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4.23/5 · 200+ ratings
A Tamil boy explores his love for his grandmother and her colorful sari collection in this tale of expressing your true self.
Another exciting day with Paati begins with a host of fun activities done in preparation for tonight’s party; threading flowers into garlands for decoration, going to the market, and helping her in the kitchen with the scent of sambar in the air.
Through it all the boy fin…
Reviews
user_18467
★ 5/5A lovely, deeply colorful book about the joys of beautiful saris, and the deep love between a boy and his grandmother. This is diverse in several ways; both celebrating the joys of Tamil culture, and a boy who likes to dress up in his colorful grandmother's clothes. I can't think of other books about Tamil culture (that don't mention immigration), but this would be a read-alike to "Julian is a Mermaid" for the love the grandmother has for a boy who is interested in dress-up.
user_18466
★ 3/5The illustrations were bright and beautiful, and I like the concept of this story, but it doesn't seem to really go anywhere. I also wish there was more of an informational page about the significance or history of Saris for kids, or even an explanation of what they are as it's a picture book. I understand the idea that it's not necessarily the author's job to educate, but as it's a picture book for children, I think it could've been a useful inclusion.
user_18465
★ 5/5My Paati's Saris written by Jyoti Rajan Gopal is a multi layered gem. First off, the lyrical text evokes emotion and dances through various cultural memories. Secondly, the bond between the Tamil boy and his Paati is felt through every spread, and thirdly, the vibrant and colorful illustrations also bring the text to the next level. A great read! (I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
user_18464
★ 5/5This is not only a magical feast-for-the-eyes must-read for any young family, it's a coffee table book for those of us with teenage kids who still get blown away by the poetic texts and dazzling art of picture books. Jyoti's story is genuine, rhythmic and transformative. And the art--my gosh--I'm still wondering how Art Twink managed to squeeze in every color known to man in so few pages. Anyone on the planet would benefit from this read. Please buy and see for yourself:)
user_18463
★ 5/5First off, I am enamored with Art Twink's illustrations for this book (the spread at the market, I mean really). The endpapers are utter perfection and the colors and patterns used throughout the book are *chef's kiss*. I also loved following the cat throughout the illustrations. Between Gopal's beautifully evocative and descriptive text and the genius illustrations, I felt like I was an active participant in the story. Like the flowing fabric of a sari, this book is overflowing with movement and joyful energy. What a wonderful peek into a beautiful tradition.
user_18462
★ 4/5Tamil loves to play and wear his grandmother's saris. They are so bright and colorful. He finds comfort in them and the stories she shares. This book also goes through their daily activities which ends in a celebration when he puts one on and feels truly himself.
I would use this in class to talk about how clothes should make you feel good and that boys can wear saris and what society sees as "girl" clothes and that the same is for all my students. The overall message is that we should wear clothes that we love and not what people tell us to wear based on our gender.
user_18461
★ 3/5My Paati’s Saris is a story that follows a young child exploring the meaningful world of their grandmother’s saris. Through the colorful fabrics, the child learns about family traditions, cultural heritage, and the special bond shared with their grandmother. The book highlights themes of family, culture, and storytelling, making it engaging for young readers. In a future classroom, I might use this book to introduce discussions about cultural traditions, encourage children to share stories from their own families, and explore colors and patterns through art activities inspired by the saris.
user_18460
★ 5/5As this lyrical book unfolds, we see a young boy and his grandmother spend time together –
time full of unconditional love and affection. Woven throughout their days are the grandmother’s saris, and all they represent to the boy. “My paati’s saris are stories” reads one page, while another shows the saris as a source of shelter in a crowded market, and yet another shows the saris in swirly, twirly celebration. In every spread, the artwork showcases saris that are brilliant and bold, textured and unique – much like this young boy, and much like ALL of us.
