Review: Still There Was Bread by Lisl H. Detlefsen

still there was bread cover image

In Still There Was Bread, a picture book written by Lisl H. Detlefsen and illustrated by David Soman, a young boy learns to bake bread from his grandma. The story is seemingly simple, yet it feels as warm and comforting as the smell of rolls fresh from the oven.

The boy is excited when his grandma comes to his house one morning to teach him how to make the recipe that has been handed down from grandparent to grandchild for several generations. As they work on the dough then wait for it to rise, the grandma tells the story of how she learned to bake bread. The story goes back and forth from the present to the past, tracing how bread-making has become easier with modern conveniences.

For instance, the grandma’s own grandma had to get milk from the family cow and collect eggs from their chickens before beginning to bake. Through the years, bread baking helped when the family had little money to buy food and when illness kept them isolated at home.

The tale shows how simple ingredients—eggs, milk, flour, oil, sugar, salt, yeast, and water—plus time and effort, can be brought together to show love for family and friends. The book ends with an author’s note about her inspiration for the story, and best of all, the recipe for “Nana Rolls,” so young readers and their parents can try it at home.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

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