Seven samosas Counting at the market

A bustling outdoor market is the setting of this captivating concept picture book from mother-son creators the Sehgals and prior collaborator Tsong. As young Sona and grandfather Dada shop "for tonight," rhymed couplets introduce South Asian snacks, sweets, and tasty bites that count down from 20 to one. Each entry depicts a particular food ("20 ladoos at this store"), while a side note in smaller print provides pronunciation guidance and further information: "Ladoos (LUH-doos) are round, sweet balls made of flour, sugar, and ghee." Rhythmically propulsive language and vibrant, naif-style digital illustrations make the most of each stop as well as the introduced foods, which include elaichis, jalebis, samosas, sheeras, and more. Dada's pink-patterned shirt, Sona's yellow top, and an ever-present goldenrod pathway visually anchor the Indian-cued duo's shopping trip, which leads to "2 hungry pals--always a pair./ 1 quick treat for them to share"--and reveals an anticipated event. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An authors' note concludes. Ages up to 8. (Oct.)

An Indian grandfather and child head to the market to stock up for a party--and find themselves embarking on a lesson in counting. Sona and Dada (Grandfather) wander around, encountering foods from a variety of Indian culinary traditions. They pick up "20 ladoos at this store" and then "19 elaichis from a drawer." The book continues counting backward as the pair buy "18 sheeras from that man." What's next? "16 mangoes in a line," "15 flavors on the sign!" and "13 tikkis--so delish!" Sona and Dada even stop for eclairs, which, the authors explain, are served in the southeast Indian city of Pondicherry, once a French colony. At the end of their shopping trip, the two return home and prepare a celebratory picnic for friends and family. The book's bright illustrations make use of enticing patterns and feature background characters with a variety of skin tones and hair textures. Filled with color and movement, the artwork brims with joyful chaos. The jaunty verse, presented in couplets, cleverly covers a wide variety of foods, although at times the authors sacrifice word choice for the sake of a rhyme. Accompanying the main text are explanatory notes in a smaller font, which include pronunciations for Hindi words and definitions. This is a well-thought-out, refreshingly original work, with whimsical illustrations beautifully complementing the exuberant text. A charming concept book, an upbeat romp, and an ode to South Asian cuisine, all in one delectable package.(Concept book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.