In this new early chapter book series, second grader Tana loves to cook and bake with her family, especially her father, who tells stories about their Choctaw heritage and traditional foods. In these first four books in the series, Tana struggles to come up with the perfect gift for each of her classmates on Valentine’s Day and creates a special thank-you gift for her perfect teacher. Each book contains a chapter in which Tana and her dad cook together and discuss the Choctaw connection to the ingredients they are using. Readers will come away with both a delicious new recipe to try and knowledge about the Choctaw Nation traditions and beliefs. These kindness-encouraging stories exude positivity, further enhanced by the bright, happy illustrations on every spread. A recipe, glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts are appended in each book.

VERDICT: Purchase where diverse early chapter books are in demand.