The Tray of Togetherness

Food has been an important and recurring theme in children’s literature. As a universal activity that is necessary for human survival, the act of consuming food, itself, also provides an opportunity for people to gather, share, and affirm their relationships with each other. Children’s authors have portrayed the growing, preparation, and consumption of food as a locus for building and affirming communal bonds as well as a means for transmitting cultural traditions, histories, and values on to the next generation. Many picture books explore the universal appeal of food within families and specific cultural communities. For example, Anne-Marie Fortin’s My Delicious Garden contains thematic explorations around food, family, and community, revolving around the act of gardening and culminating in a feast to which their neighbours are invited. In the context of Asian communities, Gillian Sze’s My Love for You is Always explores a mother’s love for her daughter through food preparation and consumption which becomes a way for them to strengthen their mutual relationship.

The Tray of Togetherness continues this same trajectory by conveying a positive message about the power of community and togetherness through the universal experience of food consumption. Focusing on a little girl and her family’s preparations for Lunar New Year, the book offers a whimsical and upbeat representation of family and community that all young readers can appreciate and relate to from their personal experiences. As this story is intended for young readers, the plot is appropriately straightforward and readily comprehensible for that age group. To prepare for their New Year party, the little girl and her family engage in various tasks, such as putting up decorations, setting out the food, and organizing their home.

A recurrent theme in the book’s colourful illustrations is how everyone helps each other or interacts with each other in positive ways. In a two-page spread, the little girl and her family are decorating their home and setting out trays of food for their guests. Other images evoke a positive sense of community and good will. In one scene, the little girl plays in the snow with her friends while, in another, she and her parents speak with a neighbour.

The vividness of the book’s illustrations is enhanced by Leung’s inclusion of culturally specific details. For example, when the little girl goes with her parents to the supermarket, the two-page illustration includes several details that enliven and add realism to the scene. The illustration depicts Asian vegetables and fruits, such as bok choy, daikon, mandarin oranges, and dragon fruit. In the background, whole cooked chickens and roasted duck hang in a see-through glass case, ready to be purchased. The store is also adorned with suitably festive decorations pertaining to Lunar New Year, and the represented clientele are also of diverse ages and backgrounds. A young black woman has her baby in stroller, and an older Asian man is behind the counter.

Other images of food appear throughout the book. Along with other dishes that they have cooked for their guests, the girl’s family prepares a Tray of Togetherness that contains numerous food items and treats, such as peanuts, candied winter melon, lotus root, and kumquats, each of which has its own significant meanings pertaining to family, health, and prosperity.

As a culmination of the book’s emphasis on togetherness, the final illustration shows the girl’s family and their guests gathering around a table for their meal. Although the illustration does show a well-stocked table of food, the scene focuses on the communal spirit embodied by the people who are gathered together in the spirit of Lunar New Year.

Although The Tray of Togetherness focuses on Lunar New Year and specific traditions from Chinese culture, readers of all backgrounds can still enjoy the story and identify readily with the little girl’s excitement about having a party. In the process of reading the story, readers will learn about some of the specific cultural meanings attached to Lunar New Year and food. In addition, they will learn about the significance of different types of foods and how they derive their meanings from Chinese cultural traditions. For example, readers will learn that the number eight is considered to be a lucky number that signifies increasing happiness. On the book’s last page, Leung includes some information about Lunar New Year and the Tray of Togetherness that also draws from her own experience, all of which provides some useful context for readers to better understand the story.

The Tray of Togetherness will be a valuable addition to libraries that would like to increase the diversity of their picture book collections or their representation of diverse characters and experiences. As this book is suitable for really young readers, teachers can use it as a starting point for introducing children to Asian culture and encouraging them to emulate positive behaviours towards each other. Children could share their impressions of and experiences with Asian culture and reflect on how they may be similar to or different from their own cultural backgrounds. The book could stimulate discussion about what children like about parties and food as well as what types of activities they engage in with their neighbours. It could also be a means for children to reflect on their own family’s celebrations that occur during the year, the types of traditions that have been passed down, or even the ways in which they communicate and connect with their relatives. University and college libraries with a dedicated children’s literature collection could consider acquiring this book to increase the representation of culturally diverse Canadian authors in their respective collections.

Flo Leung is a Toronto-based food-loving illustrator who is also part of the takeout kitchen/studio Noble House and the publishing venture Berkinshaw Press. She has worked in and around the culinary industry for many years. In 2022, she published a collection of Cantonese-Canadian recipes entitled Family Meals: Comfort Food Cooking, Vol. 1. More information about Flo Leung is available from her website https://www.floleung.com/.