THE BEAUTIFUL LAYERS OF ME

A young girl receives her first salwar kameez.

It’s Ameena’s auntie’s nikah (a Muslim wedding ceremony), and Ameena feels like a princess as she dons the tunic, pants, and dupatta that Babu (Dad) hands her. But when she heads outside, her neighbor mistakes the outfit for a pair of pajamas. The innocent comment fills Ameena with doubt. She attempts to confide in her mother, but Amma’s busy preparing for the wedding. While fidgeting, Ameena accidentally rips her tunic, forcing her to change into a Western-style dress. She’s filled with relief until a younger cousin asks Ameena why she’s not wearing a salwar kameez, too. Luckily, Ameena’s regret is short-lived; thanks to Babu’s quick handiwork, she ends up wearing the newly mended salwar kameez with confidence and joy. Ameena’s emotional twists and turns feel authentic and relatable, and her eventual pride in her outfit—and, by extension, her identity—will resonate with young people. In Mhasane’s tidily composed illustrations, the brown-skinned family’s bright ensembles pop against the relatively subdued backgrounds. Babu’s words—“These clothes are a part of our heritage”—hearten Ameena and will do the same for readers, though some youngsters may be curious about her background, which isn’t discussed in depth (the brief glossary refers to the Guyanese term “gyal” and defines “salwar kameez” as a “South Asian garment”).

An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions.