Publisher Description

Arthi's father is a doll maker, but she wishes he would be anything else. No one plays with the wooden bommalu her nanna makes anymore. But crafting dolls from wood is her father's entire world, so Arthi sets out to find out why these dolls mean so much to him. She asks everyone she knows in her small doll-making community and learns that bommalu are memories, warm as the sun, whispering stories older than time and capturing colors that run wild. They are a celebration of life and more. Much, much more!
This joyful picture book is an ode to the traditional craftspeople of Kondapalli, India, and a shared appreciation of handmade objects in the digital age. When she finally creates a bomma, Arthi discovers a special joy in doll making that is all her own.

Author Biography

Mamta Nainy is a writer based in New Delhi who has authored over thirty books for children. Many of her works have gone on to win national and international recognition. Mamta also works as a literary translator, translating primarily from English to Hindi, with several published works of translations. She loves clambering around old caves, exploring lesser-known monuments, and spending time at museums. Her favorite place to be, however, is in the middle of a book. Shruti Prabhu is a children's book illustrator currently based in Mumbai. She loves to bring her colorful characters to life with mixed media, working mainly in watercolor, gouache and pencils. When she is not drawing, she is busy obsessing over her balcony garden and playing retro video games.

Review

"...charming story of wanting to fit in, and learning what makes you and your family special." - Youth Services Book Review
"Mamta Nainy's story is a love letter to a culture and an almost lost art."- Cannonball Reads

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