Rosy can’t bear to leave the warmth of her bed on a cold winter morning. Despite her mother’s calls, she declares she wants to stay in bed until spring. This statement elicits a story from her mother’s childhood in Minsk, Belarus—a story that enlivens Rosy enough to sit up and listen. Back when her mother was a girl, she too wanted to stay in bed on a winter morning. “Suit yourself,” her Mama had told her. But when Rosy’s mom smelled something wonderful wafting from the Minsk kitchen, she was soon dressed and busily helping to prepare a mysterious concoction of eggs, milk, flour, cheese, and sugar. As the culinary magic increased in the kitchen, outdoors the temperature was rising. The sparkling sun and sweet scents seemed to have awakened the plants and animals. At last, the family sat down together to enjoy an enchanted meal of blintzes and celebrate the awakening of spring. Of course, after hearing this story, Rosy needs just a few things to get her out of bed—eggs, milk, flour, cheese, and sugar! Warm and whimsical illustrations evoke a folk-art feel, while colorful calico fabrics frame central images and page spreads. Deliciously rich descriptive language and beautiful art distinguish a picture book that provides a nourishing multigenerational family story and will awaken an appetite for seasonal celebrations. A recipe for cheese blintzes is included. Honor Book, 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 5–9)

Rosie is sick of winter and doesn’t want to get out of bed. But she perks right up when Mama begins to tell her a story about when her grandmother was a little girl in Minsk. How did Grandma Beatrice lure her mother out of bed? First with song: “We have the eggs and the milk and the cheese . . .”; next some mixing; then some cooking. And as the kitchen warms and the toasty bundles come out of the pan, they enjoy a delicious blintz. The recipe is included in this cozy tale of a delightful family tradition, and the book is illustrated with folk-style pictures. Kirkus Starred Review, 2009 CCBC Choices. djg

Originally pub lished as Grandma Beatrice Brings Spring to Minsk by Hyperion, in 2005.