Once Upon a Sari

March 11, 2024
When young Avani ventures into the cabinet that holds her mother’s saris, a wealth of family stories come to light in this reflective work that introduces themes of legacy and memory. Exploring the fabrics and designs, Avani piles saris across the floor. When Mama arrives, she hides a smile before sharing what her own mother told her: “Every sari has a story.... Where it came from, how it was made, the occasions for which it was worn. Each of these details are part of the story.” The tales—and saris—grow more colorful until Mama smiles sadly at one garment kept in a black silk bag, recalling when “India was not at peace,” and its division forced her nani to make a “long and difficult journey” to a new home. Dwivedi’s saturated illustrations are nearly tactile in their richness, hand-rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper. Ages 4–8.

April 1, 2024

K-Gr 4-A young girl of South Asian background learns about her family history while admiring her mother's collection of traditional saris. In fact, Avani is caught buried in a pile of colorful saris on the bedroom floor. Rather than angered by her daughter's actions, Avani's mother takes the opportunity to explain the importance of the sari as a traditional Indian garment: "Every sari has a story" of where and when it was worn. The mother relates stories about her saris; each begins with its purchase, highlighting the regional style names throughout India. Then, the emotional memories are stirred by seeing and feeling each garment. The entire wardrobe retains both a family resonance and cultural heritage to be gradually passed on to Avani. The intricate craftsmanship of the cloths are highlighted in jewel-toned, saturated watercolor illustrations. Their vibrancy ensures each spread contains a rainbow of color. Colors are also given Indian descriptors, e.g., a golden yellow sari resembling kheer, a pudding. These details add to the informative and immersive nature of the story. The narrative adopts a quintessential childhood activity, playing dress-up, and transforms it into a sensitive exploration of Indian culture easily accessible to readers of all backgrounds. VERDICT An essential purchase on an underrepresented topic for school and public libraries.-Jessica A. Bushore

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2024
A child of South Asian descent is mesmerized by the colorful saris in Mama's closet. When Mama calls out to Avani, the child worries about getting in trouble; the little one is surrounded by a pile of Mama's saris. But Mama smiles gently as she recalls her own childhood fascination with her mother's saris. As she folds and packs away the garments, she tells Avani the story behind each sari. From her first sari--a minty chikankari sari from Lucknow given to her by her father--to a bright Gujarati bandhani sari covered by tiny, twinkling mirrors to a golden kanjivaram from Tamil Nadu to her glittering red wedding sari, each one evokes fond memories. When Avani spies a carefully wrapped sari, her mother becomes wistful as she unfolds her own grandmother's faded sari. She recalls how Avani's great-grandmother had to flee her home during the Partition of India and make the perilous journey to safety. She passed on the sari to Avani's mother as a reminder of their family history. The narrative flits quickly from one sari to the next, and though it's heartfelt, the lighthearted tone set up as Mama recounts fun personal memories makes the jump to the Partition feel a little jarring. Stylized, comic-style illustrations feature traditional sari colors and designs; the artwork is laced with hints of the rich variety of handcrafted saris. A celebration of culture and memory. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 14, 2024
Grades K-2 Every sari has a story--where it came from, the occasions it was worn--and the details tell those stories. One by one, Mama tells her daughter Avani about the chikankari sari Avani's nanu brought back from Lucknow, the mirrored bandhani one she wore to a friend's wedding in Gujurat, the kanjivaram sari the color of warm kheer and, finally, the saffron sari her mother's nani wore when she escaped in a time of great danger to a safe, new home. Gently, Mama explains how saris can bring comfort, memories of home, and family history. Avani knows her saris will someday tell stories as well. This tale, while simple, has an intimate and personal feel that will appeal to readers looking for a snuggle story before bedtime. The artwork is a mix of watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, and the watercolor paper gives the spreads a beautiful texture. The art luxuriates in sapphire blue, mehndi green, turmeric, and paprika, celebrating details like golden threads and brocaded borders and reveling in this lovely element of Indian culture.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2024
A child is caught playing with their mom's saris and worries about getting into trouble, but instead, the mom sits down and explains the story behind each one. Some bring happy memories, such as the sari she wore at her wedding. But one sari belonging to the child's grandmother carries sadness because it was worn during the Partition of India, which is described and depicted visually but left unnamed. Some of the dialogue feels unnatural, and the faces in the mixed-media illustrations are cartoonish, but the rich colors are appealing.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)