Fish Fry Friday: A Picture Book

by Winsome Bingham, C. G. Esperanza (Illustrator)

Overview

In this mouthwatering companion to Soul Food Sunday, a child joins his grandmother in catching and cooking to prepare for the family’s fish fry.

Fish Fry Friday is the perfect follow-up to Soul Food Sunday, a beloved Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor Book.

One special Friday when school is closed, our narrator finally gets to join Granny for her day’s routine. Rods and reels, lures and lines, bobbers and baits are packed in Granny’s Jeep.

Everyone cheers when Granny arrives at the pier—“the queen has arrived!” After reeling in the perfect catch together, they carefully scale and skin, cut and gut, batter and fry the fish into beautiful filets.

But the family meal isn’t complete until Grandson adds his own special side dish to the table—made just like Granny taught Momma, and like Momma taught him.

On Friday evenings, we go to Granny’s for a fish fry.
And on Friday mornings, Granny fishes.
This Friday, “You coming fishing with me,” Granny says.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419766930
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/08/2025
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Winsome Bingham is a soul food connoisseur, master cook, U.S. Army war and disabled veteran, and the author of one of the New York Times Best Books of the Year, Soul Food Sunday (illustrated by C.G. Esperanza), as well as The Walk (illustrated by E.B. Lewis). She received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and has more than 15 years of teaching experience. She lives in Connecticut. C. G. Esperanza is the illustrator of Soul Food Sunday, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor; the author-illustrator of Boogie, Boogie, Y’all, for which he received a Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor; and the illustrator of My Daddy Is a Cowboy, for which he received the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and a Caldecott Honor. He lives in the Bronx, New York.

Editorial Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Bingham’s text marries straightforward descriptions and naturalistic dialogue...The effect is immersive; readers will feel as though they’re being ushered through the front door and offered a plate. Esperanza’s illustrations serve up a feast for the eyes...Esperanza captures facial expressions with an ultra-realism elevated by backdrops done in fantastical Technicolor...every page worthy of framing. A book to sink your teeth into."— Kirkus Reviews

"Fish Fry Friday invites readers into a family tradition...beautiful and touching story"— Booklist

"This delectable follow-up to Bingham’s Soul Food Sunday (BCCB 10/21) offers readers another celebration of food as a centerpiece in family connection and joy, with Granny’s bombastic style guiding the gleeful zeal of the text and art...young listeners will be salivating at storytime."— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Bingham captures the love that goes into preparing the food and the closeness between the child and Granny. Her use of onomatopoeia makes for a good read-aloud."— Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

★ 2025-04-19
The creators ofSoul Food Sunday (2021) reunite for another window into familial tradition, as enjoyable as hot honey butter.

One sleepy Friday morning, a Black grandmother and child (who narrates) follow Granny’s weekly predawn ritual. Piling into a vehicle that’s teeming with supplies, the duo take off for the pier, where admiring onlookers beckon the “fish magnet queen” to a throne befitting the title—an upturned bucket. Here, Granny proves herself worthy of the crown, reeling in catch after catch and offering her grandchild the chance at a similar thrill. Once the bucket brims, dinnertime preparations begin, and the text turns instructive, with thrice-repeated onomatopoeic actions keeping time to the culinary progress. When the sides arrive, brought by an eager array of family members, hushpuppies made by our protagonist steam alongside fish freshly fried by Granny, all ready for sharing. Bingham’s text marries straightforward descriptions and naturalistic dialogue with propulsive, alliterative exclamations. The effect is immersive; readers will feel as though they’re being ushered through the front door and offered a plate. Esperanza’s illustrations serve up a feast for the eyes. Playfully angled perspectives evoke movement; visual details—from Adinkra symbology to proof of Granny’s military service—are meticulous, specific, and in service of worldbuilding so thorough that the work seems biographical. Esperanza captures facial expressions with an ultra-realism elevated by backdrops done in fantastical Technicolor. The result is reminiscent of Kehinde Wiley’s art, every page worthy of framing.

A book to sink your teeth into. (author’s and cook’s note, recipe for hand-rolled honey hushpuppies)(Picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews