A Dupatta Is . . .

November 1, 2022

K-Gr 3-This book is so much more than a definition; like Ruth Krauss's A Hole Is to Dig, it was never really about a hole, now, was it? Abbas offers not just a story, but a poetic explanation of a traditional scarf worn by the people of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. A dupatta-a rectangular fabric "plucked and spun into thread"-is "so much more" than it appears. From color to function, beauty to identity, the dupatta's significance is shown through vivid illustrations from Chouhan. Burnt orange, purple, and turquoise are among the vibrant colors that flow from page to page. The dupatta's many uses, from wrap to head scarf, traditional and modern, are charmingly presented to readers in abundance as families join for various activities, such as sipping tea, celebrating weddings, and embroidering intricate patterns onto these stunning scarves. Following the story is a brief history of the dupatta as well as a glossary of terms to help further explicate this beautiful symbol of faith and elegance. VERDICT This book exquisitely represents the legacy that is the dupatta through imagery and descriptive text for a beautiful lesson in culture.-Kerra Mazzariello

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January 15, 2023
A dupatta contains multitudes. A child with light brown skin and short hair admires a dupatta, an oversized scarf worn throughout the South Asian subcontinent and beyond. While the narrator first refers to the dupatta as "fabric," they are quick to add that it is also so much more. A dupatta is a "swooshing, swashing" sound; it is the scent of spices and incense. A dupatta can serve many purposes, including providing protection from rain and wind, veiling a person's face, and even rocking a baby to sleep. In the hands of a child, a dupatta can be a plaything. But whether it is from Quetta or Kashmir, whether worn in weddings or during political speeches, whether used for blanket forts or prayer, and whether embellished with "beads, lace," or "sequins," above all, "a dupatta is identity." Very similar in form to Kevin Noble Maillard's Fry Bread (2019), illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, this rhythmic description of a dupatta's importance in a South Asian Muslim family is an affectionate homage. Vibrant illustrations feature large-eyed individuals with a variety of skin tones, though only female-presenting characters are shown actually wearing a dupatta. Some metaphors feel like a stretch, but generally, the book's warm, well-chosen language depicts a joyful, accurate representation of a dupatta's multigenerational importance in family life. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A lyrical, multisensory celebration of a South Asian garment. (more information on the dupatta, glossary) (Picture book. 3-6)

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July 3, 2023
Noting in evocative, expansive terms what “a dupatta is,” Abbas’s free-verse quatrains and Chouhan’s jewel-toned digital images describe the traditional South Asian scarf. First defining the garment as “fabric,” lines start by contextualizing the dupatta’s beginnings as “cotton balls or silkworm cocoons.” Next, the garment is “sound” (“flitting, flapping”), “scent” (“cinnamon and cardamom”), and “art” (“motifs, block prints”). Moving from the sensorial to the functional, the text notes various ways of styling a dupatta, arrayed uses (“protecting/ shielding/ sheltering... playing peekaboo”), and its symbolism as part of faith, identity, and legacy. Vibrant patterned illustrations show individuals with a variety of skin tones in assorted scenarios. Additional information and a glossary conclude this look at a garment that is “so much more” than mere apparel. Ages 3–6.