Curry Means More - by Maria Marianayagam (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Fry Bread meets Bilal Cooks Daal in this story about a girl and her mom introducing a school friend to curry--and discovering all the things that curry means to them as they learn to make it together.

When Shirin's friend Charlotte asks what curry is, Shirin realizes she's not sure--she's tried many curries and they're all so different. So Shirin's mom invites them to explore the fragrant world of curry by helping her cook a curry dish. Together, the two girls sniff tangy curry leaves, roll mustard seeds like tiny pearls in their palms, and watch with wonder as Shirin's mom measures ingredients with heart and hand. Over the course of the afternoon, the girls discover that the dish isn't just a form of sustenance--it's the scent of home, a piece of wisdom shared between generations, an art open to invention, and it's flavored with love.

With delicious writing and imaginative illustrations, Curry Means More showcases the simple yet transformative magic of a home-cooked meal.

Back matter includes a history of curries, an introduction to a wide variety of spices, and a family recipe.

Review Quotes

"Unsure about the definition of curry, a young girl of South Asian descent discovers that this term encompasses many things all at once... This tale will especially appeal to readers of South Asian heritage, who will welcome this authentic representation of the lingering fragrances of a complex food, although others will, too. Evoking the enticing aroma of beloved foods, Ladi's swirling illustrations extend Marianayagam's words nicely... A clever stew of poetic words spiced up with joyful illustrations."--Kirkus Reviews

"Shirin loves the various curries that Amma, her mother, makes, but when her friend Charlotte asks what curry is exactly, Shirin has trouble explaining it. They ask Amma, who prepares a curry dish for them. As they add each ingredient to the pot, joyful, sensory-rich text conveys its importance to the dish as well as the feelings and memories it elicits... Vibrantly colored illustrations that incorporate cultural details beautifully reflect this blend of the present and memories of family traditions. In the process of making curry, Shirin realizes it's not an exact concoction but a 'creation, open to invention' and adds her own ingredient."--Booklist

About the Author

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan Canadian chemical engineer turned picture book writer. She was awarded the Highlights Foundation Nonfiction Writing Scholarship and Writing Barn Courage to Create Scholarship based on her manuscripts. She says, "My stories call upon a childhood and adulthood of multiple identities. . . . We all contain multitudes--and I draw on our intersections to inspire, empower, and engage young readers." She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and two daughters.

Geeta Ladi is a children's book illustrator born and raised in Mumbai. She is the illustrator of picture books including My Brain is Magic by Prasha Sooful and A Place for Feelings by Corey Ann Haydu. You can find her on Instagram at @geetaladi_illustrations.