user_18459
★ 5/5Jyoti Rajan Gopal’s lovely use of language pairs perfectly with Art Twink’s gorgeous, vibrant illustrations to evoke sensory experiences that bring us into the world of a child and his Paati. This book celebrates and honors the child’s culture and family love. It ends with a soaring note, where the focus shifts to the child, as he wears a saari and begins to make special memories of his own – grounded in the love of his family. I highly recommend MY PAATI’S SARIS as a wonderful addition to any children’s bookshelf! I accessed a digital ARC from the author.
user_18458
★ 5/5A joyous story of a grandmother and grandson by Jyoti Gopal (author of the equally fabulous picture book, American Desi). The young boy relates all the ways that his grandmother's saris make him feel--safe, loved, and seen. The artwork in this book is gorgeous! The full spread of the marketplace and the wall of family photographs are especially bright and lovely. This book would make for an eye-catching read-aloud and would also be wonderful for one-on-one sharing, especially between grandparent and grandchild.
user_18457
★ 5/5MY PAATI'S SARIS is a great book celebrating the special relationship between a grandparent and grandchild. Here, Paati is kind and caring, supportive and nurturing, understanding and loving...and her saris represent all the many layers of her. The boy in this story loves his Paati and her saris. He finds great love in them both and that love gives him confidence. Simply told, as Paati and the boy move throughout their day they encounter the ordinary yet extraordinary magic of being together.
Bright, vivid art on each page captures readers attention and holds it. A feast for the eyes!
user_18456
★ 5/5The swirling, twirling art of Art Twink paired with the rhythmic, fast-paced, and roll-of-the-tongue energy of Jyoti Rajan Gopal’s prose is just sublime! In this gorgeous celebration of family, heritage, and play, a little Tamil boy wonders at the beauty of his grandma’s sari and what it means to him to be wrapped in its folds when close to her. Then, when he’s invited to wrap himself in them, the story bursts into a revelation of self-love. Kids will love gazing at the breathtaking illustrations, and parents and grandparents alike will love the message of family care and history.
user_18455
★ 5/5What a beautiful, revealing story about culture, gender expression and identity. A Tamil boy describes his love for his Paati's saris and the stories they tell - about the world he lives in, and about himself. Jyoti Rajan Gopal's lyrical writing is so evocative, with just the right descriptive words to bring a whole world to life. Art Twink's bright illustrations show a delightful journey for a boy, and the love and compassion of his family. There is no "conflict" in the story, because his exploration is accepted. So refreshing, and needed.
user_18454
★ 5/5This book is a breath of fresh air. The illustrations are so vibrant with all the colors I wish for in a picture book. It made me want to whip out a favorite coloring book and some bright and bold pencils. The story, with its LGBT character, was wonderfully and beautifully effortless. The way it was written, in verse, was so natural, that when I consider the whole book, I feel so happy and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to any young reader. I would even say that this book would make a good addition to a personal library, or for gifting. I am an adult reader, but child at heart, and I love seeing books with the magic that is in a book like this.
user_18453
★ 5/5I think the writing in this book is maybe four stars-- mainly because it didn't stick with me or blow me away-- but I absolutely loved the digital illustrations and their details and vivid colors (I usually hate digital illustrations because they feel flat, simple, and just bad- like anyone could throw them together). I also loved the context of this story and the loving relationship at the center. One thing I wish is that they would have added a glossary to the end because there were so many words I didn't know throughout the story but that's an American problem and we have google, so it's fine.
user_18452
★ 5/5Beautiful book for all ages. The bold, brilliant colors will captivate readers, inviting them to go on this special journey of a Tamil boy and his Paati. The boy loves his Paati's saris...on the surface he loves the colors, the textures, the warmth...more deeply, he treasures their comfort, their possibilities, their hope, their validation. The saris capture all that the boy's Paati is to him; open, accepting, affirming and loving.
A positive grandparent relationship can make a lasting impression on a child. It's wonderful to see the truly loving bond between the boy and his Paati here and how that love inspires the boy to be his true self.
user_18451
★ 5/5Written in thoughtful and vibrant verse, My Paati's Saris is a transformative story in which a young grandchild recognizes the truth within his grandmothers sari. From the brilliant and colorful designs, to the scent of 'sweet-smelling jasmine' and 'musky rose' the sari becomes much more than a piece of cloth, it holds safety, comfort and joy. Within the book, the sari, as well as Paati, is an invitation. Grandson realizes the sari, like his grandmother, call him to be all that he is, plus more.
