A Garland of Henna by Varsha Bajaj (review)
2024; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 77; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2024.a927626
ISSN1558-6766
Tópico(s)Eurasian Exchange Networks
ResumoReviewed by: A Garland of Henna by Varsha Bajaj Kate Quealy-Gainer Bajaj, Varsha A Garland of Henna; illus. by Archana Sreenivasan. Paulsen/Penguin, 2024 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593325117 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593325124 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs Nikita comes from a long line of henna artists, so she's thrilled when Mom and Nani decide it is time she begin learning the art. After weeks of practicing with pen on paper, she's ready to begin her designs on Nani's hand. But she squeezes the cone filled with mehndi paste too hard, and the seed she meant to draw looks more like a blob. Despite encouragement from Mom and Nani, Nikita stomps off and resigns herself to just watching the two women work: "Watching is not as scary. Watching is not as fun as drawing either." Her mother invites Nikita to accompany her as she does henna for a bride-to-be, and once Nikita is reminded of the joy and beauty of the art, she decides to give it another go. The familiar picture book theme of persistence is given a fresh, distinct style here, as garlands of henna designs wind through the textured, vibrant art, eventually culminating in a triumphant spread [End Page 351] that sees the smiling faces of Nikita, Nani, and Mom beaming from flowers. Nikita is a wonderfully relatable protagonist, and her frustration, fear, and pride are deftly conveyed through body posture—the hunched shoulders and locked knees as she marches off in anger will surely be recognizable to any kid or caretaker. Pair this with LaRocca's Masala Chai, Fast and Slow (BCCB 9/23) for a compassionate look at the effort it sometimes takes to get the family tradition down just right. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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