Blue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme

C. M. Millen’s lilting, recipe in rhyme and Holly Meade’s inviting world of collage pay tribute to life’s simpler pleasures, and to the special relationship between mother and child.

Lift the bowl to make our bread,
down the blue bowl, little baby.

The sun is about to set, and it’s almost time for bed. But for the family in this cozy Appalachian farmhouse, it’s time for the comforting ritual of making bread. Just as mother and child will soon settle down for their rest, the dough is prepared in its special blue bowl and left to rest on the stove. And come morning, after they (and the dough) have risen, it’s time to savor a warm, satisfying breakfast and the start of a new day.

C. M. Millen is the author of THE LOW-DOWN LAUNDY LINE BLUES, illustrated by Christine Davenier, and A SYMPHONY FOR THE SHEEP, illustrated by Mary Azarian. She says, "I love the sounds and rhythms of words, and how they add so much to a story. Regular visits to my ancestral Ireland, where words are cherished, provide much inspiration, as does the love of my large family and good friends."

Holly Meade is the author and illustrator of A PLACE TO SLEEP, and has illustrated many acclaimed books for children, including ON MORNING WINGS by Reeve Lindbergh, BOSS OF THE PLAINS: THE HAT THAT WON THE WEST by Laurie Carlson, and HUSH! A THAI LULLABY by Minfong Ho, which was a Caldecott Honor Book. She says, "To be loved, to belong, and to feel needed are the desires of all children. We all know the soil where these wonderful feelings are planted: in the home, in the everyday — in the making of bread. This warm and poetic story beautifully reminds us of these truths."