Bindu's Bindis

Supriya Kelkar, 1980-

Book - 2021

"This charming picture book is about a little girl who loves her bindis (and the many creative shapes they come in!). The bindis are also a connection to her Nani who lives in India. When Nani comes to visit Bindu and brings the bindis to her, it is just in time to wear something new to the school talent show. Bindu and Nani work together to shine their brightest and embrace their sparkle, even when they stand out from the crowd."--Amazon.com.

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Sterling Children's Books [2021]
Language
English
Main Author
Supriya Kelkar, 1980- (author)
Other Authors
Parvati Pillai (illustrator)
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm
ISBN
9781454940203
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Bindu loves wearing the bindis her grandmother sends from India every month. She chooses them carefully to match her mood or activity: lightning bolts make her feel brave, and squiggly lines are perfect when she is feeling unique. Best of all, she and Nani love matching the colors of their oval bindis. Bindu is delighted when Nani comes to visit for awhile. Together they dance, tell stories, and always wear matching bindis on their foreheads. When it comes time to show off her dance moves at a school performance, however, Bindu remembers the xenophobic protests she saw near the airport and withdraws, not wanting to call attention to herself. It falls to Nani to help Bindu regain her confidence. Pillai utilizes vibrant colors and wide-eyed, smiling faces to sustain the optimism of this sweet story of a little girl who just wants to be herself. Pair with Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali's The Proudest Blue (2019) and Hena Khan and Aaliya Jaleel's Under My Hijab (2019).

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Bindu's loving Nani--and the multicolored, myriad shaped bindis she sends from India each month--imbues the child with strength in this rhythmic, anaphoric read by Kelkar: "Bindu adored her bindis. She wore them to the temple. She wore them on holidays. She wore them at home." Pillai illustrates in a richly patterned digital style with expressive character designs and jewel tones. A pivotal spread shows an aerial view of visiting Nani twirling, fuchsia and goldenrod skirt fanning out around her, as bokeh lights her smiling face and Bindu watches in awe from the front of the stage. An encounter with racism feels a bit disconnected from the rest of the story, but this narrative effectively highlights the way a warm grandparent-child relationship can keep culture alive. Back matter includes more information about bindis. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

K-Gr 3--With warm storytelling and dazzling art, Kelkar and Pillai welcome readers into Bindu's world. Bindu is a young South Asian girl who loves to dance almost as much as the bindis her grandmother mails her each month from India. The different shapes and colors of the sticker-like cosmetic--worn in the middle of the forehead--help Bindu to express herself, whether it is for a special occasion or just at home. When her grandmother Nani comes to visit, she helps Bindu courageously ignore xenophobic protesters, and also perform at her school's talent show. Because Bindu loves to match her grandmother in all ways, their charming intergenerational bond helps Bindu transcend her fear of performing at her school. From beginning to end, Pillai has created rich, colorful cartoon-style illustrations with intricate details that give a nod to classical Indian artwork. Short sentences in large font are perfect for young readers, though some of the vocabulary and situations may be more relatable for readers on the older end of the range. A note from the author provides readers with more information on bindis, their significance, and many other names for them. VERDICT As in the recent When Nana Akua Went to School, the elder generation nudges the young to embrace their culture and the challenges of fitting in. This #OwnVoices entry offers solutions as well as a healthy dose of joy.--Monisha Blair, Rutgers Univ., NJ

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Bindu loves bindis, the adornments that some South Asians wear on their foreheads for religious or cosmetic purposes. Bindu's bindis are particularly special to her because they're from her grandmother: Every month, her nani sends her a new packet all the way from India, and her delight emanates from every brightly hued page. But when Nani comes to visit, xenophobic White protestors at the airport make Bindu and her family feel scared and out of place, and Bindu briefly questions whether she ought to wear a bindi at all. The feeling returns a few days later, when Bindu must perform a dance onstage at school. In the moment when she experiences stage fright, Bindu isn't sure if her bindi gives her strength or makes her different--too different for her classmates. With a little bit of courage--and some help from Nani--Bindu gets up on stage and, in the process, remembers why she loves bindis. Bindu is a delightful protagonist whose emotional ups and downs are both familiar-feeling and fun to read about. Bindu's likability makes it slightly disappointing that it's Nani and not feisty, resourceful Bindu herself who ultimately resolves the book's main conflict. Nevertheless, the ending is both realistic and uplifting, tying together a storyline that strikes an expert balance between drama and humor. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.9-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 58.3% of actual size.) (Editor's note: This review has been updated to provide a more accurate description of a bindi.) A beautiful intergenerational tale about the importance of embracing the parts of ourselves that others may find strange. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.