Nadia's Hands

Nadia has the duty of being the flower girl in a wedding, and two fears threaten her performance of this duty. The first is the fear of her friends' mocking her should she do something wrong or embarrass herself during the ceremony. The second is the fear of what the schoolchildren will do on Monday when they see the orange mehndi on her hands. Her fears almost overcame her, but when she saw her extended family's happiness at her appearance, she was able to refocus and complete her task as the flower girl. She was able to accept her hands as her own. The book is well-written and beautifully illustrated. I'm always surprised at the rivalries among little girls in children's literature, because I never remember as a little boy having these suspicions about the boys my age. With that reservation, I do like this book, and I'm eager to read it aloud to some children and see if they like it as well.

Book Review for Nadia's Hands By Shilpa Krishnan This book is a fantastic story about a Pakistani girl who lives in America. It is very detailed. You can learn about the culture and the weddings in Pakistan. This exciting story tells about how Nadia needs to be a Pakistani in America. For example, she needs to put Henna on her hands but does not want to show them at school. As you flip through the pages, the pictures will catch your eyes. They are colorful and detailed. The pictures are big, so you won't miss it. There is also a lot of background information on Pakistan words. On the first page of the book, there is some Pakistan words and their meanings. I recommend you to read Nadia's Hands. The pictures and texts are very detailed. If you would like to learn about Pakistani culture, you would love to read this astounding book.

We checked out this book from the library for our almost 4 year old daughther, who is born here but very much in love with everything Indian - from food to bindis to the religious events. When I read it at first, it seemed unnecessarily graphic about Nadia's feelings. After my 3rd or 5th read, I realized that the book brought forth emotions in Nadia, not uncommon amongst multi-ethnic kids in the American culture. Of course they're confused about the wierd customs of their parents, the expectations and rituals. It is only through an understanding of the very customs through the kids' extended families does confusion melt away. If more books like this existed for the kids, maybe the ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) stigma would seem more like a rite of passage. A definte read for any Indian parent raising a child in America.

This book is a wonderful window into the Pakistani culture and the experiences of immigrants struggling to blend their traditions with the culture of their new homes. No offense to the Hindi reviewer, but this book is about a young girl, not an adult, and it seems unfair to judge it so harshly. I have bought a copy of this book to donate to my son's classroom and think it is a wonderful way to discuss and embrace multiculturalism.

Karen English is to be congratulated for Nadia's Hands. There is a dearth of stories on issues faced by Pakistani-American children. Nadia's Hands makes a rich and stunning contribution to this area. The storyline is splendidly rendered. Nadia has been chosen to be the flower girl in Auntie Laila's traditional Pakistani wedding. Her hands are to be decorated with intricate designs of mehndi henna. The love of a large extended family assists her in understanding cultural traditions and accepting her role in the wedding celebrations. Notably, Karen English presents a theme rarely found in children's literature - patience. After the mehndi is applied, Nadia's mother gently reminds her: "Be patient Nadia. Remember sabr - patience." The theme is similar to that of Subira Subira by Tololwa M. Mollel, an Arusha Maasai from Tanzania. In Swahili, "subira" means patience and is derived from the same root as "sabr". In Mollel's story, a brave young girl Tatu embarks on plucking three whiskers from a lion. In taming the lion, Tatu learns the power of patience and song. "Sabr","subira" and the theme of patience are indicative of the richness presented by the increasing number of multicultural stories in children's literature. My four year old really enjoyed Nadia's Hands and it remains a favourite. The pastel colours in the book are warm and evocative. A small complaint is the mispelling of Zahra Khan's name on the last page. Also a Pakistani-American child would likely address an aunt as "Laila Auntie" instead of "Auntie Laila".