Once upon a Sari

When young Avani ventures into the cabinet that holds her mother’s saris, a wealth of family stories come to light in this reflective work that introduces themes of legacy and memory. Exploring the fabrics and designs, Avani piles saris across the floor. When Mama arrives, she hides a smile before sharing what her own mother told her: “Every sari has a story.... Where it came from, how it was made, the occasions for which it was worn. Each of these details are part of the story.” The tales—and saris—grow more colorful until Mama smiles sadly at one garment kept in a black silk bag, recalling when “India was not at peace,” and its division forced her nani to make a “long and difficult journey” to a new home. Dwivedi’s saturated illustrations are nearly tactile in their richness, hand-rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper. Ages 4–8. (May)