An inviting read celebrating Bengali culture and yummy aloo bhortas.
Be warned, reading this may lead to a yummy, potato party!
What an inviting, intriguing board book for preschoolers, recently published by Bok Bok Books.
I adore the way readers are welcomed into a kitchen of a Bengali family, who are more than happy to share their recipe for aloo (potato) bhortas.
As baby watches their grown up prepare ingredients, readers are introduced to the sounds and words used for cooking. Readers will also see baby helping too, mashing those aloos brilliantly!
Bhortas are a humble, popular dish, amongst Bangladeshis. The main ingredients may differ but popular picks include potatoes, aubergines and fish and they are always accompanied by a chorus of flavours. In Bhorta Bhorta Baby this includes chillis and red onions.
It’s been proven that involving children in the cooking process, makes them more likely to try new foods. Of course this could be messy, but will hopefully encourage exposure to a wide range of ingredients and in this case, possibly open their taste buds up to new cuisines from a different culture.
The colourful spreads throughout and details of a Bangladeshi culture amongst the artwork do not go unnoticed. Baby is utterly adorable and their curiosity and enthusiasm shines throughout the book. My one year old nephew gives this book a big thumbs up and adores Baby.
The final spreads showing Baby, sharing and enjoying their bhortas is a lovely way to end the book.
Food can really unite us all.
Author Jumana Rahman and illustrator Maryam Huq have created a lovely opportunity for readers to learn about more traditions in a fun and engaging way.
Disclaimer: AD