Beautifully Me

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻; 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲

Picture books based on characters from Bangladesh are rare! This amazing book is about a cheerful Bangladeshi girl Zubi, all set for her first day in school. But she overhears her Amma fret about putting on weight, observes her elder sister choose oatmeal instead of a paratha because she is on a diet and notices Baba talk negatively about putting on weight – making her ponder why ‘large is not good’. Finally, as Zubi breaks down, her family realizes what had gone wrong.

Kids’ perception of the right body image is often a reflection of what adults around them believe in. Children are great listeners and observers; this book skillfully links that attribute to how children perceive their own worth.

What is particularly noteworthy is the use of Bengali/Bangal words like “Shubho shakal” and “khabar”. At the same time, the use of words like “Salaam”, Zubi “jaan”, the illustration of Amma wearing a sari with a hijab highlight the Islamic culture of Bangladesh. Taken together, the choice of words tenderly reflects the harmonious coexistence and shared traditions of Hindus and Muslims of the region. Undoubtedly a great book to add to your collection!