100 Chapatis (Derek Mascarenhas, Shantala Robinson)

A boy makes one hundred chapatis with his grandfather while they wait for news of his new baby sibling’s arrival

Simon doesn’t want the baby to come. He was happy with just his mom, dad, and Pappa. Now, Mom and Dad are at the hospital, and Simon and Pappa are waiting for news at home.

Knowing how hard it is to wait, Pappa starts Simon on a project of making one hundred chapatis. They measure the ingredients, knead and roll the dough, and then drop them one by one into a giant frying pan. Soon, Simon is so busy that he forgets to worry. “Can I show the baby how to make chapatis?” he asks Pappa. And before they know it, Pappa is frying up the one hundredth chapati … and the phone is ringing!

A debut picture book with texture-rich illustrations and simple evocative text, 100 Chapatis is a gentle lesson in patience that makes for a wonderful read-aloud.