In this sensory-rich picture book, a little girl and her grandparents make the family’s traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe together—and hope to jog Grandpa’s fading memory.

For Felicia, the days spent making meatballs for Grandpa are some of the best ever! Grandpa no longer remembers much, but he loves to help cook. Grandma and Felicia know just what to do so that they’ll get the perfect sizzle, tang, and magic in their mouths. But Felicia also knows that cooking together makes more than a meal—sometimes it even helps Grandpa remember. Together they get their hands dirty and make the savory meal of spaghetti and meatballs in the family’s Italian tradition. And then, they mangia!

Woven with vibrant sounds, smells, and flavors, this is a heartwarming story about food, family, and heritage. A glossary of Italian words and a recipe for tomato sauce and meatballs is included.

Illustrated by: Jaclyn Sinquett