Anoosha Syed

Six-year-old Bilal is thrilled to help his dad make his absolute favorite meal. It is a slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia called daal. The recipe takes plenty of ingredients, careful preparation, and a whole lot of patience. Bilal is especially eager to introduce his friends to the meal, since none of them have ever tasted it before. As the daal simmers throughout the day, more and more friends gather around to wait. But waiting gives Bilal time to worry. What if his friends do not like the food as much as he does? This heartwarming story explores the beauty of sharing family traditions and trying new things. It shows how preparing a special dish can bring a whole neighborhood together for an unforgettable feast.

Rani lives in a luxurious palace full of busy adults, but she's lonely. So one morning, she decides to leave for the beach in search of adventure. But in the world outside the palace walls, Rani isn't a princess anymore, she's just a kid who's not so great at building sandcastles.

--- Added from Hardcover ---

A modern South Asian princess, sparkling writing, lots of humor, and just the right amount of conflict come together for a clever and enchanting friendship story. Rani lives in a luxurious palace full of busy adults, but she's lonely. Being the only princess in the kingdom is boring, tedious, dull. She has no one to play with--except her baby brother, who doesn't count! So one morning, Rani decides to leave for the beach in search of adventure. She's sure it will be the opposite of her life in the palace: wonderful, marvelous, fun! But in the world outside the palace walls, Rani isn't a princess anymore, she's just a kid who's not so great at building sandcastles. And what she finds there is something she didn't even know she was looking for: a friend. Set in a vibrant South Asian-inspired world, this story of a strong-willed princess from two award-winning picture book creators is full of wordplay, heart, and humor.