Review: A Curry for Murray

Molly lives next door to Murray and Maureen. When Maureen has to go to hospital, Molly decides to cook a nice curry for Murray. Her meal is such a success that she begins to cook for other neighbours and friends – spinach macaroni for Sam Maloney, tuna spaghetti for her mum’s best friend Betty, and a ham and cheese toastie for Pam the postie.

Molly’s fame spreads far and wide until she is preparing meals for people all over Australia and even special requests from overseas.

A Curry for Murray is a fun picture book about caring for friends and neighbours by Australian author Kate Hunter, known for her fantastic Mosquito Advertising junior fiction series (KBR review). Lucia Masciullo’s illustrations combine story and information with her wonderful depiction of Molly and her neighbours and pictures of the ingredients for each of the dishes Molly prepares.

With so much emphasis in media about how disconnected we have become, A Curry for Murray is a wonderful lesson for children and reminder for adults that a simple act such as preparing a meal can be a wonderful way of caring for friends and neighbours and creating a sense of connection and community.

A great book for home or the classroom, I’m sure A Curry for Murray will inspire budding chefs to practice their skills and share their favourite dishes with others as well as reminding children and adults that caring for those around us can be as simple as cooking a meal for someone who is busy or unwell.

There are teachers’ notes available for this book.

Title: A Curry for Murray
Author: Kate Hunter
Illustrator: Lucia Masciullo
Publisher: UQP, $24.95 RRP
Publication Date: April 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780702253546
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book