April 1, 2021
Are you a kid who is ready to be a grown-up? If so, this book is for you! According to the book's narrator, the best way to be treated like an adult is to dress like one--and no outfit is more grown-up than a sari. In the following pages, the narrator instructs the protagonist--a plucky, dark-skinned kid with two short pigtails and an impish smile--on everything that must be done to successfully wear this traditional South Asian garment. First, the protagonist chooses the perfect piece of fabric: not too plain, not too fancy, and just sparkly enough. Next, the narrator leads the protagonist through the process of wearing a blouse and petticoat, wrapping the sari, pleating the skirt, and--perhaps most importantly--accessorizing with jewelry. Finally, the protagonist is dressed and ready to show the family this new grown-up persona. Unfortunately, while putting on a sari is a clear process, walking in a sari is not, and the protagonist's grand entrance is not quite what was imagined. Told in second-person address, this cheerily illustrated picture book is a quirky and affectionate introduction to a typically South Asian rite of passage. The tongue-in-cheek text expertly balances humor with sincerity, and the protagonist's antics--which are communicated mostly through the expertly paced illustrations--are hilarious. In addition to appealing to young readers, this book will ring true with South Asian adults who tried to fashion their own saris as children. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 36% of actual size.) A delightful picture book about dressing--and acting--like a grown-up before your time. (Picture book. 3-7)
COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
April 26, 2021
Simple, multi-patterned line art drawings in a lively color palette by Lew-Vriethoff pilot young readers through Khiani’s winning guide to sari-wearing. Using the second-person perspective, the book opens with a line that will likely resonate with any reader: “Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?” The solution, the narrator opines, is to don a “colorful, twinkly, silky sari.” A light brown-skinned child with two dark pigtails visualizes each step of the process, from selecting a sari to properly pleating, draping, and accessorizing. A comedic late-act surprise concludes the how-to. Some lines feel slightly unrelatable (“They’ll stop to take photos, consult you for tips, and maybe even give you a contract”), but this picture book offers an enjoyable behind-the-scenes look at a South Asian staple. Ages 4–8.
June 25, 2021
[PreS - Gr. 3][Read-alikes: My Mother's Sari by Sandhya Rao; Grandmother School by Rina Singh]How to Wear a Sari by Darshana KhianaThis is a charming tale of a young girl eager to grow up and prove herself. Amusingly, she finds the perfect venue for that in her mother's closet. When dressing up goes wrong, she ends up causing a ruckus that's worthy of the family history books. Most of the book showcases the protagonist's inner monologue. She's constantly thinking about what others think of her, and she's laser-focused on impressing. The thing that will show them all? Arriving at the big family get-together in a sari. She chooses the perfect one, fumbles with the mechanics of putting it on (it's not easy), accessorizes and, as a finishing touch, dons the perfect high heels. When it's time for the big reveal, she only proves she's not as grown up as she thinks. She trips over the flowing sari and a cascade of misadventure ensues. She's rightly punished, but the comedy is not lost on the very adults she set out to impress. Young readers will see themselves in this lighthearted story, and the colorful and fun illustrations will delight.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
August 1, 2021
PreS-Gr 2-Fumbling with knitting needles, spilling garbage from a torn trash bag-an unnamed, aggravated young girl with brown skin and brown hair is feeling too small and inadequate for grown-up tasks. She wants to prove her maturity to her family. Inspiration strikes, although a bit out of the blue. Why not arrive at her family's party wearing one of her mother's elegant saris? After choosing the perfect green and yellow sari-not too plain, not too fancy, with the right amount of sparkle-the persistent young narrator demonstrates the step-by-step process of donning a sari. Readers learn that a blouse and petticoat are worn underneath and how to correctly tuck, wrap, and pleat the sari. The look is polished with a stylish brooch, jewelry, and sparkly sandals. Now the challenge will be to walk in those high-heeled sandals to show off her sophisticated outfit at her family gathering. Unsteady and wobbly, the young girl trips, sending food flying across a multigenerational family. On the bright side, the girl can now contribute a hilarious moment to the family's mishap hall of fame. Khiani's lighthearted, debut picture book is insightful for young readers unfamiliar with saris, relatable for accustomed readers, and despite feeling choppy and underwhelming in the conclusion, will entertain children. Lew-Vriethoff's illustrations are lively and fluid, appropriately matching the flowing movement of saris. VERDICT A welcomed, playful addition to a small selection of picture books available on this traditional attire.-Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2021
A direct-address text demands the reader's attention with the query: "Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?" Who isn't! A brown-skinned South Asian "little kid" in pigtails believes that all she needs to do to be taken seriously is to dress herself in a "colorful, twinkly, silky sari." The offstage narrator walks the girl through the steps of folding and pleating it and putting it on, but nothing goes (or looks) as it should. The petticoat and pleats aren't quite right; a hole appears in the fabric. Instead of obsessing over those faults, the girl loads each of her appendages with bangle bracelets and dons sparkly high-heeled sandals, all borrowed from her unsuspecting mother. As the narrator exhorts her to "go show...your glamorous grown-up look" to her family, the girl starts to teeter on her high heels. A page-turn reveals her careening into an extended family gathering; food, drink, and sandals fly through the air. Illustrations employ a colorful palette that pays homage to richly hued sari fabrics, contrasting a sari's elegance with the girl's clumsy earnestness. Her understanding family takes her youthful missteps with a healthy dose of humor, assuring readers that maybe being a "little kid" isn't so bad after all. Julie Hakim Azzam
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
October 22, 2021
Preschool-Grade 3 This is a charming tale of a young girl eager to grow up and prove herself. Amusingly, she finds the perfect venue for that in her mother's closet. When dressing up goes wrong, she ends up causing a ruckus that's worthy of the family history books. Most of the book showcases the protagonist's inner monologue: she's constantly concerned with what others think of her, and she's laser-focused on impressing. The thing that will show them all? Arriving at the big family get-together in a sari. She chooses the perfect one, fumbles with the mechanics of putting it on (it's not easy), accessorizes, and, as a finishing touch, dons the perfect high heels. When it's time for the big reveal, she only proves she's not as grown up as she thinks, tripping over the flowing sari, and a cascade of misadventure ensues. She's rightly punished, but the comedy is not lost on the very adults she set out to impress. Young readers will see themselves in this lighthearted story, and the colorful and fun illustrations will delight.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
July 1, 2021
A direct-address text demands the reader's attention with the query: "Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?" Who isn't! A brown-skinned South Asian "little kid" in pigtails believes that all she needs to do to be taken seriously is to dress herself in a "colorful, twinkly, silky sari." The offstage narrator walks the girl through the steps of folding and pleating it and putting it on, but nothing goes (or looks) as it should. The petticoat and pleats aren't quite right; a hole appears in the fabric. Instead of obsessing over those faults, the girl loads each of her appendages with bangle bracelets and dons sparkly high-heeled sandals, all borrowed from her unsuspecting mother. As the narrator exhorts her to "go show...your glamorous grown-up look" to her family, the girl starts to teeter on her high heels. A page-turn reveals her careening into an extended family gathering; food, drink, and sandals fly through the air. Illustrations employ a colorful palette that pays homage to richly hued sari fabrics, contrasting a sari's elegance with the girl's clumsy earnestness. Her understanding family takes her youthful missteps with a healthy dose of humor, assuring readers that maybe being a "little kid' isn't so bad after all.
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)