Thukpa For All
by Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt & illustrated by Shilpa Ranade
“Thukpa For All” by Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt and illustrated by Shilpa Ranade. Published by Karadi Tales. A heartwarming story about a blind child who lives in Ladakh. Tsering is walking back home from the gompa (monastery). He can’t wait to return home and taste his Abi’s (grandmother’s) Thukpa. According to him, she makes the best Thukpa in town.
Tsering is walking fast with the help of his stick listening to various sounds around him which help him figure out the way home. He meets his friend Rigzin who asks him why he is walking so hurriedly. Tsering tells him about the best Thukpa that Abi is making and asks him to join them for dinner. Rigzin agrees excitedly. As Tsering goes ahead, he hears a lamb and realises that she is from Tashi uncle’s flock. He returns the lamb back to uncle and asks him to join him for dinner as Abi is making Thukpa. Tashi uncle agrees too! When Tsering walks past the washing stream, he meets Neema aunty and Norbu me-me who are neighbours. They greet him and want to know why he is in a hurry. Well Tsering ends up inviting them too for dinner.
Abi is in for a surprise. Tsering tells her that four more people are going to join them for dinner. Abi who was planning to make Thukpa for the two of them now changes her plans to handle this sudden unplanned increase in people she needs to feed. But then not everything can go to plan, can it? What happens next? What goes wrong? Can Tsering do something which helps her? Is Abi able to make the Thukpa for all? Does everyone get to eat the Thukpa? This is a MUST READ. The charming illustrations immediately transport one to Ladakh. The close knit community has been portrayed so well. Some of the commonly used terms in Ladakhi language such as Jullay, Meme have been used in the book which adds the local touch quite beautifully. The book was listed in the 2019 IBBY catalog of outstanding books for young people with disabilities. Loved the song that Tsering hums. It goes like this -
Hot, hot thukpa
Hearty, chunky thukpa
Yummy, spicy thukpa
The last couple of pages in the book have a fact sheet about Ladakh and a recipe for making the delicious Thukpa. Loved reading this with my (then) six year old and we made Thukpa afterwards. Ladakh has jumped up a few notches in our travel wish list now that the little boy is keen to go there!
In Katha with Karadi series that was broadcasted last year during the lockdown, the author Praba Ram did a lovely reading of this book after which I couldn’t resist buying it. Apt for everyone beyond the age of 6!
Where to buy from?
The publishers Karadi Tales here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.
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