How the Onion got its Layers

by Sudha Murthy and illustrated by Priyanka Pachpande

“How the Onion got its Layers” by Sudha Murthy and illustrated by Priyanka Pachpande. Published by Penguin. A remarkable timeless tale about why our eyes water every time we cut an onion.

The kingdom of Ullas was a very prosperous one. Though the people were doing pretty well, the king and queen were very sad. They longed for a child in their lives. They came to know of a place in the forest where one’s wishes would be granted if you prayed hard and well. They offered their prayers there for a long time and the goddess appeared before them. She wanted to know what they wished for.

The king and queen asked the goddess for a child. The goddess said that they would soon have a little girl. But she would have a flaw despite being a loving girl. She would love new clothes so much that it would make their lives very difficult. Would they still want such a child? They agreed to this condition put by the goddess as they wanted a child more than anything else in the world.

What happened next? Did the king and queen get a girl child as told by the goddess? Would their sadness go away? How is this story related to the onion and its layers? Read the delightful chapter book to find out all of these.

My eight year old has enjoyed reading this book for a year now. This was one of the books that I gifted him for his seventh birthday and he wanted to know the mystery behind the onion and why it brought tears to our eyes while cutting it. This was his first book by Sudha Murthy and served as a perfect introduction to her books. The illustrations are bright and colourful and bring the story to life.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 5/6+.

Where to buy from?

An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.