Review Detail

Papa's Butter Chicken is a sweet picture book about a father and daughter and how food brings their family together. One of Papa's favorite foods is butter chicken. This dish brings back fond memories of his childhood. Monica loves to help her father prepare this dish and hear the stories about his childhood. When extended family and friends learn that Papa is making butter chicken, they arrive with gifts of fruit and dessert and are invited to stay for dinner. Initially, Monica is disappointed at the number of people attending dinner. She won't be able to hear all of Papa's stories. As she shares a meal with her family, she soon realizes what a wonderful experience it is to spend time with them.


What I Liked: I appreciate the message in the book that food is a means of bringing people together. The celebration of Indian culture especially appeals to me, as I teach in a school with a large Indian population. My students will be thrilled to find a book they can identify with. Abeeha Tariq's illustrations are vibrant and engaging. The recipe for butter chicken by famed chef José Andrés is included at the end of the book as a bonus.

Papa's Butter Chicken is a beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating family and food that will delight young readers.