Bilal Cooks Daal

Six-year-old Bilal can't wait to help his dad make his favourite dish, daal, and to share it with friends who have never tried it. The daal simmers slowly all day, and as more children join in, Bilal starts to wonder whether they'll love it as much as he does.

Why Dad Recommends It

I think families will love how this book puts a South Asian dad at the stove, cooking alongside his son and the neighbourhood kids. It's a gentle, joyful story about patience, because good daal can't be rushed, and about the slightly nervous feeling of sharing your home food with friends. Anoosha Syed's bright, friendly illustrations show a mixed group of friends gathering round one pot. It sits beautifully next to Homeschool Biryani as another story where a child learns through cooking at home.

What Children Can Learn

Children learn that some of the best things take time, and that sharing your family's food is a lovely way to bring friends together.

What Parents Can Take From It

This is a brilliant one for little ones who worry about bringing 'different' food to the table, because it shows friends discovering a new dish with open minds. According to Kirkus, the book ends with an author's note and a recipe, so it's a natural nudge to cook a pot of daal together one weekend and let the kids line up the spices. While it simmers, you could talk about the dishes your own family makes, and who first taught you to cook them.