‘The Lonely Chapatti’ is a simple story that starts with the cooking of unleavened breads on a Tandoor oven in Pakistan – and unfolds to tell the journey of one overlooked chapatti and the journey to her destination. Along the way, we meet small children, a happy goat, a scary dog, and a poor fisherman and his family.
A story filled with cultural references, ‘The Lonely Chapatti’ is enjoyed by parents, grandparents and is being used by many as a diverse teaching aid for children under the age of 11.
Written by Yesmien Bagh Ali and with beautiful illustrations by Richard Trinder. Published by Yorkshire Times
‘This is a really lovely little story. I’m almost 70 years old but I was immediately drawn into the fate of the poor chapatti during its eventful journey through its short life, each adventure being beautifully illustrated. These encounters finally lead to a rather nice moral conclusion. The story can’t fail to charm all those who read it, young and old. I thoroughly enjoyed it.’
John Tomlinson Retired teacher and OFSTED Inspector
As a teacher, it is always a great pleasure when you see a former pupil succeeding. As a geography teacher, it is also wonderful when you find new material on a part of the world that should feature more in geography classes. As a grandparent, it is fun to find new stories that can be read to grandchildren. ‘The Lonely Chapatti’ fulfills all these criteria.