Dosa and Paati, two iconic words that can totally be associated with the State of Tamil Nadu!
The picture book Noni and Paati Make a Dosa would appeal to both adults and children because of the vibrant illustrations that literally jump out of the pages. It captures the special bond between a child and her grandmother and the ritual of a bedtime story.
The story has Paati giving step-by-step instructions to Noni on how to make the perfect, buttery-crisp, yummy dosa. The whole process is beautifully described, using a lot of rhyme and onomatopoeia, making it very lyrical. One wonders if Noni, or any child listening to or reading this story, will be able to fall asleep without getting hungry and needing to eat a real dosa!
Incidentally, this story reminds me of my childhood days, when loving adults used to make imaginary dosas, using their elbows on toddlers’ soft bellies, getting them all giggly and excited as they got ready for bed.