100 CHAPATIS

A South Asian boy and his grandfather await a new addition to the family.

Simon and his grandfather Pappa are waiting for a call from Simon’s father to tell them that Simon’s mother has had a new baby. Simon is anxious about becoming a sibling; he likes his family just the way it is. When Pappa tells Simon that things are about to get even busier, Simon doesn’t understand how this is possible—they’ve been busier than ever getting the house ready for the baby. But when Pappa says that the two of them should make 100 chapatis—both to pass the time and to prepare some food that the family can eat when they’re too busy to cook—Simon is delighted. He loves chapatis so much that he’d be happy to eat them three times a day! At first, Simon’s chapatis aren’t as round as Pappa’s, but the more he practices, the more uniform they become, until he feels confident enough to teach his new sibling to roll chapatis just like him and Pappa. The book’s beautifully textured illustrations have an intimate feel; the chapatis seem to leap from the page at times. The visuals complement the earnest, clear text, though a few moments may go over readers’ heads—for instance, the ending implies rather than states outright that Simon’s father is calling to say that the baby has been born. On the whole, though, it’s a warm and reassuring read.

A testament to the power of comfort food.