Tamil New Year, also called Puthandu, is just around the corner on April 14th! We’re celebrating by turning the page to two joyful kids’ books by Tamil authors, stories full of colourful imagery, curiosity, and of course, really delicious food moments.
Tamil culture has roots in South India & Sri Lanka. Many of the cooks who’ve been part of our kitchens for years are Sri Lankan, and their recipes have shaped our menu with staples kids ask for again and again, like our Sri Lankan Chicken, and our White Bean Curry, its plant-based partner made with the same lightly-spiced tomato & coconut-based, can’t-wait-to-eat-it sauce. Click here to make the White Bean Curry at home, it’s our most popular vegetarian dish!
let’s get to the books!
The Spice Box, written by Meera Sriram and illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, tells the tale of Rishi, who can’t wait to cook with his family’s treasured spice box. Each little compartment holds something special, like turmeric, mustard seeds, and more, and he discovers it’s not just an ingredient box, but a cherished family heirloom that helped crown his father & grandmother as true masters of spice! When the spice box is accidentally dropped, everything spills everywhere—frustrating, but also pretty as the spices puff out into a ruby & golden cloud. Rishi wants to help, and what could have just been a mess turns into a quiet, meaningful moment with his father, showing how tuned in kids can be when it comes to the importance of family history, and how capable they are! This story also invites families into the kitchen, with a potato curry recipe at the back, plus a full page that explores the spice box components in all their glory, so kids can see, learn, and maybe even start recognizing them at home.
Tomatoes for Neela, written by Padma Lakshmi (yes, that Padma!) and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, is a feel-good story about a girl who loves cooking with her amma (mother) while staying close to her paati (grandmother) all the way in India. As they pick out varieties together, Neela starts to notice the little differences—heirloom, plum, and more. This ode to tomatoes also gently introduces the idea of seasonality, showing how they peak in the summer, and how Neela and her amma turn them into sauce to enjoy later in the winter. The artwork has a soft, dreamy feel that makes even a simple tomato look a little magical, like something you want to reach out and grab right from the pages! This book also gets kids curious about food and where it comes from, teaching them a little tomato history along the way. And the best part? It doesn’t stop at the story. There are two tomato-tastic recipes at the back (sauce AND chutney!) so kids & families can jump in and try it for themselves.
Click here to learn more about Tamil New Year, and let us know in the comments if your family is celebrating!