To Stir with Love (Kate Mildenhall, illus Jess Racklyeft, S&S)

To Stir with Love by Kate Mildenhall (The Hummingbird Effect, The Mother Fault) and illustrator Jess Racklyeft (Tree, Australia: Country of Colour) is a beautiful picture book that’s sure to warm hearts. On Mondays, a granddaughter visits her grandmother; they spend time in the garden, Grandma tells stories, or they head straight to the kitchen to bake. Exploring the magic of grandmothers and their secret recipes, particularly Grandma’s ‘everything cake’ passed down through generations, the book gently hints at Grandma’s fading memory. Sometimes Grandma needs a little help to remember things, but her family is always there to support her. Mildenhall sensitively introduces the topic of ageing and how children may feel seeing their loved one forget things or comparing ‘my little hand and Grandma’s old hand, wrinkled and sure’. Racklyeft’s illustrations are full of life and colour and integrate collage, including photos of Mildenhall’s own grandmama, on whom the story is based. As a sweet bonus, the book includes a copy of Grandma’s ‘everything cake’ recipe and space for the reader to write down their favourite recipe. To Stir with Love is a wonderful celebration of grandmothers, family traditions and the love that binds us together for kids aged 4+.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Emma Pei Yin is a freelance writer and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews