Meena's Saturday
Kusum Mepani author Yasmeen Ismail illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Young Readers
Published:1st Oct '24
£16.99
Supplier delay - available to order, but may take longer than usual.
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 favourite cousins, the women crowd into the kitchen to cook. The doorbell rings nonstop as family, neighbours, 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.
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
ISBN: 9780593110317
Dimensions: 237mm x 288mm x 9mm
Weight: 454g
40 pages