Back of Book:
Six-year-old Bilal is excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time: daal! The slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting. Bilal wants to introduce his friends to daal. They’ve never tried it! As the day goes on, the daal continues to simmer, and more kids join Bilal and his family, waiting to try the tasty dish. And as time passes, Bilal begins to wonder: Will his friends like it as much as he does?
My Review:
I was so excited when I learned that Aisha had written a diverse picture book that is centered about food. I had never heard about Daal and was excited to read about such a unique dish. The story follows a young boy named Bilal and his friends and they wait for the daal to finish cooking. The text describes Daal as nutty, creamy, and warm like soup. I like that the story also describes the color and texture of the daal itself.
The ending of this story is a beautiful blend of culture and community. The illustrations are bright and showcase a diverse group of children who all come together to enjoy a tasty meal. The back of the book has authors note about Daal as well as a recipe so readers can create their own Daal at home. This is a must-have for all school and classroom libraries.
Ages 5 and up
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