Reinventing the U.S. Department of Agriculture: 1994 Annual Report of the Secretary of Agriculture Book

The story opens with young Joey taking his friend, Eugene, to his Italian grandmother's house. Joey is preparing Eugene for the experience by describing some of the "embarrassing" things he may encounter at his grandmother's house. At first, Eugene is uncomfortable in this unfamiliar cultural environment, but very quickly Joey's grandmother wins him over and leaves both children with an experience of joy and love.

This book is very short and is appropriate for kindergarten to grade three with easy application to middle school as well. The exploration of elder embarrassment and culture embarrassment is topic many students can relate to. While it provides a great opportunity to dissect that embarrassment, it also provides a great opportunity to examine how we navigate new socio-cultural situations and what makes a gracious guest.

The book is touching and would best be read using a thick Italian accent where the grandmother is speaking!