The Spice Box
Written by Meera Sriram
Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Alfred A. Knopf, 2024, 36 pp (unpaged)
ISBN: 9780593427132

Rishi, a young Indian boy, is awaiting the arrival of his grandmother from India. He wants to make her potato curry using the family spice box. As he opens the spice box, the fragrances of the spices elicit memories of his family, suhc as his grandmother’s dream of becoming a chef at a time when women were discouraged to work outside the home, and his grandmother’s journey in search of her dream, carrying her beloved spice box. The memory ends with her being nicknamed “the wizard of spice,” finally achieving her dream.

The next memory described is of Rishi’s father moving away from India and his family to a new home where concerns of not fitting in plague his mind. The father soon realizes that his new home has many different types of people and languages, putting his concerns at ease. Rishi remembers when his father struggled getting the spice measurements to create traditional Indian dishes but eventually succeeded at creating the perfect Indian dish, which leads the grandmother to nickname her son “the master of spice” during her last visit from India. Rishi is excited to call this spice box his own but accidentally drops the treasured spice box on the floor. Distraught and sad over the now broken spice box, Rishi is quickly reassured when his father helps him fix the broken spice box. Together they cook potato curry for his grandmother’s arrival. Rishi is given the nickname “the prince of spice”, as well as the family spice box making his wish come true so he can continue dreaming and creating his mark in the world.

The Spice Box tells the story of an Indian family that has followed their dreams and raises awareness of traditional gender roles and women’s rights, implying that the grandmother had to work hard to achieve her dream in a male-dominated field. Rishi’s father had several concerns about moving away from his family and life in India, highlighting issues of fitting in, standing out, acceptance, and immigration. Fortunately, his apprehension was quickly alleviated when he discovered his new home is full of diverse people. He also struggles with using the correct measurements to make traditional Indian dishes. After several attempts, he succeeds and earns his beloved nickname, demonstrating perseverance and the importance of not giving up.

Rishi’s excitement about his family’s treasured spice box exemplifies the importance of honoring and continuing cultural traditions. Food plays a significant role in immersing oneself in various cultures and many lessons and traditions can be learned from cooking traditional dishes. At the end of the book, an explanation of the spices and their significance is provided, along with Paati’s potato curry recipe, allowing readers to deepen their understanding of Indian culture. Sriram moves beyond creating a window to opening a door for readers to further experience and learn about Indian culture.

With vibrant colors, attention to detail, and a variety of lines, The Spice Box immerses readers in Rishi’s world. The illustrations maintain engagement throughout the book, with vivid hues and diverse lines evoking the fragrant spices of India. Symmetrical to the text, the illustrations add depth and highlight intricate details. The facial expressions are detailed, emphasizing the characters’ range of emotions. Both single and double-page spreads are used without borders, allowing space for maximum detail.

Pairing When the Stars Came Home (Brittany Luby & Natasha Donovan, 2023) with The Spice Box helps exemplify and honor cultural traditions. Both books share family stories through treasured and potential heirlooms and address the complicated feelings that leaving home can provoke. Pairing these two books together will also help readers hear diverse perspectives about moving from your home, whether it’s across town or across the ocean. Both titles pay tribute to family stories and emphasize their importance in shaping one’s identity. An additional book pairing suggestion is Boys Don’t Fry (Kimberly Lee & Charlene Chua, 2023). Both books play tribute to the value of traditional cultural dishes that allow the reader to be immersed in Indian or Malaysian cultures. Pairing these books together gives readers the opportunity to make connections, question traditional gender roles, and learn about the importance of cultural traditions.

Meera Sriram is an award-winning author; recognized with honors such as the South Asia Book Award and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She has written several books, including A Garden in My Hands (also illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, 2023) and The Yellow Suitcase (illustrated by Meera Sethi, 2019) and has published works in India. Originally from Chennai, India, Sriram moved to the United States to become an electrical engineer before transitioning to a career as a children’s book author to promote diverse literature.

Sandhya Prabhat, also from Chennai, India, is an award-winning illustrator and animator who has illustrated books like A Garden in My Hands (Meera Sriram, 2023) and Namaste is a Greeting (Suma Subramaniam, 2022). Now based in the Bay Area, Prabhat has also created animations for social media companies.

Prisella Chinchilla, Texas Woman’s University

© 2024 by Prisella Chinchilla