MEENA CAN'T WAIT

A South Asian grandmother and grandchild make tea—and learn a lesson in patience.

Meena is visiting Nanu, and it’s a very special day: Together, they’re going to prepare a Bengali tea called doodh cha using tea leaves from Bangladesh and mint leaves from Nanu’s garden. As they start, Meena is already craving the cake and samosas that are filling Nanu’s house with a delicious aroma. Though Meena wants to rush, Nanu slows the child down and emphasizes that making tea takes time. While they let the tea simmer and wait for the mint, cloves, ginger, and cardamom to steep, Meena looks at old pictures of Nanu in her childhood kitchen, makes a “fancy card” for Nanu, and listens to Nanu’s childhood stories about going outside to play. At long last, the tea is ready—and it’s perfect! Meena and Nanu agree that their doodh cha, which they made together, was absolutely worth the wait. This vibrantly illustrated book is a quiet tribute to intergenerational relationships and family traditions. Though it may not offer concrete strategies for helping eager little ones wait for a much-anticipated event, it does teach a valuable lesson without ever verging on didacticism.

A tender, gentle tale that will help children live in the moment.