My Dadima Wears a Sari ~ Book Sharing Monday - Eva Varga

January 12, 2009

My Dadima Wears a Sari
Written by Kashmira Sheth and illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi.
Peachtree Publishers, 2007

Indian customs and Hindi words are gently threaded into the story, as dadima shows her American-born granddaughters her special collection of saris – her very first half-sari, her red and gold wedding one, and the gauzy pink one worn for her journey from India to America, years ago. Jaeggi’s soft watercolors enhance not only the action of the story, but also colorwash the background of each page in the very same pattern dadima is showing the girls.

This is Sheth’s first picture book, and like her other works, it addresses the culture of her native India. This gentle tale will introduce young people to different cultures’ different modes of dress in a way that makes them seem magical.

My Dadima Wears a Sari is a sure-bet for young girls who will be anxious to try out sari-wearing themselves. The author includes step-by-step photos on “How to Wrap a Sari” at the end of the story. This book warmly captures the sweetness of a close relationship with a grandmother who takes palpable joy in sharing the traditions of her native culture with her American granddaughters.

Posted in participation of Book Sharing Monday at Serendipity.

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