A Plate of Hope

Chef José Andrés grew up in Spain believing that a shared meal can bring people together, and he carried that belief with him when he came to the United States to cook. This picture book biography follows how food became more than a career for him. After a powerful earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, he wanted to help feed people who had lost so much, and he went on to build World Central Kitchen, an organization that sends cooks and meals to communities facing disasters around the world. Paola Escobar's warm illustrations center on people gathering around food, and the book closes with an author's note and photographs. It offers young readers an inviting way to talk about kindness, community and helping others in hard times.