June 17, 2025 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher
Mustafa loves the sweet treats that come under the category of mithai, and he's sad that there aren't any celebrations coming up where his mother might serve some more. When he complains to his mother, she reminds him that there is always a reason to celebrate, which gives him the idea to invite his friends over for a special mithai party. His friends are enthralled with the variety of treats, but don't know what to choose. Mustafa plays "dessert matchmaker" to ensure that his friends get a sweet that they will enjoy. After a play date that includes plenty of outdoor activities and pizza for dinner, the mithai are served. Kent gets a jelly and ice cream dish, Pooja a ladoo, Beau an orange jalebi to match his shirt, and Chrissy gets a chum-chum. For himself, Mustafa chooses a gulab jamun. The children like their new foods so much that they want seconds, and Mustafa and his mother are glad to share their cultural traditions. There is an author's note at the end explaining more about mithai.
Ali's illustrations would be right at home in a PBS cartoon; the pictures are bright, and the lines crisp. There's a lot of movement on the page, and the children's eyes clearly show their emotions. The drawings of the food made me hungry!
While there is plenty of information about Mustafa's favorite treats, as an adult I found myself wanting a lot more information, and maybe some recipes. Also, why does Mustafa's mother have "leftover" deserts. Was this her secret stash? Clearly, Mustafa was surprised that these were in the house! I'm always glad of a book that makes me ask more questions!
Be prepared to find a good Pakistani bakery near you after you read this book so that you can find some Badusha and Rasmalai for your own mini celebration! This is a great choice to include with other books about the important of foods in cultural celebrations, like Shum's Mooncakes Mean Family, Gilmore and Valiant's Cora Cooks Pancit, Wang and Yum's Luli and the Language of Tea, and Lucido and Demirag's Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta.
No comments:
Post a Comment