By: Karen English
Illustrated by: Jonathan Weiner
Publisher and date: Boyds Mills Press, 1999.
This book was about a little girl named Nadia who is to be a flower girl in her cousin's wedding. Since Nadia's family is from Pakistan her aunt wants to paint mehndi on her hands for the wedding; however, Nadia does not want the mehndi because she does not want her classmates to see it on Monday. All of Nadia's aunts and cousins are so excited for her to have mehndi on her hands for the wedding, so she decides to go through with it despite her fear of what her peers will say at school. After the mehndi is painted on Nadia's hands she looks at them and feels as if they are not her own, and throughout the wedding she feels awkward every time she looks at her hands. Once the wedding is over Nadia's grandma tells her how proud she is of Nadia and how her hands remind her of their family's past and future. After Nadia sees how important the mehndi is to her grandma she realizes that her hands do look like they belong to her, and she decides that she wants to show them for show and tell in class on Monday.
Recommendation for Parents:
While reading this book by Karen English, children will be able to relate to the main character as she struggles with her cultural identity and fear of what her peers might think; it shows children the importance of being proud of your family heritage and who you are.
Recommendation for Teachers:
Nadia's Hands is an excellent multicultural book to have in your classroom. After reading this book students will be able to see how another culture celebrates a tradition, and how one's heritage can be represented in many different ways.
Personal Note:
The main reason why I would like to recommend this book is because it is a multicultural book about a culture that not really represented in many picture books about. I also think that this book teaches kids that it is okay to be different from others as long as you remain true to your family and yourself.
By: Dakari Hru
Illustrated by: Anna Rich
Publisher and date: Lee and Low Books, Inc. (1993)
This book was about a little boy named Joshua who is getting ready to be in his school talent show. His family wants him to play the kalimba, an African instrument that his family has played for generations, but Joshua does not want to. He thinks that playing the kalimba is not going to be as cool as the other kids performances and that people will laugh at him. Joshua really wants to rap like his classmate Kareem for the talent show because everyone loves a rapper. One day before the talent show Joshua goes to his uncle's house and his uncle gives him a magical African mask. His uncle tells him to be careful with the mask because it will listen to everything that he says. After Joshua becomes different characters by telling the mask what he wants to be, he realizes that he is happy just being himself, and when the time comes for the talent show Joshua plays his kalimba and the crowd loves him.
Recommendation for Parents:
While reading this book by Dakari Hru, children will be able to see the importance of finding happiness with who they are as individuals. They will realize how everyone has different talents and that it is okay to take pride in the things that you do well.
Recommendation for Teachers:
Joshua's Masai Mask is a great book for children, not only does it have a great story line that encourages students to take pride in their abilities, it also has captivating illustrations so children can imagine themselves within the story.
Personal Note:
I think that this book is great because everyone can relate to wanting to fit in with your peers at one time in your life. It teachers us to accept and be happy with who we are, which can really be a struggle for kids while growing up.