This whimsical book by an author who was born in India, is about culture and culinary delights. A young girl is the narrator and shares her love of the sights, smells, and tastes of her experiences getting chai from the seller of tea, named the chaiwala. The pages range from two-page spreads to pages with one scene. The colors of browns. yellows, and reds seem to dominate in the skin-tones of the people at the train stop, the attire, the signage, and other details. The train stop features people of varying ages and body types as they await the next train. The pictures invite young children to name colors, count items, and repeat the onomatopoeia words. They will also more than likely want to experience a cup of chai, too.

Thanks to Owlkids and NetGalley for the e-galley. This review is based on the published book.
My review and ratings are my own.

A beautiful little slice of life picture book, and it only took ten minutes! I could practically smell the chai as I read this. The paper collage illustrations were gorgeous and evocative. And now, since this book made me crave it so much, I need to go make a poor substitute for the real thing cup of chai!

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and will grab your attention (and those of your child's) right away. The story is adorable and I think that any parent who drinks chai could benefit from sharing this book with their children. On top of that, what a great introduction to Indian culture!
The illustrations are so detailed that you could amuse a child endlessly by playing "Can you find..." or "I see a ...."
If you're trying to create a multicultural library for your little one, or for a classroom, this would be an excellent addition.

Release date: Oct. 15th, 2021!!!

Closer to a 3.5 star for me, but rounding up. I thought this was a really cute, simple, and sweet story. I definitely wish it was a bit longer or at least had more script/words/dialogue/whathaveyou, but it achieved what it intended to regardless and made me crave a nice cuppa chai like crazy. I think this would be amazing for any child to learn and grow from other cultures/ways of life, but it's definitely set out for a very specific audience (and I think that's great!). Overall, I enjoyed it a lot, but I definitely just wish it was longer. It just felt like it was a bit lacking all-in-all. Also, to be honest, the art style wasn't for me personally, but I can see the appeal!

Thank you to NetGalley and OwlKids for an advanced readers edition. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was just delightful from start to finish. The language was beautifully descriptive and the illustrations were gorgeous!

"CHAIWALA!" by author Priti Birla Maheswari and illustrator Ashley Barron is a multi-sensory small moment story set in a train station near Jaipur, India. In the stor, a little girl and her mother rush off a train during a short stop in order to purchase and savor the wares of a chaiwala or tea vendor. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes are all described in poetic prose. Much like the chai, this book is a delight to be savored.

This was a cute story about the tradition of a cup of tea and taking the time to appreciate each step of the process (smells, sounds, taste, and memories). As an adult I need to take the time to appreciate things like this as well, life passes too quickly to not enjoy the little things in life.

Chaiwala is a deeply sweet picture book that shows us a family stopping on a trip by train in Jaipur for some chai. The illustrations are cute with colours that really pop. The story is simple, but any child who drinks tea or is part of a household that does will find themselves at home here. I also feel like I've seen a lot more picture books set in India of late, and it's always nice to come across another. Recommended!

What a delightful little story. I enjoyed reading this to my kids and letting them experience the wonderful look into another culture. The illustrations were well done and did a great job communicating the story and the colorful environment.

I absolutely loved this book! The illustrations are magnificent and really help to tell the tale of the author's special memory and tradition of drinking chai. It made me want a cuppa! I would definitely read this book in my Kindergarten classroom, as a way to introduce some new terminology and perhaps new culture to them. Very enjoyable!

As if I didn’t already want to visit India enough! This adorable picture book had my mouth watering.

Chaiwala tells the story of Chai tea. How it is prepared and made, and the enjoyment that it gives those who drink it. A little girl is riding on a train, and the train stops at the station. There is just enough time to get a cup of hot Chai Tea. From grinding the spices to steaming the milk, the process is described in perfect child like details.

I loved this story of tea, as a tea lover. I loved this book too, because it tells of a culture that is different from my own, and will teach my child about cultures that she is not familiar with. She knows about tea, but even this type is different than what she is used to. The illustrations are pretty and detailed, focusing on what a child would like to see. Overall, this is a fabulous book that I would definitely read to both my child, and to children in the classroom.

