Marianayagam, Maria. Curry Means More. Geeta Ladi, Illus. Astra Books for Young Readers, 10/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6626-2029-4. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Shirin loves curry but has a hard time explaining to her friend Charlotte what curry is, launching a delightful afternoon when Shirin, Charlotte, and Shirin’s mother (or Amma) explore all the different ingredients and methods of making curry. Simple ingredients like fenugreek, mustard seeds, garlic, ginger, and onion are all given lush metaphors. Shirin is a curious and thoughtful protagonist and by framing the story through the explanation of curry to her friend, young readers will be naturally drawn into the meditative descriptions. In addition to Shirin and Amma, there are numerous depictions of brown-skinned characters that emphasize the importance of curry not only to Shirin but also her friends, family, and community. The author’s descriptions of each food item are both poetic and mouth-watering, as are the artist’s vibrant illustrations with colored pencil. The back matter includes spice information and a curry recipe. While some of the descriptions can be almost too figurative for young readers, the final pages emphasize Shirin’s own interpretation of her mother’s curry recipe and the wonderful ways traditions can be both cherished and reinvented.
Cherie Buenaflor Cheung—Pleasanton Public Library