Curry Means More

Fry Bread meets Bilal Cooks Daal in this story about a girl and her mom introducing a school friend to curry--and discovering all the things that curry means to them as they learn to make it together.

When Shirin's friend Charlotte asks what curry is, Shirin realizes she's not sure--she's tried many curries and they're all so different. So Shirin's mom invites them to explore the fragrant world of curry by helping her cook a curry dish. Together, the two girls sniff tangy curry leaves, roll mustard seeds like tiny pearls in their palms, and watch with wonder as Shirin's mom measures ingredients with heart and hand. Over the course of the afternoon, the girls discover that the dish isn't just a form of sustenance--it's the scent of home, a piece of wisdom shared between generations, an art open to invention, and it's flavored with love.

With delicious writing and imaginative illustrations, Curry Means More showcases the simple yet transformative magic of a home-cooked meal.

Back matter includes a history of curries, an introduction to a wide variety of spices, and a family recipe.

Author: Maria Marianayagam
Publisher: Astra Young Readers
Published: 10/28/2025
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 11.10h x 8.70w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781662620294
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025
Booklist 09/01/2025

About the Author
Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan Canadian chemical engineer turned picture book writer. She was awarded the Highlights Foundation Nonfiction Writing Scholarship and Writing Barn Courage to Create Scholarship based on her manuscripts. She says, "My stories call upon a childhood and adulthood of multiple identities. . . . We all contain multitudes--and I draw on our intersections to inspire, empower, and engage young readers." She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband and two daughters.

Geeta Ladi is a children's book illustrator born and raised in Mumbai. She is the illustrator of picture books including My Brain is Magic by Prasha Sooful and A Place for Feelings by Corey Ann Haydu. You can find her on Instagram at @geetaladi_illustrations.