Curry Means More

Maria, you have addressed one of my pet peeves by writing “𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦” and making it so clear that “curry” is not just one recipe and that the colonisers called anything with a thick gravy, a “curry”.

Shirin loves her mum’s curries. But when Shirin’s friend Charlotte asks what is a curry, Shirin finds it difficult to explain, because “curry” isn’t just curry leaves, it isn’t a singular taste, but an umbrella term for a wide variety of tastes and ingredients. Rather than perfect measurements, a good curry is often the result of traditions and flavours passed down generations, with each dish waking up your taste buds to evoke memories of times spent with loved ones. Shirin’s mum gets the girls to make one of the curries with her for them to understand the magic!

A must-read if your students think that “curry” is just one kind of dish. Perfect for preschool and above. Book releases on 28 October 2025.

Thank you to Astra Young Readers for the advance review copy. Opinion expressed here is completely my own and uninfluenced!