Review:

“Truth should be spoken with kindness. Harsh words dim its intention.”

Whenever I want to read something light yet full of lessons, I turn to Sudha Murty’s books. Her books always come to my rescue, and they have become my safe place. This time, I picked up a children’s chapter book, How the Chilli Became Hot, published by Puffin and written by Sudha Murty.

The story takes us to the Grand Kingdom of Food, where Princess Chilli is extremely proud of her beauty. But her pride makes her careless with her words, and she ends up hurting the people around her. Everyone is unhappy with her, yet she continues to be invited everywhere because of her family. Things take an interesting turn when a grand feast is organised to test all the flavours in the kingdom, and Chilli is invited too. Proud of her beauty, she believes she alone will win the competition. But little does she know that beauty alone is never enough. We all bring something different to the table, and it is the coming together of those differences that makes something special. As Chilli tries to disrupt things, she learns an important lesson about her own behaviour and the impact her words can have on others. And that is how Chilli becomes the hot chilli.

What I really liked about the book is that it also introduces young readers to different spices and the flavours they add to food. So while children follow Chilli’s story, they also get to discover something about the ingredients and flavours we use around us. And there is a lovely lesson hidden in all of this. Just as no single spice can create every flavour in a dish, no one person has to be the best at everything. We all bring something different to the table. I liked how naturally this thought comes through the story.

Sudha Murty’s simple, captivating, and warm storytelling makes these lessons easy for children to understand without making the story feel preachy. The colourful illustrations add to the charm of the book and make it even more engaging for young readers. At its heart, this is a warm story about kindness, humility, and being careful with our words. It reminds us that what we say can affect someone’s feelings, and that being respectful and making others feel included matters. It also teaches children that being confident in ourselves does not mean putting someone else down, and that no single quality makes one person better than everyone else.

How the Chilli Became Hot is a sweet little story about kindness, humility, and learning to be mindful of how we treat others. It is a book children can enjoy for the story, learn from its lessons, and explore for its lovely introduction to spices and flavours. And while it may be a simple children’s story, the lessons stay with you. It reminds us to think before we speak, to appreciate what others bring to the table, and to understand that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

A sweet, thoughtful read for young readers and perhaps a little reminder for adults too.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is How the Chilli Became Hot by Sudha Murty about?

How the Chilli Became Hot is a children’s story set in the Grand Kingdom of Food. It follows Princess Chilli, whose pride and careless words hurt those around her, and the lesson she learns about kindness, humility and choosing our words carefully.

2. What can children learn from How the Chilli Became Hot?

 The book teaches children about kindness, humility, empathy and the importance of thinking before speaking. It also introduces young readers to different spices and the flavours they add to food.

3. Who is How the Chilli Became Hot ideal for?

It is ideal for young readers who enjoy simple, engaging stories with colourful illustrations and meaningful life lessons.

4. Is How the Chilli Became Hot a good book for children?

 Yes. The straightforward storytelling, engaging characters and illustrations make it an accessible and enjoyable read for children, while the message gives them something to think about.

5. What makes How the Chilli Became Hot different from a typical children’s story?

Along with its message about kindness and humility, the story uses the world of food, spices and flavours to make its lessons more relatable and memorable.

Reader_viddh’s Take

How the Chilli Became Hot is a sweet, thoughtful children’s story that offers more than just a simple moral. I loved how Sudha Murty uses the world of spices and flavours to talk about kindness, humility, thoughtful words and appreciating what everyone brings to the table. It is light, easy to read and engaging, yet leaves you with a lesson that stays beyond the last page. A lovely read for children, and a gentle reminder for adults too.

Also Read:

How onion got layers by sudha murty

How The Mango Got Its Magic by Sudha Murty – Book Review

The Magic Of The Lost Story by Sudha Murty – Book Review

Reasons to read Sudha Murty’s Books – Article on Womens Web