Summary
Anni is a young girl living in Little India. She lives across the street from a cafe that makes delicious biryani. She has a dream to open a cafe and do the same thing one day; make biryani as good as theirs. She asks the chef (who is not very happy) a ton of questions to try and find out the recipe. She works very hard trying to perfect her recipe that she can’t seem to get quite right.
Theme(s):
Courage, Family, Culture
Personal Response
This book encompasses the power of courage, hard work, and following dreams! I personally don’t know a ton about Indian culture, so this was a great way for me to be introduced to some of the traditional foods. I can imagine that this is a great introduction for younger children as well. Anni’s determination to perfect her recipe and not give up throughout the duration of the story is inspiring. The illustrations really pull everything together with bright, bold colors and lots of food!
Teaching Ideas
This book pairs nicely with a unit about cultures and foods around the world. Students can learn about different traditions and cuisine in Indian culture through reading this story. With the help of families, local residents, or teachers, students can participate in actually making and trying biryani! This activity may be good for students in second grade or higher so they are more likely to be able to try new foods and be aware of allergies.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04
