ANNI DREAMS OF BIRYANI

Will Anni succeed in getting the secret recipe for Uncle’s biryani?

In an unnamed city’s Little India, a young South Asian girl named Anni lives across the street from the Biryani Café, where gruff Mr. Arif—whom everyone calls Uncle—makes and sells “the best biryani in the world. Fluffy and fragrant. Spicy and succulent. Absolutely addictive.” An experienced cook, Anni wants to learn to prepare the biryani herself, but although Uncle gives her a few hints, her dish still doesn’t taste like his. It turns out there’s a secret ingredient that Uncle won’t share, and when Anni finds the cafe shut down one day, she wonders if she’ll ever be able to eat the special biryani again. Although the tale’s resolution wraps up a little quickly and may not be entirely satisfactory, Anni’s perseverance pays off, encouraging kids to follow their dreams. Mehra’s text brings to life the sights, sounds, and smells of the neighborhood, while Prabhat’s vivid and effusive digital illustrations weave in expressive faces and cultural details, including the biryani ingredients and scenes of dirty dishes in the sink. All the people have different shades of warm brown skin, and Anni has two black braids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A curious and determined young cook gets her biryani recipe in this tale to savor.