Faruq and the Wiri Wiri

There was no better smell in the world than Ajee’s cook-up rice.

Faruq longs to be a chef when he grows up, but his family expect him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. However, Mrs Joseph from next door offers to teach him to cook, starting with lime cookies ‘cause they easy peasy’. Every day, he slips through the fence and learns to cook, learning about new ingredients including the wiri wiri pepper and how to handle it carefully. When Ajee falls ill one day, Faruq decides to prepare lunch for his family. Cooking for his family fills Faruq’s heart with love and opens his family’s eyes to a different plan for his future.

This lovely story is a real celebration of family, food - and the importance of following your dreams. Faruq has a real passion for cooking and it is a joy to see him helping Ajee in the kitchen, preparing food for his family. His question, ‘Why can’t boys learn to cook?’ offers an excellent starting point for discussion about finding and developing passions and pursuits which follow interests regardless of pressure or influence to the contrary.

The story is rich in family love and a real celebration of Guyanese culture, even including a recipe for lime cookies- a treat which just begs to be baked and enjoyed and spreading Faruq’s joy in cooking! The illustrations are bright, colourful and engaging, showing the joys of cooking, eating and family life- all the ingredients needed to accompany this delicious story!

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri: A Celebration of family and food!

Sophia Payne, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Templar ISBN: 978-1800782624