Faruq and the Wiri Wiri: A Celebration of Family and Food

Immersive sensory details anchor this sunny story of a boy who pushes back against familial expectations and learns skills from an unexpected mentor. Faruq loves being with Ajee as she prepares meals, enjoying the smell of coconut and garlic. But when he asks her to teach him, she tells him to focus on his studies if he wants to become a doctor, and shoos him outside, warning him away from the spicy peppers of the wiri wiri plants. Outside, yelling, “Why can’t boys learn to cook?” the protagonist kicks his soccer ball, which, naturally, lands in the wiri wiri. A voice from beyond it answers him: neighbor Mrs. Joseph, who offers to teach him—just as she taught Ajee. Prabhat captures the joy of culinary discovery in bold illustrations as the two work side by side, preparing dishes that define a family legacy while honoring both tradition and individual choice. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. Ages 5–9. (Apr.)