My Dadima Wears a Sari

by Sheth, Kashmira; Jaeggi, Yoshiko

• ISBN13: 9781561453924
• ISBN10: 1561453927
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-03-06
• Publisher: Peachtree

Summary

This warm, multigenerational story offers a glimpse into the distinctive culture and customs of India, while reinforcing universal themes of love and the importance offamily.Every day, Rupa's grandmother wears a beautiful sari. Dadima wears her saris around the house and around the town. Some are made of cotton and some are made of fine silk. Each is brightly colored and very beautiful.Don 'tyou ever want to wear a gray skirt and red blouse with round buttons like Mommy or a green dress like me?Rupa asks. But Dadima prefers to wear her traditional saris. She shares with her young granddaughter all the wonderful things that saris can do-from becoming an umbrella in a rainstorm to providing a deep pouch to carry seashells collected from the beach. Soon Rupa's own imagination is sparked as she envisions saris protecting her in the scary Gir Jungle, bandaging up an injured knee, and holding a special secret for her and Dadima to share.Author Kashmira Sheth provides young readers with a unique view of Indian culture and tradition through this affectionate, sensitive portrait of a grandmother and her American granddaughter. Illustrator Yoshiko Jaeggi's sweeping, colorful, and fanciful watercolor illustrations capture the extraordinary bond of love that unites families across generations despite cultural differences. A note from the author and instructions for wrapping a sari are included.

Author Biography

KASHMIRA SHETH compares writing to dancing because like with any art, practice is the key to success. She is the author of the young adult novels BLUE JASMINE and KOYAL DARK, MANGO SWEET. Several honors were awarded to BLUE JASMINE, including the Paul Zindel First Novel Award and the 2005 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Also, it has been nominated for the 2006-2007 Iowa Children's Choice Award and Oklahoma's 2007 Children's Sequoyah Award. While growing up in India, Kashmira enjoyed reading Indian epics and animal fables. She also loved to read and write poetry. Kashmira moved to the United States to attend Iowa State University, where she studied microbiology. It was not until a few years ago, when she received a letter from her uncle that she discovered her desire to be an author. His letter made her realize the power and importance of words. MY DADIMA WEARS A SARI is her first picture book. She currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about Kashmira, please visit her website www.kashmirasheth.com.