Mama’s Roti

PreS-Gr 3–Mirchandani makes a concert piece of the creation of Mama’s roti from atta, water, salt, and oil. The ingredients are combined and then allowed to rest. Mama pats, stretches, and rolls the dough while music fills the air. Readers are taken to the location where the grain grows, because roti is more than just flatbread—it’s a tradition that crosses boundaries and borders and spans hundreds of years. It’s lunch for a road trip or hanging out with friends. Most importantly, the grain in it comes from the hard work of the farmers who harvest it. These farmers struggle with lack of rainfall, starvation, and unfair working conditions, but with protest and reform, that’ll hopefully change. This book shows how roti is such a creator of connection, it can even make streets full of strangers feel like they’re suddenly home. Mama’s Roti is a great tribute to the multifaceted nature of the pillowy flatbread. The picture book sheds light on the unfortunate situation many farmers face and how unfairly they’re treated. Several vocabulary words may be unfamiliar to readers and could hamper the reading experience for some while enriching it for others.