Independent Reading Level: Grade 2-5
Awards/Honors: School & Library Journal Best Picture Book of the Year, New York Public Library Best Book For Kids of 2022 ( )

K-Gr 3—While a grandmother pulls sari after sari from an elaborate wardrobe, glorious fabrics unwind, one more
gorgeous than the last; also unwinding is a boy's dreams of wrapping himself in the sari and allowing himself to
express himself in whatever way he wishes. Text and art create a fever dream of color, pattern, and texture as the
child's dream comes true.

Beautiful art ( )

ATamil child finds love and solace in their grandmother’s saris.

The child watches as their paati opens her cupboard and out come tumbling saris in gorgeous colors, patterns, and weaves, each seeming to tell the story of where it comes from. Each sari beckons the young child as they and their grandmother explore different spaces—the market, the kitchen, festivities, and more. The book ends with the child—with Paati’s help—donning a sari and proudly displaying it to the rest of the family. Though gender isn’t explicitly mentioned in the text, the young narrator presents male, and the book seems to hint that the protagonist initially feels some hesitancy at wearing a sari in front of others; ultimately they’re joyous when their family embraces them (“They see me. ME”). There’s little tension in the story. However, the art makes up for the text. It’s glorious, each sari resplendently rendered, the textiles telling a powerful story by themselves. The last sari, the one the child chooses for themself, is stunning. Tigers leap across the fabric as dazzling suns offer highlights to the blue and pink of the material, an invitation to the child to explore and be themself: “My paati’s saris are my shelter, my home.” Many readers will be especially heartened to see a tale of LGBTQ+ identity—and acceptance—in a South Asian setting. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A simple yet empowering journey through a cupboard of saris and stories. (Picture book. 4-6)

-Kirkus Review

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )