Sunday’s Under The Lemon Tree, by Julia Busuttil Nishimura and illustrated by Myo Yim makes for a joyful escape. This picture book reminds me so much of my childhood and transports me back to the big Sicilian family gatherings we enjoyed. They were brimming with love, laughter, warmth, family traditions and delicious dishes made with the freshest ingredients, prepared with such love.
Sundays Under The Lemon Tree captures the magic and joy of a family coming together, the fiercely strong inter-generational bonds and the core memories that are made in the lead up to and during these gatherings. This book evokes the excited anticipation of waking up on the day of the gathering, the kitchen humming with familiar smells wafting through it, the jobs to do to help prepare a dish and the unique traits family members share, such as an apple being peeled in one long spiral. My Nonna used to do this too and it is something I affectionately remember.
The glorious illustrations are filled with beautiful details and are uplifting as the warmth and joy radiates from the pages and includes plenty of smiling faces. I really appreciated all the details on every page, for example, the unnamed narrator’s bedroom is filled with toys and activities that do not require any swiping or pressing of buttons which is refreshing to see, the garden bursting with fruits and veggies anchored by a luscious lemon tree. The colour palette is fresh and bright, glowing with golden yellow tones, making each spread feel like a window into a world where joy is simple, shared and abundant.
This picture book concludes with the recipe for the apple, lemon and ricotta cake that is shared throughout the story.