A Dupatta Is ... - a New Picture Book that Teaches about Culture

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I get to share a new multicultural picture book. It is actually being released tomorrow! This book shares about a cultural view of a dupatta. A dupatta is the long shawl like scarf Middle Eastern women wear often over their heads and/or shoulders. It is part of the national dress of Pakistan and is worn today by people of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The book is A Dupatta Is ... by Marzieh Abbas and illustrated by Anu Chouhan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

From the Publisher:

A Dupatta Is..., written by Marzieh Abbas and vividly brought to life by the artwork of Anu Chouhan, is a loving and lyrical ode to the dupatta.

A dupatta is so much more than a beautiful piece of fabric.

A dupatta is sound—swooshing and swashing like a superhero cape.

A dupatta is scent—cinnamon and cardamom, crushed coriander and peppermint oil.

A dupatta is fun—playing peekaboo and building cushion forts with dupatta canopies.

Dupattas—shawls traditionally worn by women in various cultures of South Asia—are beautiful and colorful of course, but they're also fun, functional, and carry the sounds and smells of family and identity.

From Me:

I love how this book shares so many aspects from what a dupatta actually is to how it is used and how a child might see it. It goes from fabric and shape to art as well as a safe place to be at night or a picnic blanket or fort blanket. The book is creative and fun. It teaches a bit about the culture without going into too many details of the religious beliefs. 

The illustrations are colorful and fun. I love that in the picture above a young girl (the narrator) and a young boy are using dupattas as superhero capes. Most people think of the dupatta as being a clothing for female and as some of these cultures as bringing young girls and boys up differently but this book shares a picture of them playing together and having fun with a piece of clothing that is traditionally for female. 

Throughout the book there are references to the culture from the red that is worn by a bride to the patterns and art of the dupatta. The dupatta is a tradition that is passed down through generations. Today most wear it as an accessory rather than a symbol of modesty but they still have an important part of the tradition of a culture.  At the end of the book is a page with a little more of the details about them as well as a glossary for the non-English words used (names of relatives, clothing, etc.). It is a fun book that helps teach a bit of culture. Reading it reminded me of when Hazel and I explored the Mexican rebozo. I would suggest either getting a dupatta or using a shawl to show kids how they are worn and let them play like the girl in the book. I hope you will check it out!