Henna Is . . . - by Marzieh Abbas (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A picture book that serves young readers as a lyrical love letter to henna, written by Muslim Book Reviewer Award winner Marzieh Abbas and brilliantly illustrated by Anu Chouhan.

Henna is so much more than a form of temporary body art.

Henna is nature--seeds sprouted into shrubs, leaves kissed by tropical rain.

Henna is color--the orange of juicy mangoes, sun-kissed brown, or black as the feathers of crows.

Henna is fragrance--earthy and nutty, lemony and clove-y.

The intricate patterns of flowers, feathers, vines, and other symbols painted and stained onto skin has been a tradition in cultures all around the world for thousands of years. Beautiful and eye-catching, henna also carries the scents, textures, and colors of family and identity.

Review Quotes

Praise for Henna Is...:

"The book's refrain is, 'But henna is so much more...' and in delicate, poetic language, Abbas explains just how much more there is. ... Chouhan's renderings of the intricate, complex henna patterns are especially striking. ... A tranquil and colorful exploration of an art form that has been around for thousands of years, this should be in all picture book collections." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Writing in vivid, sensory language, [Abbas] offers an all-encompassing exploration of the topic, accompanied by Chouhan's enticing illustrations dominated by floral patterns and symbols from the various cultures where henna is popular. Nontraditional henna designs--smiley faces, ice cream cones, thunderbolts--appear, too, lending a playfulness to the art. A joyful look at an important cultural tradition." --Kirkus Reviews

"Colorful and affirming illustrations mirror each description, leaving cultural insiders warmly gratified and cultural outsiders with new knowledge. An author's note adds a little more context. ... Pair Henna Is . . . with Meera Sriram's A Garden in My Hands (2023) and Zain Bandali's Mehndi Boy (2023) for a cute text set all about henna." --Booklist

Praise for A Dupatta Is...:

"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. ... From color to function, beauty to identity, the dupatta's significance is shown through vivid illustrations from -Chouhan. ... This book exquisitely represents the legacy that is the dupatta through imagery and descriptive text for a beautiful lesson in culture." --School Library Journal

"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. ... The book's warm, well-chosen language depicts a joyful, accurate representation of a dupatta's multigenerational importance in family life. ... A lyrical, multisensory celebration of a South Asian garment." --Kirkus Reviews

"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. ... 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." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh Abbas loves traveling, baking, reading and samosas. She is the author of A Dupatta Is... and Henna Is..., a member of SCBWI, 12x12PB, and a life-long learner.

Anu Chouhan is a Punjabi-Canadian illustrator from Vancouver. She is the illustrator of picture books A Dupatta Is... and Henna Is... and the graphic novel Aru Shah and the End of Time. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to pursue an artistic career and spent a lot of time learning about animation, while drawing inspiration from video games, fashion, anime, bollywood movies, and nature.