Papa's Butter Chicken - by Monica Saigal (Hardcover)

About the Book

Monica shares special time with her father as they make his specialty dish. Includes a recipe for Monica's butter chicken.

Book Synopsis

This picture book is a celebration of Indian heritage, father-daughter relationships, and sharing with community. Includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés, and one of the author's own recipes.

A young girl named Monica shares special time with her father as they prepare her favorite dish in this warm and inspiring picture book for kids ages 3-7.

Monica loves the Butter Chicken that her father makes. She spends the day helping him in the kitchen as he prepares the dish, stirring the sauce and adding the spices. And while the chicken bakes, the two dance around the kitchen.

When the chicken is done, they get ready to sit down and enjoy the meal together. But then the doorbell rings, and Grandma, Monica's uncles, and even the neighbors arrive to share in the feast!

A warm and inspiring story of food, family, community, and sharing that includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés, and one of the author's own recipes.

Review Quotes

When Monica hears her father taking pans out of the kitchen cabinet, she knows he's making his delicious butter chicken recipe. Bright, cheerful illustrations show the father-daughter team creating the aromatic dish together. The girl's job is to read off the recipe and add the heavy cream to the bubbling concoction; her father cuts up ingredients and deals with the hot oven. While the pair are busy in the kitchen, other family members are making phone calls and deciding what they will bring to add to the dinner, which is turning into a party. Aunts, uncles, cousins, Grandma, and a few neighbors drop in to share the fragrant stew and bring a plethora of Indian recipes to complement the fragrant dish. Monica is disappointed at first that she has to share her father and the meal they made, but her papa's maxim encourages her to enjoy the high-spirited, impromptu gathering: "Ingredients are just like people. . . . Wonderful on their own, but even better together." Back matter includes clear directions for making the butter chicken.--Booklist

A young South Asian girl helps her father whip up his famous butter chicken.
Monica and her cousin Anya are about to go to the park when Monica realizes that Papa's getting ready to cook. She joins him in the kitchen, where he regales her with his first memory of eating the dish; he, his brother, and his father ate it at a restaurant under twinkling lights as musicians played. It quickly became a family favorite. While the pair stir the sauce and add the spices, Papa gives Monica some words of wisdom. "Ingredients are just like people," he says, "Wonderful on their own, but even better together." Meanwhile, Anya is spreading the word to family, neighbors, and friends that Papa's cooking butter chicken. Just as Monica and her father are ready to eat, the doorbell rings, and their family and friends stop by with dishes of their own. Monica is upset at the interruption, but Papa reminds her that "beautiful things happen when we share food like this." As they join the guests for a feast, Monica revels in the twinkling lights and a special memory of her own. Though the conflict feels a bit forced, Saigal and Tariq capture the immersive feelings of cooking. Bright and cheery illustrations in fiery reds and oranges and complementary blues create a celebratory mood, while spot art frames feature arches and arabesque designs.
A tasty tale of delighting in the magic of both cooking and memories. (foreword from Chef José Andrés, recipe for butter chicken) (Picture book. 4-7)--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Monica loves telling stories through food, enticing readers on flavorful adventures. With eleven published works, including novels, short stories, and cookbooks, she delights in exploring diverse flavors of the world alongside her two sons. When not crafting tales, she's fearlessly learning to ride a bike. The recipe included in Papa's Butter Chicken is one of her own.

Abeeha is a Pakistani-Irish freelance illustrator, based in the UK. Growing up, she would have loved to see herself in the countless stories she read and, as an adult, she is invested in illustrating and telling stories with diverse characters and communities that represent our world today.