Once Upon a Sari [Hardcover]

A picture book about a little girl who gets into her mom's saris and makes a glorious, colorful mess and discovers the memories attached to each sari.

Avani is having a wonderful time looking at all of her mother's saris, but she soon realizes she's made a big mess.

When her mom comes in, Avani expects a scolding, but instead, her mom sits down with her and tells her about the memories associated with each sari: memories of weddings and celebrations, memories of when and where the sari came from. And, in case of one very special sari, memories that were passed down from her parents and grandparents. 

A beautiful and vibrant reflection on how what we wear connects us to big and small moments in our lives, Once Upon a Sari is a colorful feast for the eyes and the heart.One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens

Wadhwani shows the young, and reminds the older reader that saris are heirlooms of memory and stories are not just found in books, but also within the walls of our wardrobes. —STARRED REVIEW, Quill and Quire

Stylized, comic-style illustrations feature traditional sari colors and designs; the artwork is laced with hints of the rich variety of handcrafted saris. A celebration of culture and memory. —Kirkus Reviews

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. . . . Dwivedi's saturated illustrations are nearly tactile in their richness, hand-rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper. —Publishers Weekly