Nadia's Hands [Hardcover]

Karen English (Author), Jonathan Weiner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1999 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A Pakistani-American girl takes part in her aunt's traditional Pakistani wedding.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Nadia, a Pakistani-American girl, is chosen to be the flower girl at her aunt's wedding. On the day of the ceremony, Auntie Amina applies a henna paste (mehndi) to the girl's hands and then draws intricate patterns on them. Nadia knows that the designs will not wash off by the time she goes back to school on Monday, and she is very concerned about what her classmates will think. This story of one girl's coming to terms with her heritage is illustrated in oil pastels. Textured, impressionistic, full-page paintings in neon shades of green, red, fuchsia, and blue are set on ample white space sparely decorated with patterns taken from Nadia's hands. While the story is slight and the illustrations are undistinguished, the effort gives a glimpse into another culture.
Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Nadia, a Pakistani-American girl, has been chosen to be the flower girl for Auntie Laila's traditional wedding. Nadia will wear shalwar, or silky trousers, with a matching kameez on top. She'll have her hair curled, and she'll walk down the aisle, strewing flower petals left and right. Before the wedding, however, she'll have her hands decorated with the mehndi, a dark red henna paste swirled into intricate designs, flowers, and stars. Everyone assumes that Nadia is thrilled, but she's worried about Monday, when she'll have to go to school with the indelible designs still on her hands. How the strength of time-honored traditions and the warmth and love of a large extended family transform Nadia's feelings about her hands make an affectingthough somewhat abruptly resolvedstory. Weiner's pastel illustrations amplify the text; he shows Nadia's ambivalence in her face and posture, and conveys both her pleasure at her important role in the wedding, and her reluctance to be different at school. When she comes to terms with those fears, her smile is radiant. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563976676
• ISBN-13: 978-1563976674
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patience rewarded for young Nadia, December 18, 2001

By 

"ajina" (Surrey, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nadia's Hands (Hardcover)

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".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and thoughtful, May 3, 2004

By 

Snowcrane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nadia's Hands (Hardcover)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story - from an Indian's perspective, July 25, 2004

By 

Tej Dhawan (Des Moines, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nadia's Hands (Hardcover)

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.