Publishers Weekly
★ 07/03/2023
Greens, magentas, and purples dominate this vibrantly rendered picture book, which follows a Southeast Asian–cued family applying henna ahead of a special occasion. “Stories and seeds/ Mama plants in my palm/ for a wedding tomorrow” begins the child narrator as Mama squeezes henna paste on their hands. Each motif has meaning: “pearls on a string, petals on a vine” prompt Mama’s wedding story, and other designs represent “ancestors long gone.” As the paste dries, the child—careful not to “smudge a story”—has parental help with nighttime ablutions. Wearing cotton gloves at bedtime, “I tuck my henna in/ and snuggle with my stories.” Via saturated digital images that incorporate peacocks and paisley patterns alongside familial scenes, Prabhat’s art juxtaposes fantasy, memory, and reality as Sriram details how “The sweet smell of henna,/ and stories we carry,/ fill us with pride/ of a faraway home.” Back matter includes an author’s note and additional henna facts and designs. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
★ “An intimate, lyrical story about an ancient artistic tradition.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "[A] vibrantly rendered picture book." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Vibrant colors and traditional South Asian motifs complement the narrative." —Booklist
"Filled with love, imagination, and just the right amount of whimsy, this is a colorful introduction to how henna is used, especially in South Asian cultures." —School Library Journal
"A charming multicultural story." —HubPages
School Library Journal
11/24/2023
PreS-Gr 1—There is a wedding tomorrow, and an unnamed young girl is having henna lovingly applied to her hands by her mother. Mama infuses each line and swirl with memories and stories that are important to their shared history, creating a symbolic garden on her daughter's skin. The girl must keep her henna safe as long as she can to ensure that the pigment becomes the deep red she desires, but doing so is easier said than done. This vibrant and colorful story describes henna in a heartfelt and accessible way. Every page incorporates a riot of color and myriad details, inviting readers to look closely and examine the complexity of the images before moving onto the next spread. Short, poetic text paints a subtle yet lovely picture that may be lost on younger readers, but it will resonate with elementary-aged children. At the end of the book, a page of information is included that provides more extensive details about henna for readers less familiar with this tradition. Filled with love, imagination, and just the right amount of whimsy, this is a colorful introduction to how henna is used, especially in South Asian cultures. VERDICT This vibrant story is a positive addition to diverse picture book collections for young readers.—Mary R. Lanni
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-01-12
A child of South Asian descent describes what henna means to them.
The night before a wedding, the young narrator stretches out on the floor while their mother applies henna designs to their hands. With each design, Mama shares memories and speaks of “ancestors long gone.” After Mama finishes, the protagonist must be careful to protect the still-wet ink. The child goes to bed in a pair of gloves and wakes up in the morning, worried about how the now dry designs fared overnight. To their delight, the pictures remain intact even after the child scrubs and chips off the dry flakes on top. The narrator arrives at the wedding ready to celebrate and to show off their hands to their grandparents. The text reads like free-verse poetry, skillfully weaving simple, child-friendly language into vivid, multisensory imagery; the child calls the henna “A garden in my hands, / I will tend for days.” Dominated by intricate patterns and hues of purple and green, the digital art positively sings. Many readers of South Asian heritage will smile with recognition at Mama and the narrator’s attempts to avoid smudging the designs; we see Mama help the little one sip through a straw and brush the child’s teeth. Those less familiar with the tradition can learn more from the informative, deeply personal author’s note. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An intimate, lyrical story about an ancient artistic tradition. (Picture book. 3-7)
