Nadia's Hands by Karen English

Nadia's Hands by Karen English and Illustrated by Jonathan Weiner

I chose this book because of the unique cover and the visual appeal. It has a unique multicultural draw to it. This book is about a young girl who gets mehndi (paste from the leaves of the henna tree) on her hands because she is in a family wedding. Nadia is excited about being in the wedding but is nervous what the students in her class at school will say on Monday when they see her "orangey" hands from the paint. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it definitely has relevance in a young child's life. Many of us in the United States may have never experienced having our hands painted for a celebration, but I'm sure we have all felt the worrying feelings of looking a little different due to certain circumstances like Nadia. I like the potential multicultural discussions that could arise when you read this with a child. It's a good chance to discuss different ethnic backgrounds and the tie that connects us as well.