Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild

Fermentation expert Sandor Katz's hearty voice punctuates Lori Prince's overall narration of this picture book. It's a biography of Katz, who moved to a "community of queer folk" in Tennessee in search of a healthy life after his HIV diagnosis. He has become famous for his recipes for fermented foods. The titular "tiny wild"--the microbes that make the culinary magic--swirl as multicolored dots through Julie Wilson's humorous illustrations. Prince clearly relishes the text's occasional alliteration and onomatopoeia just as much as Katz's friends savor his "kraut-chi." The story and a concluding note written and narrated by Katz are presented twice, with and without page-turn signals. Further information, including notes read by each co-author, concludes the book and recording. The whole package fizzes with briny verve. V.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine