How to Wear a Sari

by Darshana Khiani, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)

Overview

Sparkling with voice and charm, this picture book about a fashionable kid out to prove she’s not as small as everyone thinks is perfect for kids eager to grow up, and for those who love to play dress-up.

Being a little kid isn’t always fun and games. Sometimes, it’s downright annoying.

When a little girl tires of being treated like she’s TOO little, she sets out to prove to her family that she can do ANYTHING she puts her mind to . . .

. . . including putting on a colorful, twinkly, silky sari. Sure, they’re long and unwieldy—but that only means her family will be even more impressed when she puts it on all by herself.

Naturally, there are some hiccups along the way, but she discovers that she’s not the only one in her family who has set out with something to prove, with hilariously chaotic results. That’s what photo albums are for!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328635204
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/22/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	955,977
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Darshana Khiani is a second-generation Indian American who grew up in rural Pennsylvania and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. Her skills include writing picture books, debugging network routers, and solving jigsaw puzzles. However, wearing a sari is not one of them. HOW TO WEAR A SARI is her debut picture book.
www.darshanakhiani.com
Twitter: @darshanakhiani
Instagram: @darshanakhiani

Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is the acclaimed illustrator of many children's books including the new edition of The Invisible String, and The Invisible String Workbook, as well as Darshana Khiani's How to Wear a Sari. Her passion and love for storytelling is shown through her whimsical but heartfelt illustrations in books that range from picture books to middle grade novels in both Dutch and English. She loves discovering the world with her family by traveling and collecting memories that give her more inspiration for her art. She grew up in Los Angeles, studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and now divides her time between Amsterdam and Malaysia.

Editorial Reviews

04/26/2021

Simple, multi-patterned line art drawings in a lively color palette by Lew-Vriethoff pilot young readers through Khiani’s winning guide to sari-wearing. Using the second-person perspective, the book opens with a line that will likely resonate with any reader: “Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?” The solution, the narrator opines, is to don a “colorful, twinkly, silky sari.” A light brown-skinned child with two dark pigtails visualizes each step of the process, from selecting a sari to properly pleating, draping, and accessorizing. A comedic late-act surprise concludes the how-to. Some lines feel slightly unrelatable (“They’ll stop to take photos, consult you for tips, and maybe even give you a contract”), but this picture book offers an enjoyable behind-the-scenes look at a South Asian staple. Ages 4–8. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Simple, multi-patterned line art drawings in a lively color palette by Lew-Vriethoff pilot young readers through Khiani’s winning guide to sari-wearing...an enjoyable behind-the-scenes look at a South Asian staple." — Publishers Weekly

"A delightful picture book about dressing—and acting—like a grown-up before your time" — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

08/01/2021

PreS-Gr 2—Fumbling with knitting needles, spilling garbage from a torn trash bag—an unnamed, aggravated young girl with brown skin and brown hair is feeling too small and inadequate for grown-up tasks. She wants to prove her maturity to her family. Inspiration strikes, although a bit out of the blue. Why not arrive at her family's party wearing one of her mother's elegant saris? After choosing the perfect green and yellow sari—not too plain, not too fancy, with the right amount of sparkle—the persistent young narrator demonstrates the step-by-step process of donning a sari. Readers learn that a blouse and petticoat are worn underneath and how to correctly tuck, wrap, and pleat the sari. The look is polished with a stylish brooch, jewelry, and sparkly sandals. Now the challenge will be to walk in those high-heeled sandals to show off her sophisticated outfit at her family gathering. Unsteady and wobbly, the young girl trips, sending food flying across a multigenerational family. On the bright side, the girl can now contribute a hilarious moment to the family's mishap hall of fame. Khiani's lighthearted, debut picture book is insightful for young readers unfamiliar with saris, relatable for accustomed readers, and despite feeling choppy and underwhelming in the conclusion, will entertain children. Lew-Vriethoff's illustrations are lively and fluid, appropriately matching the flowing movement of saris. VERDICT A welcomed, playful addition to a small selection of picture books available on this traditional attire.—Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

School Library Journal

2021-03-17
Are you a kid who is ready to be a grown-up?

If so, this book is for you! According to the book’s narrator, the best way to be treated like an adult is to dress like one—and no outfit is more grown-up than a sari. In the following pages, the narrator instructs the protagonist—a plucky, dark-skinned kid with two short pigtails and an impish smile—on everything that must be done to successfully wear this traditional South Asian garment. First, the protagonist chooses the perfect piece of fabric: not too plain, not too fancy, and just sparkly enough. Next, the narrator leads the protagonist through the process of wearing a blouse and petticoat, wrapping the sari, pleating the skirt, and—perhaps most importantly—accessorizing with jewelry. Finally, the protagonist is dressed and ready to show the family this new grown-up persona. Unfortunately, while putting on a sari is a clear process, walking in a sari is not, and the protagonist’s grand entrance is not quite what was imagined. Told in second-person address, this cheerily illustrated picture book is a quirky and affectionate introduction to a typically South Asian rite of passage. The tongue-in-cheek text expertly balances humor with sincerity, and the protagonist’s antics—which are communicated mostly through the expertly paced illustrations—are hilarious. In addition to appealing to young readers, this book will ring true with South Asian adults who tried to fashion their own saris as children. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 36% of actual size.)

A delightful picture book about dressing—and acting—like a grown-up before your time. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews