Mustafa's Mithai

by Sana Rafi, Nabi H. Ali (Illustrator)

Overview

A delightful picture book that celebrates the variety of sweets in South Asia and the small moments shared between loved ones in our everyday lives.

Mustafa loves happy occasions because he gets to eat mithai! He looks forward to biting into barfi, munching on halwa, or gobbling up a whole ladu. But now that his Baba's birthday has passed and his Nani and Nanu already came to visit, there are no more reasons to have fun and enjoy mithai.

When Ammi reminds him that mithai is sweetest when shared and something as simple as a day spent with loved ones can be a reason to celebrate, Mustafa decides to turn an ordinary day into a happy occasion. . .and of course eat mithai! 

Mustafa invites all of his friends over for a playdate and introduces them to mithai by finding the perfect sweet for each person, including his ammi.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593526149
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sana Rafi is a Muslim American author who received her MFA from Columbia University in New York. She's passionate about showcasing Muslim and immigrant characters in her books. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, visiting beaches, or being silly with her son. Rafi currently resides in sunny California but is often found daydreaming of her hometown, Lahore, Pakistan. Find out more at www.SanaRafi.com.

Nabi H. Ali is a Tamil American illustrator who enjoys creating diverse works that showcase an array of cultures and people. He illustrates digitally, but he also has a secret love of inks, color pencil, and acrylic paints. His hobbies include drawing (of course), doll collecting, reading, learning about South Asian mythology and folklore, and researching history.

Editorial Reviews

2025-02-15
A South Asian boy shares his favorite foods with his friends.

Mustafa loves mithai (a Hindi word that describes a variety of confections), which he and his family eat on special occasions. Unfortunately, Mustafa feels like his family has run out of celebrations: Eid and Mustafa’s father’s birthday are both over, and his grandparents have already visited. Will Mustafa ever eat mithai again? His mother points out that “every day can be a happy occasion when you’re with the ones you love,” so Mustafa invites his friends over for a playdate, complete with mithai. Mustafa plans to let his pals select their own desserts, but when they arrive, they’re too overwhelmed to make up their minds. It’s up to Mustafa to choose “the perfect mithai” for each of his friends, and he plays matchmaker, picking out falooda for Kent (“It’s full of surprises, just like you!”), ladoo for Pooja (“It’s round just like your soccer ball”), jalebi for Beau (“It’s orange like your shirt”), and more. Both the sumptuous-looking sweets and the children’s smiling faces positively glow in Ali’s whimsical illustrations. Mustafa’s thoughtful decision-making, the joy he finds in making his friends happy, and their enthusiasm for trying new foods all model good behavior for young readers. Mustafa’s friends are diverse.

A celebration of life’s sweetest things: dessert and friendship.(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews