A Bindi Can Be ...

by Suma Subramaniam, Kamala Nair

Overview

A young girl makes a bindi with her grandmother and discovers what wearing one means to her.

A young girl is eager to learn all about bindis, the red dot that goes between her brows. Paati, her grandmother, shows her how to make a bindi in a clay pot by combining crushed turmeric, sandalwood powder and a dollop of ghee. They mix and mix and mix until, like magic, the mixture turns from yellow to bright red. Her bindi can be big or small, and shaped like a star, a flower or a glowing half-moon. She can wear her bindi to celebrate different festivals, such as Diwali, or on an ordinary day as a way to stay centered and calm. In this way, she discovers that her bindi is more than just a dot.

Author Suma Subramaniam’s lovely intergenerational story celebrates the cultural traditions that make us who we are. The rich illustrations by Kamala Nair add layers of cultural details and captivatingly evoke the girl’s experience as she prepares and wears her bindi. A Bindi Can Be … is a mirror for the millions of children around the world who wear, or have family members who wear, a bindi. It offers a wonderful entry point for children learning about global cultures and traditions, and can be used for lessons on traditional celebrations such as Diwali. The story also provides an opportunity to introduce topics of mindfulness and emotional regulation to young children. Back matter contains extended information about bindis, what they are, other names for them, why people wear them and how they are made, as well as a glossary.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525313387
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	81 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Suma Subramaniam is the author of the picture books Namaste Is a Greeting and She Sang for India. Her writing has appeared in The Hero Next Door, a collection of short stories from We Need Diverse Books. Suma holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Born in Bangalore, India, she now lives near Seattle, Washington.

Kamala Nair is a full-time illustrator, architect by trade and creator of the picture book We Did It Together. When she’s not in her studio, she’s taking in an earthy sunset or walking among the green pastures of Kerala, India, with her sketchbook in hand.

Editorial Reviews

... refutes the idea that this familiar forehead dot is merely decorative ... Readers learn that there are many different names, designs, and levels of significance ...—Booklist

From the Publisher

06/01/2024

K-Gr 3—A young girl and her paati (Tamil for grandmother) work together to create the mixture that becomes the dot worn between her eyes to honor her culture and "to celebrate life in all its fullness." Bright and beautiful colors swirl across pages with relatively short and very accessible text to explain all the ways a bindi can be an expression of religious or cultural significance. A multitude of languages are referenced, showcasing the wide embrace of the bindi throughout Indian and other South Asian cultures. Back matter adds further details, including a very useful glossary. VERDICT A beautiful introduction to a mark and decoration of enormous cultural significance makes this title recommended for all collections.—John Scott

School Library Journal