Tasting Words Hardcover by Dezh Azaad and Nelly Buchet; illustrated by Sara Palacios

Product Details

• Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (2026-09-29)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 32 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780593700051
• Item Weight: 368.55 grams
• Dimensions: 26.19 x 22.71 x 0.86 cm

A clever little girl figures out a way to help her grandmother assimilate and make friends in a new country through her love of food—because there’s nothing like food to turn strangers into friends!

When Ava arrives in the United States, she can’t speak English, and at first the words feel strange in her mouth, like a new flavor. But soon, thanks to school and new friends, the words start flowing. She worries about her grandmother, though. Bibi is at home cooking most of the day, and Ava doesn’t want her to be lonely.

Then Ava meets Lucie, whose French grandmother loves cooking as much as Bibi! So the girls hatch a plan, and soon Bibi and Mémé are bridging their language barriers with delicious food, sparking a friendship over new flavors and new words alike. Food truly is the universal language!

About the Author

Nelly Buchet (NellyBuchet.com) is the author of over a dozen books for young readers, including ALA Notables Dog vs. Strawberry and Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family, which received the Irma Black Award. Born in Paris, Nelly has lived in a handful of countries as a newcomer. She is currently learning Italian, which has a lot of tasty words!

Dezh Azaad (DezhAzaad.com) is an Afghan writer who has been a refugee his entire life. He also wrote the picture books The Carpet (South Asia Book Award winner) and Sour Cherries: An Afghan Family Story. Dezh also loves to cook and try new flavors.

Sara Palacios (SaraPalaciosIllustrations.com) received a Pura Belpré Honor for Marisol MacDonald Doesn’t Match (by Monica Brown), and her numerous other picture books include Between Us and Abuela (by Mitali Perkins) and Plátanos Go with Everything (by Lissette Norman). She lives in San Francisco with her husband.