Mustafa's mithai

K-Gr 2--Mustafa hankers for mithai, the catchall South Asian term for sweets reserved for special occasions. With no mithai-worthy celebrations on the horizon, Mustafa proposes to "celebrate a regular day" so he can get his sugary fix. With Ammi's approval, Mustafa invites four friends for a playdate called "Mithai with Mustafa." When Mustafa discovers that his friends have never tried mithai before, he matches his friends with a treat perfectly suited to each of them--for example, Beau gets a jalebi, which is his favorite color, orange. Through this exercise, readers learn about the qualities of a range of mithai, from syrupy to fluffy. Digital illustrations accurately convey the enticing diversity of color and shape represented by Mustafa's box of mithai, as well as the joy they bring those partaking in the sweet delights. As a helpful addendum, an author's note describes the origin of mithai in South Asia and the important role they play in celebrations. VERDICT This is recommended, especially for collections focused on global food traditions.--Nora Clancy

A South Asian boy shares his favorite foods with his friends. Mustafa loves mithai (a Hindi word that describes a variety of confections), which he and his family eat on special occasions. Unfortunately, Mustafa feels like his family has run out of celebrations: Eid and Mustafa's father's birthday are both over, and his grandparents have already visited. Will Mustafa ever eat mithai again? His mother points out that "every day can be a happy occasion when you're with the ones you love," so Mustafa invites his friends over for a playdate, complete with mithai. Mustafa plans to let his pals select their own desserts, but when they arrive, they're too overwhelmed to make up their minds. It's up to Mustafa to choose "the perfect mithai" for each of his friends, and he plays matchmaker, picking out falooda for Kent ("It's full of surprises, just like you!"), ladoo for Pooja ("It's round just like your soccer ball"), jalebi for Beau ("It's orange like your shirt"), and more. Both the sumptuous-looking sweets and the children's smiling faces positively glow in Ali's whimsical illustrations. Mustafa's thoughtful decision-making, the joy he finds in making his friends happy, and their enthusiasm for trying new foods all model good behavior for young readers. Mustafa's friends are diverse. A celebration of life's sweetest things: dessert and friendship.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.