PICTURE BOOK FICTION BLOG TOUR: A Sari for Ammi by Mamta Nainy
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ammi weaves the most beautiful saris but never gets to wear any of them. Her two little daughters decide to do something about it—break their piggy bank! But when there isn’t enough money to buy Ammi a sari, the two girls must work together to find a solution. Will they be able to buy Ammi the gift she so deserves? With a text full of heart, and bright, cheerful artwork, this story brings readers into the home of a weaver’s family in Kaithoon, India, where the creation of saris is an art form. The book includes a glossary of Indian terms and a note about the saris made in this region.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Mamta Nainy is a children's writer, editor, and translator based in New Delhi, India. She is the author of many children's books, including A Brush with Indian Art, illustrated by Aniruddha Mukherjee, which won the Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award in 2019; and Bioscope, illustrated by Shanti Devi, which was named to the IBBY Honor List in 2012. Follow the author on Instagram @mamtanainy.
Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, India, who resides in the United States. She has a master's degree in animation and digital arts from New York University. She has illustrated nearly a dozen picture books, including her recent book I Am Brown, written by Ashok Banker. She animates for TV and movies and creates content for social media websites such as Facebook, Google, and Snapchat. Follow the artist on Instagram @sandhyaprabhat.
Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, India, who resides in the United States. She has a master's degree in animation and digital arts from New York University. She has illustrated nearly a dozen picture books, including her recent book I Am Brown, written by Ashok Banker. She animates for TV and movies and creates content for social media websites such as Facebook, Google, and Snapchat. Follow the artist on Instagram @sandhyaprabhat.
REVIEW
Originally published in India, A Sari for Ammi, gives young readers a glimpse into what life is like in a rural village in India. This village, Kaithoon, is famous for the saris (a long piece of unstitched fabric worn draped in soft folds by women throughout southwest Asia), that are made and sold there. In this story, two young girls help their Ammi (mother) and Abba (father) make and sell beautiful saris. Because the saris take so long to make and the money they bring in is needed for other things such as food, Ammi can't keep any of them to wear herself. The two girls decide to buy one for their mother using money left over from shopping trips. It turns out they don't have enough. The girls set out to find a way to make enough money to buy this gift for their mother. This sweet story highlights the love of family and the joy that can come from giving to others. The stunningly bright digital illustrations beautifully illustrate this story. A glossary at the end defines the Indian terms that readers may not know. The only thing that would have helped me would have been a pronunciation guide. Photographs of the village and a sari or two would have been nice as well, but young readers won't care. A wonderful diverse tale that provides a glimpse into a way of life different than those found in the United States. This tale is both eye-opening and eye-catching.
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