Curry Means More, Maria Marianayagam
Curry Means More, Maria Marianayagam
List: $7.99 | Sale: $5.60
Club: $3.99

Curry Means More

Author: Maria Marianayagam

Narrator: Shiromi Arserio

Unabridged: 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 11/04/2025

Categories: Children's Fiction


Synopsis

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, Curry Means More showcases the simple yet transformative magic of a home-cooked meal.  Back matter includes a history of curries and an introduction to a wide variety of spices. "Unsure about the definition of curry, a young girl of South Asian descent discovers that this term encompasses many things all at once … This tale will especially appeal to readers of South Asian heritage, who will welcome this authentic representation of the lingering fragrances of a complex food, although others will, too."—Kirkus Reviews

About Maria Marianayagam

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan Canadian children’s book author, engineer, and wannabe-cool nerd. She was born in India and grew up across Canada. Maria fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an amma and now enjoys writing stories that draw on her identities and their intersections. When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and two daughters. Find out more at marianayagam.com and follow her on Instagram @msmarianayagam.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mahin on June 21, 2025

a warm, vibrant, and familiar celebration that kids will adore! i love food art, and the illustrations in this book were a delight to look at. the cooking scenes were really cosy, teaching kids to leave room for creativity and inventiveness that are the core of so many of our recipes. the book also......more

Goodreads review by Jesus on May 30, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley and Astra Publishing House, for the early copy for an honest review. This book almost made me cry because it clearly was created with love and passion. It is a wonderful book that will not only be relevant in our school libraries but also bring awareness to an incredible dish, c......more

Goodreads review by Moushmi on September 15, 2025

Curry Means More by Maria Marianayagam, illustrated by Geeta Ladi, is such a delightful and magical children’s book! The illustrations are vibrant and full of life, making every page a visual treat. I loved how the story follows Shirin as she tries to explain curry to her friend Charlotte, only to re......more

Goodreads review by Natalie on August 31, 2025

Shirin tries to explain curry to her friend Charlotte, but finds that she can’t explain its magic. The girls head to Shirin’s house to learn all about curry from Amma. As Amma adds each ingredient to the pan, Shirin tries to define it by that ingredient, but finds that she just can’t do that. “Curry......more

Goodreads review by Jan on June 26, 2025

Maria is a Tamil Sri Lankan Canadian and Geeta is based in India, and each loves to make and eat several variations of curry with all its spicy flavors. But you don't have to come from that area to enjoy eating curry! Wonderful book! The illustrations by Geeta Ladi are simple, perfect in bright color......more