Chaiwala! by Priti Birla Maheshwari is a vibrantly bright and beautiful children's' picture book. The book revels in a simple Indian ritual, a little girl and her mother getting off their train together for a chai break. They order chai and snacks from the chaiwala (chai vendor) and savor their treats before boarding the train again. For such a small book and simple story, it is a treat for the senses, with bright, beautiful artwork and a cozy story that revels in the many pleasures of chai: the sights, the smells, the tastes, even the sounds of preparation and the sensation of sipping warm milky chai, and of dipping rusk (a very dry bread or cake) in it. The other passengers and customers are depicted in a range of bright attire, from traditionally dressed uncles and aunties to observant Sikhs and more contemporary secular attired adults. The book is such a treat, effective at immersing the reader in the moment, and would surely be a delight to share with the children in your life. I'm looking forward to more books by this author. Highly recommended.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Owlkid Books for sharing a temporary digital advanced copy of #Chaiwala with me in exchange for an honest review.

A ten-minute train stop is the setting for this endearing book. What child on a trip does not want a snack when stopping during travel? In Chaiwala! the author takes the reader through the sights, tastes, smells, sounds, and feelings of having a chai snack.By the time the reader is finished, a cup of chai is wanted!

Chaiwala! by Priti Birla Maheshwari is a beautifully illustrated picture book with that takes the reader through a sensory journey filled with descriptive language. Chaiwala! would be a wonderful read aloud and mentor text for any classroom.

I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, as well as the sensory experience that the book takes you through. The illustrations are bright and colorful, without being too much or overloading the page. The descriptions bring the smells, tastes, and sensations alive. This is a great book to add to any early childhood classroom library, especially with littles who are interested in food. It also can serve as a great jumping off point for talking about different food traditions across cultures.

A sweet and vibrant story that shows a small moment in a culture that might be familiar to readers or completely new. Either way, young readers will be delighted to experience this book.

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Maheshwari captures a quick moment on a train trip. The child describes everything involved in getting a cup of chai from the Chaiwala. Readers will be pulled into the experience as they read about each sense involved in this short interlude. The brightly colored illustrations offer a further look at the excitement and joy involved in this everyday experience. Readers will connect with similar episodes in their own lives and be able to talk about the similarities and differences. Perfect read aloud for classes and families.

**Note - because of the October publication date, the review will not be published until September 15, 2021
Publication date: October 15, 2021

From the Publisher:
When their train makes a 10-minute stop at the station in Jaipur, a young girl and her mother hurry to get in line for a cup of chai. While the girl waits for her mug of milky spiced tea, readers are treated to the sights, sounds, and smells of the Chaiwala’s cart. The aroma of ginger, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon sticks swirls in the air. Tea leaves rustle, milk bubbles, and the hot drink is poured back and forth until―clink!―the cups are filled and placed on the stand. With a biscuit and a rusk added to their order, it’s time to find a spot to sit and enjoy!

Inspired by the author’s childhood visits to India, Chaiwala! celebrates the pleasures of taking time for food, family, and tradition―even for a brief moment. Illustrated in lively cut-paper collages and filled with scrumptious sensory details, this book is just like a cup of chai―warm, comforting, and good to the last drop.

My Thoughts:
This book is a gorgeous feast of sensory language. I have never had chai in India, but I know a little something about food at train stations in Japan so the text by Priti Birla Maheshwari just mixed in with my own memories of rushing in line or ordering food from the train as vendors went by with their boxes of yumminess.

I breathe in the scents of /crushed ginger and cardamom,/cloves and cinnamon sticks--/plus a dash of black pepper./Mmmm!
The cut paper collage illustrations just add to the magic of this book. I especially love the page where the Chaiwala is mixing the spices together with his mortar and pestle. The whole cloves and cinnamon, weave into the 3-D scent cloud of the spices and oils traveling into the air and teasing the young girl's nose. Beautiful!

What to do with this in secondary:
This is a gem because as a writing workshop mentor text in secondary, this book can be used to model show don't tell sensory language as well as how for AAPI and BIPOC (Asian American, Pacific Islander; Black, Indigenous, and people of color) authors, food and writing about food is not just about the food, but also about identity, place, family, and culture.

Other books to add to the resources for this exact "lesson,":

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant

I will find more, but add this to the classic Patricia Polacco story Thunder Cake about her cake adventures with her Babushka.

This is a lovely, simple book for young readers. It's not a plot-driven story, but instead an exploration of a place and experience. The language is very expressive and evocative and the illustrations are colorful and engaging.

This book would probably be best suited for small group or one-on-one reading because there is so much room to expand upon the text. It would be very easy to encourage students to observe details about the train station and travelers, make up stories about why the passengers are traveling, etc. It's a great introduction to a tiny piece of non-US culture as well.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!