My favorite spread- Paati walks her grandson up the steps, portraits frame the wall, and the words,
"a thread that weaves through the years, and joins us, a family."
A must have for every bookshelf.
user_18450
★ 5/5There are no content warnings I find necessary for this book.
This book was vibrant and beautiful! It's a very concise story, following a young Tamil child who is in love with the many intricate and colorful saris his Paati owns. He praises the details and the comfort her saris bring him, how it is fun to look at them, wear them, and hold them. We get to watch the two go into the market, worship, cook, craft, and celebrate together, filled to the brim with rich details of Tamil culture.
Though this isn't an inherently trans book, it covers gender diversity well as the main character isn't presented with a name or pronouns in the story itself, the back states the character to be a young boy, and his interest in Paati's saris is met with love and celebration. This altogether allows readers to connect more with the book as they could either view the main character as a gender expressive boy not held back by expectations, a young gender diverse child, or even a trans child. There's no trace of any stigma or shaming, and when the child comes to his family wearing the sari, he is met with smiles! It's an incredibly positive and affirming book- Illustrated by the nonbinary artist Art Twink!
Readability: ★★★★☆, It's a simple story, one that would be great for very young readers as it is very easy to follow, but some of the vocabulary might be tricky (preening, murmur, cinched...) For those unfamiliar with Tamil culture and language, there's some terms that will need to be looked up to understand the full context of the text, which could make a nice lesson for learning!
Entertainment: ★★★★★, It was a gorgeous read! It is fast and visually captivating. There's so many details to appreciate, all brought to you in such a celebratory and upbeat package.
Audience: This is great for all children! You get both gender and cultural celebration and diversity, I think it's a really perfect read! Get this for your libraries, classrooms, daycares, and collections!
user_18449
★ 5/5Anna says: The vibrant illustrations in this picture book will absolutely grab the attention of young ones! There is just the right amount of words per page for a younger reader or a read-aloud storytime. This is such a great introduction to Indian culture, or fabulous representation of it for kids who need mirrors.
user_18448
★ 4/5Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
user_18447
★ 5/5Beautifully drawn and lyrically written. This children's book evokes the sights, sounds and smells of India and Sri Lanka and speaks of the importance of culture, history, family and tradition.
user_18446
★ 3/5Nice book, but not for me.
user_18445
★ 5/5he story is about a young boy who loves wearing his grandma's saris. The book highlights the importance of being yourself and the acceptance that comes from loved ones.
I would use this talk about social emotional learning involving students' cultures and traditions to show and tell something involving their culture.
user_18444
★ 5/5My Paati's Saris is a vibrant expression of the special relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. But it is so much more! It is colors - bold blues, muted tones. Scents - jasmine and musky rose. Tastes and sounds - laddoos and spices, peddlers selling their wares, family and friends dancing.
Paati's sari swirls and sings, inviting the young boy to "EXPLORE. DARE. BE." Jyoti Rajan Gopal's powerful text, gorgeously illustrated by Art Twink, is a beautiful celebration of heritage, tradition, comfort and acceptance.
user_18443
★ 5/5I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. It is 100% about gender identity/expression. A young South Asian boy and his grandmother share a deep connection with each other as she seems to offer her acceptance for his choice of style/dress in a sari. The amount of detail given in the book makes you feel like you are right there beside the characters. Both the author and the illustrator outdid themselves on this one! A nice read overall, may push buttons for readers that don't agree.
user_18442
I first heard about this in a Book Riot Kids email, which said:
In this vibrantly illustrated, lyrical picture book, a young boy loves his Paati's (Grandmother's) saris. Whether he's hiding in them in a busy market or listening to her wonderful stories or wearing them himself, Paati's saris fill him with joy. This is a really special intergenerational story about queer joy and acceptance.
but the text never genders (or names) the protagonist (who tells the story in first-person). The child is shown in pants at various times -- but our busy market scene shows us, e.g. someone wearing a hijab and pants, so the illustrations clearly indicate that "pants does not necessarily equal boy."
