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Everything about The Only Way to Make Bread (ages 3-8), a gorgeous picture book coloured in sumptuous shades of sunflower yellow and crust brown, reminds me of a freshly baked loaf – warm, comforting and teeth-sinkingly tasty. Written by Cristina Quintero, a first-generation Columbian-Canadian writer and storyteller, and illustrated by Sarah Gonzales, a Filipino-Canadian illustrator, this picture book imagines a communal kitchen filled with baker families of various ethnic backgrounds. They have all gathered to bake a common food, central in their own cultures, but made in so many different ways, and called by so many different names: arepas, challah, bannock, shokupan, puri and bao, among others. Despite the differences in texture (rough or soft), ingredients (flour or cornmeal), resting time (some or not at all), shape (braided or round), and cooking method (steamed, baked or fried), there is a common thread that binds all breads and all families. I won’t give away the heartwarming ending, but leave it for you to discover for yourself. This joyful picture book is a delightful read at bedtime, or perhaps better still, just before an afternoon snack of bread and jam.

Reviews

February 21, 2026

The Only Way to Make Bread (Picture Book)

If I can create a mirror for even one child in the world, I will have accomplished something meaningful

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"Maureen was agile, warm, brilliantly organized - a joy to speak with"

"I was stunned at how much time and thought she had put into preparing ...and then how spontaneous, fun and thoughtful she was as our conversations unfolded. Helping to organise the Hong Kong Literary Festival in 2023, Maureen was as professional, kind and engaging as any such host i've ever known, and as a writer herself - as well as so many other things - she brought more to our interactions than I had any reason to expect. "

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"She showed our senior elementary girls how refreshing it is to read stories where the contexts are relatable, and the characters look like them and carry some of the same emotions as they do. To be seen and heard in a diverse world is comforting.
Maureen’s hands-on techniques were engaging and facilitated meaningful interaction during the workshop. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.

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"Nowadays actually many people use their phones all the time and never put it down, also I am one. After listening to you, I think I would like to try a day without my phone, and I can already foresee many new experiences in my ‘daily’ life

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Maureen Tai is a Malaysian award-winning writer, storyteller and notable speaker based in Hong Kong. Her agent is Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary.

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