Recipes for Change: 12 Dishes Inspired by a Year in Black History

by Michael Platt, Alleanna Harris (Illustrator)

Teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt’s Recipes for Change “beautifully weaves together important Black history with delicious recipes” (Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard Award winner and Top Chef contestant)—featuring full-color illustrations by Alleanna Harris.

From the Montgomery bus boycott to the Black Lives Matter movement, food has played a vital role in strengthening and shaping Black empowerment. Join Michael Platt on a stunning visual journey as he retells moving and authentic accounts of 12 months in Black history. Featuring mouthwatering recipes accompanied by biographies of important figures, Recipes for Change will inspire leaders of the future with real stories of trailblazers who helped to change the world.

Recipes

Genres: Food, History, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Childrens, Cooking, African American

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 27, 2023

Reviews

[Zahnii (Suzanne) Artis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok- first - this would be an excellent addition to any library and a wonderful gift, including for Kwanzaa!

This is a really clever way to weave together food with social justice, heritage and history. This “cookbook” is comprised of 12 recipes, one for each month of the year. Each full spread has a panel with the recipe, a highlight of a historical figure (some well known and some more rare which I appreciated!!), illustrated scenes and historical context/event in a narrative form.

I especially loved learning about Leah Chase and her restaurant, Dooky Chase’s, that served gumbo to Freedom Riders (both Black and white activists).

I liked learning about the Paschal brothers and their restaurant. Also a modern group called Bakers Against Racism was included!

Georgia Gilmore and Denison Dover Garrett were also new to me and played important roles in the civil rights movement. Opal Lee was hugely involved in Juneteenth becoming a holiday.

Additional information was shared about each highlighted individual in the back of the book, as well as a glossary and list for further reading.

[Lisa Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Book Review: A Powerful Blend of History and Food**

*Recipes for Change* by teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt is an inspiring and visually stunning exploration of Black history through the lens of food. With vibrant illustrations by Alleanna Harris, the book connects key moments in Black empowerment—from the Montgomery bus boycott to the Black Lives Matter movement—with meaningful recipes that celebrate resilience and culture.

Each chapter highlights an important historical event or figure, paired with a dish that reflects their story. Platt masterfully blends history and cuisine, making the past feel tangible and relevant for today’s young readers. The engaging storytelling and mouthwatering recipes make this book both educational and practical, offering readers a chance to engage with history in a hands-on way.

Perfect for young activists, history buffs, and food lovers alike, *Recipes for Change* is more than a cookbook—it’s a call to action. By honoring the past and inspiring the future, this book serves as a reminder that food is not just sustenance, but also a powerful tool for justice and change.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful cookbook from a DC-area teenager. It contains 12 recipes and 12 stories related to black history. Each month of the year has a story and a recipe that the author created. I love this whole concept and the overall appearance of the book!

The recipes are not extremely hard, but they’re also not extremely easy. He has you frying fish and hand pies and fried chicken. There are also 2 pie recipes (which call for ready-made crusts). I guess some of the recipes are semi-easy — like grits or chocolate chip cookies. But he also has you making pudding from scratch, so there is really a range of difficulty (for kids’ cooking) and sweet/savories.

This is just a great book for kids and young people.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed by this nonfiction book that moves through the months of the year by featuring various civil rights and Black history moments in time and an associated recipe with that fight that a reader could make like grits from the Black Panthers or a pecan pie that was a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr., or a red popcicle for Juneteenth.

The information is solid and straight forward with a large illustration then a picture of the food item and a recipe along the side. Excellent done and would recommend.

I had checked it out because my son is doing a research project on the Black Panther Party and thought maybe it would be neat to add a recipe.

[Bonnie Buelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. So many ways to use! There are recipes and stories for each month of the year. The back of the book includes a glossary and further facts regarding the activists that supported racial change. Of course, I could use this each month to share the monthly story and recipe; this could be used for a civil rights unit of study; it could provide ideal background information to other lengthier books such as Victory; a great addition to an activism unit or for an American history class; and last, if I was a FACS teacher, I would definitely be sharing these recipes!!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great way to introduce black history in an interactive and fun way. Being able to make a recipe with my kids alongside the stories, not only makes the story come alive but it creates a memorable way to understand the deeper meanings of these stories and historical events. I have yet to make any of the recipes yet but this will definitely be my go to for black history month activities while homeschooling my kids. It uses clear language and has beautiful pictures, with the formatting of the recipes fitting perfectly to 2 pages.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore cooking and appreciate books where recipes form an integral part of the storyline. Each recipe here is a reflection of a particular point in history and they serve the text very well. The book also takes the reader through the months as each snippet of history is part of a particular time of the year.

This is a children’s book but I think it would serve equally well if parents kept a copy for themselves.in the kitchen.

[Dorothy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I've lived through most of the times covered in this book, I had not heard of all of these people, or several of the events woven in with the recipes. By and large, I felt the author did a nice job of weaving in historic events and relevant (and simple) recipes.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but really like the idea, layout, pictures, information, etc.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't try any recipes, so I can't review that part. But the layout of the book is really well done and this would be a really effective book to work through as a family.

[Tiffany]

Note to self: given to Toby for his 5th birthday

[Rebecca Plaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Connecting historical events/leaders with recipes!

[kate. · Rating 3 out of 5]

love the idea but i would like more info :)

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

some familiar history and some new to me history