Faruq and the Wiri Wiri

(Paperback)

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Description

There is not a better smell in the world than Ajee's Cook-up rice. The kitchen fills with the smell of coconut, garlic and spices. Faruq loves his grandmother Ajee, and he loves her cooking. In fact, Faruq would like to cook too - he wants to be a chef, but Ajee says he has to be a doctor like his father.

But one day when Ajee is too ill to make the family feast, with the help of his neighbour Mrs Joseph, Faruq picks some hot wiri wiri chilli peppers and cooks up a banquet. Preparing food for his family fills Faruq's heart with love - and sets a different course for his future.

This sumptuous story celebrates Caribbean culture and food through Sophia Payne's distinct voice that is reflective of her Indo-Guyanese heritage and is brought to life by Sandhya Prabhat's beautiful artwork. It also includes a recipe for Guyanese Lime cookies for you to try at home!

Reviews

This colourful picture-book celebration of Guyanese cooking - including hot wiri wiri peppers - features a little boy desperate to learn to cook, and the joy of sharing food with family. -- Imogen Russell Williams * Guardian *
As he watches his grandma prepare her traditional Guyanese cook-up rice with garlic, coconut, and wiri wiri peppers, Faruq dreams of being a chef. With vibrant and exciting illustrations and rich descriptive language, this picture book for younger children is bound to spark an interest in cooking and a love for family mealtimes. A lovely book to read and share. -- Tom Tolkien * School Reading List *

Author Bio

Sophia Payne discovered her passion for writing while she should have been studying I.T. After a long-standing career in technical support, she finally decided to make the change and study for a degree in creative writing. She now writes picture books and tries to keep away from broken computers. Her writing often reflects her Indo-Caribbean heritage, as well as her motto in life: always be kind.

Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator based in the Bay Area, California and is from Chennai, India. She holds an MFA Degree in Animation and Digital Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia, and a bachelor's degree in literature from Stella Maris College.