Ali the Great and Too Many Cooks - by Saadia Faruqi

About the Book

"It is cooking day with Dadi, but Ali's little brother, Fateh, keeps getting in the way and annoying his brother"--

Book Synopsis

Ali is annoyed by his little brother, but Fateh is just looking forward to a special treat! It's cooking day with Dadi! Ali is excited, but Fateh is getting in the way--as usual! Why does Fateh keep blowing in Ali's face? But when Dadi brings out the delicious treats, Ali realizes that his little brother might be a lot smarter than he thought! Ali the Great, by Yasmin author Saadia Faruqi, is a charming chapter book series about Pakistani American second grader Ali Tahir. Ali's big ideas will resonate with young readers who believe that every problem has a creative solution--you just have to find it!

Review Quotes

Ali and his family are back in this latest selection of illustrated early chapter books that finds them encountering a variety of everyday activities: Ali and his Dadi make pakoras together while Ali struggles to figure out what his little brother Fateh wants; Ali and his classmates (including Yasmin from Faruqi's other series) compete to make a robot; Ali tries and fails (at first) to show off his magic skills during Show and Tell; and Ali goes on a bug hunt with his mom in the park, learning about different kinds of bugs along the way. Each title has three chapters, large print, and full-color illustrations on every spread. Young readers will delight in Ali's earnest attempts to overcome whatever new challenge is thrown at him. An Urdu glossary is included at the start of each book, while additional supplemental information is ­appended. Examples include discussion questions, jokes, and more information about the book's topic, such as Ali's favorite foods and bug facts. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in most collections where kids' beginning chapter books circulate frequently.-- "School Library Journal"