Gauri Dalvi Pandya’s Picture Book: A Journey of Connection

Congratulations to Gauri Dalvi Pandya (author) who won the Grand Prize Award from Sleeping Bear Press‘s “Own Voices, Own Stories Award” for this debut picturebook. Illustrator Avani Dweivedi vivid illustrations bring the story to life.

Review

A little girl has a problem.

How can she leave her beloved Aaji and Ajoba–her grandmother and grandfather?

Her grandmother has a solution. She sews a kurta for her with BIG pockets.

Her grandmother puts special things into the pockets.

Aaji tucks a mogra (a flower) from her braid and Gutta asks, “What if the fragrance fades away?”

Aaji puts some of her bangle bracelets in a pocket. Gutta groans, “Ugh, what if the bangdya break?”

On and on… Gutta feels despondent over every present her grandmother puts into the kurta’s pockets. Most of all, she’s afraid they will forget each other after she leaves.

Suddenly, she has an idea.

Gutta helps her grandmother make two kutas with even bigger pockets.

When she tells her grandparents that she plans to put her favorite food–bhendi (okra)–into the pockets. Her grandparents counter with objections. “What if it gets spoiled?” Aaji asks.

Turn around is fair play and Gutta answers as they pester her with arguments.

Finally, the kurtas are done.

The book ends with the family split by a large ocean, but talking to each other over the internet while they wear their kurtas.

“Whirling and twirling, we will hold on to each other. And just like that, we will not feel so far away.”

Glossary

The two pages at the back provide definitions of the Marathi language used in the book along with colorful pictures. I liked that addition, but I wish there would have been a map showing the western part of India where the story takes place.

Giveaway

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment by April 30. Since this is a great classroom resource, if you are an educator or school librarian, please leave that information in the comments and you’ll receive two chances. I’ll be giving this book away through the next issue of Talking Story which is on Asian American Authors. Coming soon!

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