A slice-of-life story with a feminist message about a young Indian girl and her sisters managing a bustling house full of boisterous guests on a busy Saturday.Saturday mornings start early for Meena. She and her sisters watch the sun rise while drinking chai before they clean the house and then head to the grocery store . . . while their brother gets to stay in bed. As the guests arrive, including Meena's favorite cousins, the women crowd into the kitchen to cook. The doorbell rings nonstop as family, neighbors, and friends fill the bustling house. Once fresh chapatis are made, dinner begins—for the men. But Meena spots an empty seat at the table and decides today is the day she makes an important change.
Meena’s Saturday by Kusum Mepani, with exuberant illustrations by Yasmeen Ismail, is the charming story of a family’s weekend ritual, a love letter to the gatherings of community and family, and an example of how changing long-standing traditions can start with you.
On sale: October 1, 2024
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9780593110317
Reading level: Lexile: AD550L | Fountas/Pinnell: M
Kusum Mepani has been migrating her entire life. She was born in Kenya but moved to England, where she grew up in the crowded, chaotic, loving house seen in this book, surrounded by so many cousins, uncles, and aunts that she can’t even remember all their names. As an adult, she moved to New York and finally California, where she now lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog. This is her first book.
Yasmeen Ismail is an Irish-born, Bristol-based award-winning author, illustrator, and animator. After graduating from art school, Yasmeen worked in advertising, film, and children’s publishing. After a few years, she began writing and illustrating picture books, and has illustrated over fifteen books and written twelve. You can find her drinking coffee when she’s not painting or writing. She lives with her husband, their two children, and Betty the cat.
Praise for Meena's Saturday by Kusum Mepani; Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail:
★” This
captivating ode to weekly gatherings of friends and extended family brims with affection...An
excellent pick for any day of the week. “—
The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
★ “
Beautiful…Mepani’s writing flows...and is layered with nuance through Meena’s keen observations about the immigrant experience, the power of community, gender roles, and her own aspirations. Ismail’s mixed-media illustrations reflect these layers through vibrant images.
An important book for every growing library collection." —
School Library Journal, starred review
"
Mirrors the realities of many immigrant communities…Told in a realistically childlike voice, the narrative also
highlights the gender disparity that many children encounter from a very young age. The
bright watercolor illustrations are bursting with life. A lively look at community, connections, and ways to foster change." —
Kirkus Reviews
“Ismail’s energetic watercolor illustrations are
a visual feast. This slice-of-life
conversation starter both appreciates and questions long-standing traditions.” —
Booklist“
Forward-looking. . .Ismail’s fine-lined multimedia illustrations convey the work of the day—making chai, cooking elaborate dishes, tidying up, and doing it all over again. When the men get to eat first around the small dining table, Meena determines that later generations won’t benefit from her help unless she begins now, by
taking a seat at the table.” —
Publishers Weekly
