Kalamata's Kitchen

This is a really cute book. I love that Kalamata thinks back to a time when she was brave and adventurous with food to help her feel brave and adventurous about doing something else new. Overall the story felt a little disjointed but I’m looking forward to the rest of the series since this was just......more

Kalamata’s Kitchen is the first book in a series following a young girl named Kalamata and her sidekick, an alligator name Al Dente. Kalamata is nervous about the first day of school when she remembers how brave she felt during her trip to India, where she and Al visited the spice market and fearles......more

3.5/5 A story about Kalamata being nervous about her first day in a new school. She goes under her kitchen table with her stuffed crocodile and imagines herself back in India at the spice market where she was nervous at first and had a good time. The book mentions different spices using them in scene......more

There’s a lot of things I really like about this book. First, I like that it shows how kids can use stuffed animals and other such things to express their feelings when they feel like it’s too hard to say the words from themselves. And the mom totally got that. Second, I love how Kalamata was able t......more

The night before Kalamata's first day at her new school, she realizes she is nervous and worries if she will make friends. When Kalamata's mom asks what would make Kalamata and Al Dente (Kalamata's stuffed alligator pal) feel better, Kalamata suggests going back to India. Surrounded by scents and th......more