Henna Is . . .

by Marzieh Abbas, Anu Chouhan (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture book that serves young readers as a lyrical love letter to henna, written by Muslim Book Reviewer Award winner Marzieh Abbas and brilliantly illustrated by Anu Chouhan.

Henna is so much more than a form of temporary body art.

Henna is nature—seeds sprouted into shrubs, leaves kissed by tropical rain.

Henna is color—the orange of juicy mangoes, sun-kissed brown, or black as the feathers of crows.

Henna is fragrance—earthy and nutty, lemony and clove-y.

The intricate patterns of flowers, feathers, vines, and other symbols painted and stained onto skin has been a tradition in cultures all around the world for thousands of years. Beautiful and eye-catching, henna also carries the scents, textures, and colors of family and identity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250862662
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	07/23/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh Abbas loves traveling, baking, reading and samosas. She is the author of A Dupatta Is... and Henna Is…, a member of SCBWI, 12x12PB, and a life-long learner.

Anu Chouhan is a Punjabi-Canadian illustrator from Vancouver. She is the illustrator of picture books A Dupatta Is... and Henna Is… and the graphic novel Aru Shah and the End of Time. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to pursue an artistic career and spent a lot of time learning about animation, while drawing inspiration from video games, fashion, anime, bollywood movies, and nature.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Henna Is...:

"Writing in vivid, sensory language, [Abbas] offers an all-encompassing exploration of the topic, accompanied by Chouhan’s enticing illustrations dominated by floral patterns and symbols from the various cultures where henna is popular. Nontraditional henna designs—smiley faces, ice cream cones, thunderbolts—appear, too, lending a playfulness to the art. A joyful look at an important cultural tradition." —Kirkus Reviews

"Colorful and affirming illustrations mirror each description, leaving cultural insiders warmly gratified and cultural outsiders with new knowledge. An author’s note adds a little more context. ... Pair Henna Is . . . with Meera Sriram's A Garden in My Hands (2023) and Zain Bandali's Mehndi Boy (2023) for a cute text set all about henna." —Booklist

Praise for A Dupatta Is...:

"Abbas offers not just a story, but a poetic explanation of a traditional scarf worn by the people of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. ... From color to function, beauty to identity, the dupatta’s significance is shown through vivid illustrations from ­Chouhan. ... This book exquisitely represents the legacy that is the dupatta through imagery and descriptive text for a beautiful lesson in culture." —School Library Journal

"Similar in form to Kevin Noble Maillard’s Fry Bread (2019), illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, this rhythmic description of a dupatta’s importance in a South Asian Muslim family is an affectionate homage. ... The book’s warm, well-chosen language depicts a joyful, accurate representation of a dupatta’s multigenerational importance in family life. ... A lyrical, multisensory celebration of a South Asian garment." —Kirkus Reviews

"Noting in evocative, expansive terms what 'a dupatta is,' Abbas’s free-verse quatrains and Chouhan’s jewel-toned digital images describe the traditional South Asian scarf. ... Vibrant patterned illustrations show individuals with a variety of skin tones in assorted scenarios. Additional information and a glossary conclude this look at a garment that is 'so much more' than mere apparel." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-04-20
What is henna? And why do we use it?

Each spread of this picture book begins with a brief statement about henna, a powdered dye made from leaves of the henna tree. “Henna is nature,” Abbas tells us, “seeds sprouted into shrubs / leaves kissed by tropical rain / Plucked and dried under the golden sun / Pounded to powder.” Readers learn about henna’s various hues (“Henna is color / The orange of juicy mangoes… / Bright and smooth green… / Sun-kissed brown … / Black like kohl”) and where it’s commonly used: “Henna is place / South Asian / North and East African / Middle Eastern.” Marrying both art and function, henna can be used everyday or for special occasions. It looks beautiful when applied to the skin, it can be used to condition hair, and it’s a cooling agent, too. Henna is intricately tied to celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and baby showers, as well as holidays including Diwali and Eid. Most pages end with the refrain “But henna is so much more” as Abbas segues into another aspect of henna. Writing in vivid, sensory language, she offers an all-encompassing exploration of the topic, accompanied by Chouhan’s enticing illustrations dominated by floral patterns and symbols from the various cultures where henna is popular. Nontraditional henna designs—smiley faces, ice cream cones, thunderbolts—appear, too, lending a playfulness to the art.

A joyful look at an important cultural tradition. (author’s note) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews