Once Upon a Sari

by Zenia Wadhwani, Avani Dwivedi (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture book about a little girl who gets into her mom's saris and makes a glorious, colorful mess and discovers the memories attached to each sari.

Avani is having a wonderful time looking at all of her mother's saris, but she soon realizes she's made a big mess.

When her mom comes in, Avani expects a scolding, but instead, her mom sits down with her and tells her about the memories associated with each sari: memories of weddings and celebrations, memories of when and where the sari came from. And, in case of one very special sari, memories that were passed down from her parents and grandparents.

A beautiful and vibrant reflection on how what we wear connects us to big and small moments in our lives, Once Upon a Sari is a colorful feast for the eyes and the heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774880944
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.38(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.43(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

ZENIA WADHWANI is the author of 'Twas the Night Before Diwali, a South Asian rendition of a familiar holiday poem, and the introduction of a new character to the much-celebrated festival of Diwali, the mithai monster! Zenia is an avid reader, an advocate for literacy and a promoter of emerging writers, but it took the pandemic and a looming milestone birthday to unleash her first children's story. By day, Zenia spends her time working on issues of equity and social justice; by night, she lets her creativity flow into her writing. Zenia lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family, and many of her stories are inspired by her daughter Avani.

AVANI DWIVEDI ​is an author and illustrator living in Jersey City, USA. She graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a B.F.A. in illustration. Avani grew up in Mumbai, India, and later moved to the United States to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. Even when away from home, she held on to her most precious gems: memories of her sweet childhood, the lived experience of being a South Asian woman and her love for creating whimsical art. She aims to paint stories and illustrations through which she can share a more diverse perspective of the world.

Editorial Reviews

03/11/2024

When young Avani ventures into the cabinet that holds her mother’s saris, a wealth of family stories come to light in this reflective work that introduces themes of legacy and memory. Exploring the fabrics and designs, Avani piles saris across the floor. When Mama arrives, she hides a smile before sharing what her own mother told her: “Every sari has a story.... Where it came from, how it was made, the occasions for which it was worn. Each of these details are part of the story.” The tales—and saris—grow more colorful until Mama smiles sadly at one garment kept in a black silk bag, recalling when “India was not at peace,” and its division forced her nani to make a “long and difficult journey” to a new home. Dwivedi’s saturated illustrations are nearly tactile in their richness, hand-rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"Wadhwani shows the young, and reminds the older reader that saris are heirlooms of memory and stories are not just found in books, but also within the walls of our wardrobes." —STARRED REVIEW, Quill and Quire

"When young Avani ventures into the cabinet that holds her mother’s saris, a wealth of family stories come to light in this reflective work that introduces themes of legacy and memory. . . . Dwivedi’s saturated illustrations are nearly tactile in their richness, hand-rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper." —Publishers Weekly

"Stylized, comic-style illustrations feature traditional sari colors and designs; the artwork is laced with hints of the rich variety of handcrafted saris. A celebration of culture and memory." —Kirkus Reviews

"An essential purchase on an underrepresented topic for school and public libraries." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

04/01/2024

K-Gr 4—A young girl of South Asian background learns about her family history while admiring her mother's collection of traditional saris. In fact, Avani is caught buried in a pile of colorful saris on the bedroom floor. Rather than angered by her daughter's actions, Avani's mother takes the opportunity to explain the importance of the sari as a traditional Indian garment: "Every sari has a story" of where and when it was worn. The mother relates stories about her saris; each begins with its purchase, highlighting the regional style names throughout India. Then, the emotional memories are stirred by seeing and feeling each garment. The entire wardrobe retains both a family resonance and cultural heritage to be gradually passed on to Avani. The intricate craftsmanship of the cloths are highlighted in jewel-toned, saturated watercolor illustrations. Their vibrancy ensures each spread contains a rainbow of color. Colors are also given Indian descriptors, e.g., a golden yellow sari resembling kheer, a pudding. These details add to the informative and immersive nature of the story. The narrative adopts a quintessential childhood activity, playing dress-up, and transforms it into a sensitive exploration of Indian culture easily accessible to readers of all backgrounds. VERDICT An essential purchase on an underrepresented topic for school and public libraries.—Jessica A. Bushore

School Library Journal

2024-03-23
A child of South Asian descent is mesmerized by the colorful saris in Mama’s closet.

When Mama calls out to Avani, the child worries about getting in trouble; the little one is surrounded by a pile of Mama’s saris. But Mama smiles gently as she recalls her own childhood fascination with her mother’s saris. As she folds and packs away the garments, she tells Avani the story behind each sari. From her first sari—a minty chikankari sari from Lucknow given to her by her father—to a bright Gujarati bandhani sari covered by tiny, twinkling mirrors to a golden kanjivaram from Tamil Nadu to her glittering red wedding sari, each one evokes fond memories. When Avani spies a carefully wrapped sari, her mother becomes wistful as she unfolds her own grandmother’s faded sari. She recalls how Avani’s great-grandmother had to flee her home during the Partition of India and make the perilous journey to safety. She passed on the sari to Avani’s mother as a reminder of their family history. The narrative flits quickly from one sari to the next, and though it’s heartfelt, the lighthearted tone set up as Mama recounts fun personal memories makes the jump to the Partition feel a little jarring. Stylized, comic-style illustrations feature traditional sari colors and designs; the artwork is laced with hints of the rich variety of handcrafted saris.

A celebration of culture and memory. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews