My Rice is Best!

About this book

Shane’s favourite food in the whole wide world is his mum’s special rice and peas, made with the secret special ingredient – pimento beans. They are so yummy that they make Shane feel like he can do anything! 

But when Shane takes some rice and peas for his lunch at school, he is shocked to discover that his friend Yinka has also brought rice to school, but she has a different kind: jollof rice. And Yinka claims that her rice is the best. 

Then, when Shane’s other classmates show off their rice lunches – paella, fried rice, risotto, pilau rice, even rice pudding – Shane realises that there might be competition for the ‘best rice’ title. 

Clearly, Yinka – and everyone else – has to be wrong. Don’t they? 

This bright and sweet book celebrating food from different cultures – and the uniting element of rice that appears in many international cuisines – is a lovely way to look at differences between cultures, as well as what unites us.