MEHNDI BOY

An Ismaili Shia Muslim boy’s interest in a traditional art form puts him at odds with his favorite uncle.

Tehzeeb’s family is helping plan his cousin Rahima’s wedding. When visiting Rahima, they meet the artist finalizing her mehndi (alternatively known as henna, a plant-based paste used to decorate the skin) designs. Watching her create delicate designs, Tehzeeb is mesmerized by their beauty. As he practices drawing on family, friends, and neighbors, he earns the nickname Mehndi Boy and imagines himself as a famous mehndi artist. He brushes off unkind comments, but when his uncle curtly tells him that mehndi isn’t for boys, an upset Tehzeeb is hesitant to practice anymore. But when things go wrong on the day of Rahima’s pre-wedding ceremony, Tehzeeb has the chance to put things right—and to open up a dialogue with his uncle. Lively illustrations showcase expressive characters of varying brown hues in a loving family of Indo-Tanzanian heritage. Swahili and Gujrati phrases, foods, and traditions pepper the story, showcasing an underrepresented diasporic community. Tehzeeb’s passion for art shines through in this well-crafted, sensitively rendered chapter book as the boy explores his anxieties about bucking traditional gender roles and his doubts about articulating his feelings to those he loves.

A sweet story about loving oneself and expressing creativity through art.