Sundays Under the Lemon Tree (Julia Busuttil Nishimura, illus Myo Yim, Scribble)

Best known for her cookbooks, Julia Busuttil Nishimura has released a debut picture book, Sundays Under the Lemon Tree, a cheerful story inspired by her own childhood. The unnamed narrator shares how her ‘family gets together to eat good things under the lemon tree in the backyard’ every Sunday. Being the youngest and smallest child, she’s never been invited to collect the seawater for her family’s homemade ricotta, until one morning when her father finally asks her to help. Once back home, the cheese is made and added to a cake she bakes with her mum and grandma. Her family praises her efforts, and she discovers she isn’t ‘too small after all’. Busuttil Nishimura’s food writing experience shines through in the prose with an inviting rhythm, and the story celebrates how intergenerational traditions, such as cooking, help children recognise their place within the family dynamic. A recipe for the apple, lemon and ricotta cake is included, offering families an enjoyable activity after reading the story. Myo Yim’s illustrations burst with colour, with yellow appearing in every spread – linking the young girl’s dress to the lemons in the backyard and creating a thread of warmth and continuity across the book. The result is a joyful visual experience, particularly in the backyard scenes filled with family. With its gentle themes of family, food and tradition, Sundays Under the Lemon Tree is for readers aged 3–7. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is the reviews editor at Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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