Simon & Schuster Bilal Cooks Daal

My kids loved it

Nice and cute book

Thank you for writing such a wonderful book! My two year old (who looks exactly like a younger version of the protagonist) loves pourripoo (our name for dal) sooo much. He loves the ingredients, he loves watching me make it, and most of all he loves eating it. I bought this on a whim, but it's even better than I expected on so many levels. The story teaches patience (something my little boy is still working on especially when I'm cooking things he likes!), team works, family traditions, trying out new things, diversity, culture, food, cooking. I love that the aspects of diversity/culture are just normalized, no big deal was made out of it. I don't think a child has to be South Asian to get a lot from this book or even relate to it. The illustration are beautiful!!! Even the inside cover is gorgeous.. We read the book for the first time this morning, as soon as we were finished he put it in his book shelf and announced that it was his book. And then he brought out all his cooking supplies to "cook" some pourripoo. And then with lunch, while he was getting antsy while I was cooking and about to start the tantrum :), I discussed how we need to be patient like Bilal (and it seemed to help!). And it's only the afternoon and I've read it 6 times on his request. Also the part about the dad and his ammi brings tears to my eyes as one of my favorite parts about food how it's a way to keep that family connection and love. I was always afraid of being different growing up so I love how the book subtle address that too, and I love how his friends in the end (of course) love the end product and worked together to make it happen.

Beautiful book with lovely illustrations!!

my kids love this book. It is a cute read