Arthi's Bomma

Words By: Mamta Nainy | Art By: Shruti Prabhu

Doll making is more than tradition. MUCH, MUCH, MORE! 

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. They tell stories older than time. They capture colors that run wild. Bommalu are a celebration of life and more. Much, much more!

An ode to the traditional craftspeople of India, this joyful picture book is a celebration of handmade crafts and artisan communities in a digital age.

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2024 South Asia Book Award: Highly Commended Book

"...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.”—Black Raven, Cannonball Reads

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Themes:
Around the World, Arts and Crafts, Asia, Community, Family, Holidays and Traditions, World Languages