A Kurta to Remember

by Gauri Dalvi Pandya, Avani Dwivedi (illustrator)

Tomorrow is moving day and one little girl worries about moving so far, far away from her Aaji and Ajoba. But Aaji gifts her with a handmade kurta. A kurta with two big pockets for holding all the small things that will remind the girl of her grandparents--from the mogra flowers in Aaji's hair to Ajoba's diya. Then the girl has an even better idea and helps Aaji make two more kurtas with pockets she can fill to remind her grandparents of her too. When finally they are on other sides of a big ocean, they put on their kurtas--and do not feel so far, far away from one another. This touching story about worry and loving reassurance is part of our Own Voices, Own Stories collection.

Genres: Picture Books, India, Childrens, Indian Literature

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2024

Reviews

[Kelly Rice Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book — both in the vibrant illustrations and the loving relationship depicted between the main character and her grandparents. Together they sew kurtas (traditional Indian clothing) with pockets for each other that they fill with memories to help ease the pain/ anxiety of missing each other. Includes a wonderful glossary of the Marathi words with colorful reference photos. Great for any child with anxiety about separation from a loved one, for those moving far away— a lovely everyday diverse story for any home or library.

[Marie Hermansson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Kurta to Remember by Gauri Dalvi Pandya illustrated by Avani Dwivedi is a wonderfully heartwarming story with colorful vibrant pictures. A little girl is moving away to another country leaving her beloved Aaji (Grandma) and Ajoba (Grandpa). Aaji is sewing a special Kurta (traditional Indian attire) with pockets. Pandya uses the pockets as a clever way to discuss all of the things that will be missed once the little girl moves away. Can Aaji fit into her pocket? A glossary at the end of the book describes what the Marathi words throughout the book mean providing a wonderful cultural education for all children and their adults.

[Colleen Kong-savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt a squeeze on my heart, reading this book. Separation from those that you love is painful. We look for ways to hang on to each other through photos and mementos. The grandparents and granddaughter in A KURTA TO REMEMBER gather meaningful objects, words, and scents and collect them in the pockets of clothes they had sewn with love before the date of granddaughter’s departure. This was their personal way of holding each other close, by wearing their handmade kurtas while so far apart. The storyline is simple, but the book is so rich in emotion and Indian culture. I highly recommend it.

[Michelle Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this heartfelt story, the main character fears missing her grandparents and forgetting her language and the memories they made together after she moves to a new home. Through sewing a special kurta together imbued with trinkets and memories of their time together, her grandparents show her that we carry our loved ones with us no matter the distance between us. The illustrations by Avani Dwidevi are full of colorful textures that mimic the texture of fabric, and I loved the addition of photos in the back of the book that showcased more of the author's culture and the Marathi language.

[Sita Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A KURTA TO REMEMBER is a heartwarming story about a little girl who fears missing her aaji and aajoba and the memories they made together after she moves to a new place. To overcome her worries, the grandparents and granddaughter sew special kurtas which will carry meaningful objects, words, sounds, and scents. Gauri’s delightful text pairs perfectly with Avani’s vibrant illustrations to show that we carry our loved ones with us no matter the distance between us. I highly recommend this book for families, schools, and libraries.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was both beautiful and heartwarming. There is something about the relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents that I absolutely adore. The three characters share such a special bond that is captured by the bright and vibrant illustrations. A Kurta to Remember does include words in Marathi which is a language spoken in West India. While I struggled to sound out the words, it was great seeing a language that I was unfamiliar with and one that is not often represented in children's literature.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl is moving far away and is angry about leaving behind her grandparents. Her Aaji (grandmother) is making her a kurta with pockets to hold precious memories of her home and family. The girl decides they need two more kurtas with pockets for each of her grandparents to have their own memories of her. My students will find so much to talk about in this book in my very diverse elementary schools.

This is such a beautiful story and stunningly illustrated with details to explore for readers and listeners alike.

[Traci Huahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt and beautifully-illustrated book that tells the story of a girl and her grandparents’ special bond and the unique kurtas that they sew to hold onto their love for one another as little Gappu prepares to move away. I love all the symbolic cultural elements and sensory details in this book. A great story that combines themes of moving away, family bonds, and Indian traditions – highly recommend!

[Ashley Belote · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Kurta to Remember is a sweet story about a little girl preparing to move to a new country, away from her grandparents. The cultural facts presented are amazing and you learn a lot about Marathi, the language used in the western region of India. There is a great section of back matter with terms and images at the end to further engage eager readers. The art throughout is beautiful and presents readers with an additional layer of culture.

[Shivanidalvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kurta to remember is a beautiful read. A lovely read about how a little girl who is moving and she and her grandparents are finding ways to keep their memories alive by the little things in life. My eyes totally welled up reading this book, as I felt these emotions exactly! Gauri has described each and every small detail to the point and I love how she writes from her heart and her experiences. That’s her speciality. :)

[Natasha Tripplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story full of heart. A little girl is sad to have to move far away from her grandparents. She is worried that she will miss them. Together they make Kurtas with pockets so that they can remember each other. The artwork is beautiful. The rich colors ground the story. I loved learning a small piece of the love shared in another culture. I recommend this universal story of love.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving to a new home and a new country is especially hard when you are leaving your grandparents behind. But this little girl’s grandmother sews a very special kurta for her - it has lots of pockets to store treasured items that will trigger memories and help her remember that those who love her are with her always.

[Madison Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

multicultural book about a girl moving away from her grandparents to a different country so they sew and create Kurta's together to remind eachother of the others. very cute story but I don't understand some of the words the book is referring to, so i believe it may be more difficult for younger children who are unfamiliar with this culture.

[Kimberly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and heartfelt words capture a story rich in family and culture—one about holding loved ones and memories with them close even when a move physically separates them. This book is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf!

[Samantha Cleaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story about the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter, connecting through clothing and sewing, and staying connected when we’re far away from family. My kids loved the theme of filling pockets in this book! And, we loved learning more about south Asian culture.

[Shweta Dogra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its such a heartwarming story, brought back memories of grandparents and their special bond with younger ones. Children are sure to enjoy this as well since its beautifully illustrated. Gauri Dalvee Pandya has brought a delightful read!

[Leslie Barnard Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this beautiful book about remembering family, holding onto culture, and being together and in each other's thoughts even when you are apart.

[Erin Dealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about hanging onto memories and loved ones even if we are far away. The glossary with the Marathi words used in the story adds an extra layer to this heartfelt story.

[Annette Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A KURTA TO REMEMBER is a lovely and warm story about remembering family, even when you are far away. Emotional and beautiful, this book is a must read.

[KhiN’Millie Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of words not defined

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A grandmother sews kurtas with pockets which will be filled with items to evoke memories for separated family.

[Svapna Sabnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

a Kurta to remember

Lyrical, loving and gentle. A colorful evocative story about love between grandparents and grandchildren . I loved the use of Marathi words and script