Time for a Cuppa

Take a trip to a bustling train station in Jaipur, India in Chaiwala! written by Priti Birla Maheshwari and illustrated by Ashley Barron.

Their connecting train arrives in ten minutes so a little girl and her mother have just enough time to visit the chaiwala. Priti Birla Maheshwari’s vibrant text will have readers dreaming of a delicious cup of chai. She describes the glasses clink clanking and the mixture bubbling and boiling. 

Chaiwala makes an excellent read aloud. Parents and teachers can read the story and create a whole sensory experience. Bringing in the cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom so that readers will experience a cup of chai through their ears, eyes and noses. With a mortar and pestle, young readers can crush up the spices and then perhaps even enjoy a cup altogether, with a biscuit or two of course.

It has been amazing to find more and more stories written by south Asian Canadians to share with readers. Chai is such an important part of many cultures so to share a story about the care and preparation into making a cup to share with a loved one is a beautiful act of love for your readers.

Ashley Barron’s illustrations are equally as inspiring as the text. I am always astounded by the care and detail she places in her paper cut illustrations, much like making a cup of chai. From the mother’s beautiful scarf to the chaiwala’s stall, readers get a one of a kind experience through her interpretation of the words.