the Haitian Revolution.
Freedom Soup is as much a tradition in Belle’s home as is the New Year and Christmas before that. Making the soup is not only a tradition but also an honor Ti Gran does not take lightly, though you may not know this from all her smiles and laughter. Readers will hear a shortened version of the Haitian Revolution, but the most important part, the abolishment of slavery in Haiti, and the freeing of its people are never short-changed. From Tami Charles’ lyrical and sensory text to the flowing, colorful art of Jacqueline Alcántara, the past is as clear as is the future.
On nearly every spread, readers’ can see the picture Charles paints with her text. Belle sees “the fire dancing in their eyes as they fight to take back what’s theirs.” On the streets of Port-au-Prince, “I see the colors of freedom: covered in broken black chains, kettles of hot yellow soup, a sweet pumpkiny-garlic aroma filling the air.” As the KOMPO (Spanish word meaning beat or rhythm), beats in Ti Gran’s kitchen, Alcántara takes us from the present of the kitchen to the past of the battlefield. Slaves on foot and on horseback are ready for the battle of their lives. Then, with victory secured and Freedom Soup enjoyed by all, readers return to Ti Gran’s aroma-filled kitchen.
Young children never see actual fighting, as Ti Gran tells Belle the story, from battlefield to victory, to Freedom Soup in quick succession. Soon, family of all ages, genders, and generations arrive. They laugh, dance, and reminisce the first night of the New Year away, all while eating Freedom Soup to remind themselves of family and what they endured to make them a free people.
Freedom Soup is an inspiring story about remembering the past and the importance of cultural traditions, while living in the present, together as one united family. Freedom Soup is a powerful testament to the spirit of the Haitian people. It is a powerful reminder of the past, which they honor and refuse to forget. Kids of all ages will see what Belle sees on the shores of Haiti. Freedom Soup is a powerful multicultural picture book with a lesson for all about the power of freedom, remembering family, and the cultural traditions that keep them together each passing year.
Back Matter
There are two important sections in the back matter: “Freedom Soup” and an “Author’s Note.”
In Freedom Soup, author Tami Charles gives readers one recipe for Freedom Soup and explains why the soup can change in flavor from family to family or from one region of Haiti to another region. She calls this recipe “kid-friendly” and with ingredients easier to find in local stores. A recipe for Epis, meat marinade, is also included along with an ingredient list.
In the Author’s Note, Charles lets readers in on why and how she came about writing Freedom Soup. She is not Haitian but her husband is, therefore she keeps the traditions alive for their son, who she is teaching to cook Freedom Soup. Tami learned from her husband’s Ti Gran. Readers get a little family background most, myself included, will find interesting.
Illustrations Rendered in: pencil, marker, and gouache, then assembled digitally.
But there is no rest for Belle or Ti Gran. They must peel the boiled pumpkin, removing the unwanted skin. Soon, Ti Gran places the marinated meat into a new pan and browns it. She cuts the remaining ingredients Belle will add to the pot. Just like last year and every year prior, Ti Gran asks Belle if she knows why the soup is called “Freedom Soup.” Just like last year and the years before, Belle gives her the standard answer, which makes Ti Gran belly-laugh. Ti Gran’s Freedom Soup comes with a history lesson about the soup and its connection to the Haitian Revolution.
Freedom Soup is as much a tradition in Belle’s home as is the New Year and Christmas before that. Making the soup is not only a tradition but also an honor Ti Gran does not take lightly, though you may not know this from all her smiles and laughter. Readers will hear a shortened version of the Haitian Revolution, but the most important part, the abolishment of slavery in Haiti, and the freeing of its people are never short-changed. From Tami Charles’ lyrical and sensory text to the flowing, colorful art of Jacqueline Alcántara, the past is as clear as is the future.
On nearly every spread, readers’ can see the picture Charles paints with her text. Belle sees “the fire dancing in their eyes as they fight to take back what’s theirs.” On the streets of Port-au-Prince, “I see the colors of freedom: covered in broken black chains, kettles of hot yellow soup, a sweet pumpkiny-garlic aroma filling the air.” As the KOMPO (Spanish word meaning beat or rhythm), beats in Ti Gran’s kitchen, Alcántara takes us from the present of the kitchen to the past of the battlefield. Slaves on foot and on horseback are ready for the battle of their lives. Then, with victory secured and Freedom Soup enjoyed by all, readers return to Ti Gran’s aroma-filled kitchen.
Young children never see actual fighting, as Ti Gran tells Belle the story, from battlefield to victory, to Freedom Soup in quick succession. Soon, family of all ages, genders, and generations arrive. They laugh, dance, and reminisce the first night of the New Year away, all while eating Freedom Soup to remind themselves of family and what they endured to make them a free people.
Freedom Soup is an inspiring story about remembering the past and the importance of cultural traditions, while living in the present, together as one united family. Freedom Soup is a powerful testament to the spirit of the Haitian people. It is a powerful reminder of the past, which they honor and refuse to forget. Kids of all ages will see what Belle sees on the shores of Haiti. Freedom Soup is a powerful multicultural picture book with a lesson for all about the power of freedom, remembering family, and the cultural traditions that keep them together each passing year.
Back Matter
There are two important sections in the back matter: “Freedom Soup” and an “Author’s Note.”
In Freedom Soup, author Tami Charles gives readers one recipe for Freedom Soup and explains why the soup can change in flavor from family to family or from one region of Haiti to another region. She calls this recipe “kid-friendly” and with ingredients easier to find in local stores. A recipe for Epis, meat marinade, is also included along with an ingredient list.
In the Author’s Note, Charles lets readers in on why and how she came about writing Freedom Soup. She is not Haitian but her husband is, therefore she keeps the traditions alive for their son, who she is teaching to cook Freedom Soup. Tami learned from her husband’s Ti Gran. Readers get a little family background most, myself included, will find interesting.
Illustrations Rendered in: pencil, marker, and gouache, then assembled digitally.
January 16, 2021
Read to me by my librarian daughter.
January 16, 2020
Belle learns how to make Freedom Soup from her Ti Gran, a Haitian immigrant. She also hears the story behind the dish, the emancipation of native Haitians from slavery. The back has a recipe for the soup, and an author's note about the first time she had Freedom Soup. The characters have such movement, from their hair down to their toes as they strike poses and dance about the kitchen making their family's recipe. It's a fun, informative book.
It would be a great storytime read with Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story since we just got both of them, and they both discuss family recipes and the culture surrounding them.
It would be a great storytime read with Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story since we just got both of them, and they both discuss family recipes and the culture surrounding them.
January 18, 2020
“Nothing in this world is free, not even freedom.”
A young girl helps her grandmother prepare Freedom Soup and learns about her cultural history in Haiti and the importance of freedom and family.
It includes a recipe for Freedom Soup and an author’s note about the Haitian Revolution, “the most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere.”
A young girl helps her grandmother prepare Freedom Soup and learns about her cultural history in Haiti and the importance of freedom and family.
It includes a recipe for Freedom Soup and an author’s note about the Haitian Revolution, “the most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere.”
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