Aria & the Magic Apron

MY THOUGHTS

Pooja Dhingra, India’s Macaron Queen, is a name you would recognise if you love a good cake, cupcake, or macaron and have looked up a recipe or her brand Le15 on Instagram. She is a star on social media, has her own podcast, and can be seen posting frequently about her fitness journey. There is something to be said about her allure, and she extends that to her debut children’s book, Aria and the Magic Apron.

In the book, 10-year-old Aria is an aspiring baker. Sure, she makes mistakes like forgetting to butter her baking tray, but she also dreams of being as successful a baker as her idol, Pari Doshi (P.D. get it?) Backed by her indulgent parents, she bakes every week, hoping to get noticed by her idol. One day, her school announces a baking competition in which finalists will get to meet Pari Doshi herself and have their winning dessert featured on her menu. This is a chance of a lifetime for Aria, and something she has been dreaming of for years! But will her desserts rise to the occasion? Her parents gift her an apron for the occasion that she is convinced has magic powers. When she wears it, she gets no eggshells in her bowl, and her flavours are spot on! But tragedy strikes her apron the day before the finals! Will Aria be able to pull off her best dessert and meet her idol, or will her macarons be a huge disappointment?

This is one of those easy-breezy, darling little stories that young readers everywhere will love because of how easy it is to read. The beauty of the book is that the story, written by journalist-turned-author Stuti Agarwal and Pooja Dhingra, has a lot of heart. Aria, as a character, is relatable and illustrated beautifully by Nirupama Vishwanath. The story conveys a passion for craft, persistence to excel, and nudges the reader to believe in themselves, no matter what.

This is a lovely book to encourage reluctant readers. It is fast-paced, has quirky illustrations, and talks about delicious things. It also works its way to a happy ending, so readers have something to look forward to after the climax.

Look for lovely little details in Nirupama Vishwanathan’s illustrations, like Aria’s doughnut earrings and the list of ingredients for the recipes she bakes. I think readers will also enjoy the helpful baking tips spread throughout the book. This added a layer of fun for me as I read the book.

Also, a personal peeve. Peanut, Aria’s dog, is allowed to lick a bowl that contained remains of her chocolate brownie. Chocolate is fatal to dogs. So that rattled me just a bit.

This book is a lovely summer read. Read it, pass it on to your friends, and revisit it whenever your child needs a reminder to believe in themselves.