Meena's Saturday

by Kusum Mepani, Yasmeen Ismail (illustrator)

A slice-of-life story with a feminist message about a young Indian girl and her sisters managing a bustling house full of boisterous guests on a busy Saturday.Saturday mornings start early for Meena. She and her sisters watch the sun rise while drinking chai before they clean the house and then head to the grocery store . . . while their brother gets to stay in bed. As the guests arrive, including Meena's favorite cousins, the women crowd into the kitchen to cook. The doorbell rings nonstop as family, neighbors, and friends fill the bustling house. Once fresh chapatis are made, dinner begins—for the men. But Meena spots an empty seat at the table and decides today is the day she makes an important change.Meena’s Saturday by Kusum Mepani, with exuberant illustrations by Yasmeen Ismail, is the charming story of a family’s weekend ritual, a love letter to the gatherings of community and family, and an example of how changing long-standing traditions can start with you.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Food, Feminism, Womens, Cooking, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, reminded me of my own childhood and the old fashioned habits! I also loved that the illustrations seemed to be Peanuts inspired with similar facial and body shapes.

[Aneesa]

Interesting take

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everyone here has a story."

The illustrations of a young girl standing in the kitchen wearing white socks and a red bunny shirt with a ladle in her hand, waiting for the chai tea to boil? Makes me smile.

A surprising story of quiet feminism, as the young girl wonders why she and her sisters have to work so hard in the kitchen, and the men don't have to cook or work, and then when it's time to eat, the men eat first? This is a beautifully shared story of what feels like a lived experience, with all the warmth of a loving community and the strength of a questioning young woman who will, no doubt, change the future.

Themes: food, family, culture
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2024

Favorite quotes:
"Someday, when I build my mom's robot, I'll teach it to make chai."

"The pan is so hot it burns my fingers when I flip them. Not my mom. Her fingers are made of iron. She says I'll have tough chapati fingers like her someday."

[John Mullarkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a snapshot of a bustling Saturday in the life of a little girl named Meena who lives with her family in a small apartment. It is fast paced and colorful - the traditions of getting together with family members and sharing of food are celebrated throughout - especially the care and time it takes to prepare. We also learn of the dedication and commitment of family members who have migrated to be together. This is a great book to read aloud and share with a class as it shows how families celebrate cultural traditions. It gives the opportunity for other children or audience/classmates to share their own traditions. In addition we learn that Meena has a bit of an independent spirit in that she plans to change some of the older traditions with her own family when she grows up!

[Ian Lendler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! This book bustles with the energy, noise, music, chores, and people– tons and tons of people– that fill up a house of an Indian family on a Saturday afternoon. The illustrations are pretty spectacular, and the story really plays up the joy of food and family. But the book does something else as well. Without being overly didactic, it manages to slip in a really strong message about gender inequality in traditional communities and the need and drive for change that comes from the next generation. Highly recommend.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a glimpse in the life of a girl and the traditions she and her family observes. traditions that have emigrated and adapted--and if the protagonist has anything to do with it, will change even more.

I'm loving this return to listening to stories. This one has a lovely sense of humor and energy and rebellion. that moment at the table where she joins the men and puts the food in her mouth. stunning.

the story reminds me a bit of Larissa Fan's Ten Little Dumplings, which I definitely recommend.

[Tanna Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we follow Meena as she breaks through generational barriers in her very own family. We follow Meena through her day as a "traditional woman" in her culture. We see Meena questioning many different aspects of her day, wondering why things aren't different for her. At the end of the story, Meena decides she is going to take things into her own hands, by eating with the men even if she isn't supposed too. I think that this story was FANTASTIC. The. cultural views in this story were amazing and I would love to use this book during a read aloud for my class and talk about seeing equality in our class!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this inspiring story, a girl makes a bold choice to be the change in her family by introducing new world ideas to old world traditions. “Someday” will never come unless we start today to be the change we want to see in the world, as Mahatma Gandhi reminded us, encouraging individuals to take responsibility and initiative to improve the world, rather than waiting for others to do so. Colorful illustrations depict a typical Saturday in the chaotic life of an immigrant Indian family and their social circle of sharing and caring.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

The synopsis on here makes this sound like a book all about Meena rising up against gender stereotypes. It's really not that. Yes, she does express her dislike of the hard work the women have to do while the men get to eat first, etc. but the book if way more than that. It's a celebration of community and family and it weaves in the message about the need for gender equality so seamlessly.

[Amy]

This book celebrates the traditions that make us who we are and the courage to change traditions that may be hurting us. Meena is used to Saturdays being the day when all the women work to feed and host the family and friends who come to visit but Meena doesn't like how the women are treated and decides with courage to help make a change. I love this story that celebrates the power we all have to speak up and stand up for injustice and traditions that need to change.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone comes to Meena's house on Saturday. The girls and women clean and cook and Meena gets to play with her cousins while their moms gossip in Gujarati. She reflects on some of the families and their stories, and she chafes a bit against the unequal gender roles. Warm and colorful, with spicy sensory details.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming book that shares Meena's Saturday with her extended family. The traditions of Meena's family and culture are at the forefront of this delightful story. The illustrations depict the energy of the preparations and the execution of the family gathering. This is a wonderful immigrant story and family story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about a young girl who participates in the traditions of her family where the women help with the cooking and cleaning, but sees the unfairness that the men get to sit down and eat first... so she decides that nothing will change unless she pulls up a chair at the table.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each Saturday, Meena cooks, cleans, plays, and wonders with many friends who visit her home. This is a beautiful second generation immigrant story that does not stray away from questions of equality and privilege in cultural traditions.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations, the perspective of this story, and the cultural details, but the ending was so abrupt I had to take off a star. Still a good story about one girl's busy family-filled Saturdays.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diverse, cute, inspiring

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good message. Good story. Nothing special though.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story filled with love about an Indian American family and their traditions. The young girl questions and wants to change the gender roles of her family while also shows pride of her culture.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

an elementary level picture book about a girl who spends her Saturdays prepping and then serving her large family and pluses and minuses.

[Melanie H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saturdays are crazy for Meena and her family as family and neighbors come to visit.

A good representation of immigrant life of people from Gujarat, India. However, the multiple examples of gender bias may be off-putting to Western readers. Good thing Meena aims to be an agent for change in her family.