cbr15bingo Edibles: While not just another “food book” this book is about how food connects family
When I first looked at 100 Chapatis I figured it was another food book. And it is; and it isn’t. What it is about is the love a grandparent/grandfather and grandchild/grandson have together. It is about their culture. It is about their food. It is about remembering the grandmother. And it is about having patience when your new sibling is on the way. It also is about the worries an older sibling has about that new baby.
What older child who is old enough to understand about a new sibling has not thought it was better with just mom, dad, Pappa and themselves? Who hasn’t had to share their room with a crib, or lose their art table to a changing table? And while some of those worries and issues are addressed (will the baby eat all of Simon’s chapatis?), others are open for your discussion with your own child.
Mid-October 2023 will see Derek Mascarenhas’ debut picture book published. I am looking forward to recommending it to teachers/librarians who are doing a cultural study and to parents looking for a new type of new sibling book. And it is not just the lovely text of Mascarenhas that is the draw. The art of Shantala Robinson is delightful too. Things are simple, but good detail and expressive. Things are not “really-real-looking” but the realism there. They are nice and cozy. They are fun. I am not saying they are my favorite, but they are enjoyable and I would like to see more of Robinson’s work. 