The book mostly just feels like a lush, sensory experience -- both the text and the illustrations.
I appreciate that the paati gets to be fat -- and that this is wholly unremarked upon.
I would have assumed the context is Indian, but the book jacket says, "a young Tamil boy finds comfort in his grandmother's saris;" and the Internet tells me that Tamil is "a member of a people inhabiting parts of southern India and Sri Lanka." It would have been nice if there had been some educational backmatter -- like defining the term "paati" (without the book jacket, I wouldn't have known it meant "grandmother"). There's a lot going on in this book that I don't have the cultural background to recognize.
In , the illustrator says:
The book jacket tells me that Art Twink, the illustrator, is "a gender-expansive Bengali-american." They also illustrated , which explains why their name sounded familiar to me.
Of the author, the book jacket doesn't say anything about her connection to Tamil-ness specifically, but in that same PW interview, Gopal says, "I didn’t grow up in India or America—I grew up in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and China—yet I am rooted in my Indian culture and I am also American. I’m also very Tamilian: I speak Tamil; my parents speak to me in Tamil; we have a lot of rituals. [...]"
user_18441
★ 5/5First, I love the endpapers! They’re so beautiful.
The illustrations are so bright and vibrant, and finding the cat on every page is so much fun.
What a wonderful, celebratory, and affirming story as a young boy explores and celebrates who he is through the love and attention of his Paati.
user_18440
★ 4/5I received an electronic ARC from Kokila through Edelweiss+.
Readers see life from this child's viewpoint as they share about time with their grandmother (Paati). Specifically, the focus is on her saris and the emotions they feel when they are close to or wrapped in their comfort.Brightly colored illustrations capture the beauty of these garments and the settings where they live. Children of all backgrounds will connect to the love and encouragement shown by this Paati.
user_18439
★ 3/5Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
A young Tamil boy enjoyes spending time with his grandmother, and is enthralled by her saris. He enjoys seeing her pick out one to wear each day, and revels in the colors, patterns, and fabrics. Their days are filled with household tasks, like making garlands for the morning puja, cooking, and going to the market. Their community is filled with celebrations, sounds, and smells, and these all become entwined with his memories of Paati's saris, especially since he clings to her skirts when everything becomes overwhelming. The saris make him feel safe, loved, and happy, and he enjoys seeing the role that saris have played in his community and family history, and tries on some of the saris himself.
Illustrated in bold and vibrant colors, this book is a celebration of culture as well as the bonds between a grandparent and grandchild. This takes place in an area where the signs are in English but also in the Tamil language, so I wish there were more information on exactly where this was, since it is such an interesting place.
I love fabric, so I enjoyed seeing all of the difference colors and patterns. Since I sew clothing as well as quilts, I definitely understand the power of a garment to invoke an entire history. The family pictures of people in a wide array of clothing clearly showed the little boy's connection to his past in a powerful way.
Picture books about grandparents are a great way to showcase a lot of different cultures, activities and practices that tie children to older adults. This is a great book to add to a collection of multicultural books about grandmothers that includes Toht's Every Day with You, Rahman's If You See a Bluebird, Ferneyhough's Nana, Nenek & Nina, Walker's Nana Akua Goes to School, Medina's Mango, Abuela, and Me and Liu's A Gift for Popo.
user_18438
★ 5/5This is a heartwarming story of grandparent love & intergenerational bonding. It uplifts the readers & invites them to explore, dare & be.
Page after page, the book is breathtaking in its beauty.
The vibrant illustrations & shimmering storytelling make this an engaging read aloud.
It’s a fabulous new addition to our preschool libraries & makes for memorable gift giving.
Shelves
Childrens
LGBT
Family
India
Art Twink
Aapi
Indian Literature
Jyoti Rajan Gopal
Fiction
Picture Books
Asian Literature
Cultural
book
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