Reviewed by Paige Pagan
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Jyoti Rajan Gopal
My Paati’s Saris is a picture book for young elementary children that tells the story of a Tamil boy’s bond with his grandmother via her saris and the impact of her support on his journey to individuality and self expression.
The narrative opens with “My paati’s saris are stories,” and so begins the protagonist’s unraveling of the many memories tucked within the folds of his grandmother’s saris, ones that symbolize the special connection he shares with her and the ties to his lineage, culture, and country. Paati’s saris also represent all that the boy strives to be — brilliant and bold — and invites him to explore. The book concludes with Paati draping her grandson in a sari of his very own and sliding matching bangles on his wrists so he can dare to be himself.
Art Twink’s vibrant and lush illustrations bring this simple, lyrical text to life and render authenticity to a Tamil household and a bustling South Indian marketplace. I appreciated that the artwork features not only a dark-skinned protagonist, but also members of the Indian trans community, both rarities in South Asian literature, especially for children. This narrative incidentally works to dispel the myth that Indians’ identification as “Brown” is monotone and actively works against the criminalization of the Indian trans community. The media has popularized a stereotypical representation of the Indian trans community, specifically that of trans women as con artists, a misconception that always existed, but was heightened after the release of Gangubai Kathiawadi in 2022. In My Paati’s Saris, readers witness the true Indian trans community — happy, warm, and welcoming.
This narrative is also in conversation with recent discussions on the “mango diaspora,” a critique on the overuse of stereotypical South Asian symbols, such as mangoes, chai, saris, peacocks, and elephants to represent the diasporic experience. While the argument that narratives centering these symbols contribute to the exoticization and romanticization of South Asian culture is valid, it’s undeniable that these symbols do in fact embody a certain South Asian experience that bridges the gap between overseas South Asians and South Asian residents. Specifically for Desis, the tendency to sentimentalize these symbols and sensory experiences (in this narrative, a boy’s exuberant moments with his grandmother and her saris) is in large part due to the distance between home and motherland and the search for identity and belonging. Books like My Paati’s Saris are being written by South Asian creators for the South Asian community not as a way to show an immigrant experience that lacks substance or nuance, but rather to intentionally draw on the nostalgic aspects of South Asian culture that continues to shape South Asian Americans’ definition of themselves.
Paige Pagan is a Social Justice Books program specialist at Teaching for Change.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our South Asian and Learning About Gender Diversity booklists.
My Paati's Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal
Published by Penguin on November 8, 2022
Genres: Asian American, Gender Identity, Grandparents and Elders, LGBTQ, South Asian
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Grade K
ISBN: 9780593324615
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis: A Tamil boy explores his love for his grandmother and her colorful sari collection in this tale of expressing your true self.
Another exciting day with Paati begins with a host of fun activities done in preparation for tonight’s party; threading flowers into garlands for decoration, going to the market, and helping her in the kitchen with the scent of sambar in the air.
Through it all the boy finds comfort in Paati’s sari, whether he’s wrapped in its colors for dress-up or clutching its folds for comfort. Each sari holds a story — ones that speak to him, but most important of all they allow him just to be.
With joyful text by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and dazzling art by Art Twink, My Paati’s Sari is a commemoration of how clothing can convey tradition and individuality, and connect us to both our families and ourselves.
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