Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A simply fantastic book about raising an Indian child in an American society. How to go about interweaving the two cultures and still embracing the original heritage. Wonderfully educational even for adults. Simply beautiful illustrations and story.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
It is always good to learn about your family’s culture. Kids viewpoints are so fun especially when it comes to their heritage and learning about where our family lineage comes from is super important.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
The young boy noticed that his mom was having them dress in their special clothes that they only wore to big events. He asks his mom if he’s Indian today. She explains to him how her parents came to America to make a better life for their family and the boy was born in America. However, he is Indian everyday no matter what clothes he wears. His mom is honoring their culture and legacy by wearing their traditional attire and explaining her parents’ history.
This is a beautifully illustrated story that shows the author’s culture. It is so important to share different cultures with people so they learn the histories, the beauty of each one.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Sheeba Varghese does a fine job of interweaving cultural identification into daily life for an American child born of the Indian culture. The little boy in her story speaks of his curiosity regarding his identity – is he American on some days, and Indian on special occasions? The boy’s mother uses his innocent question as a teaching opportunity regarding their shared history and their family’s immigration from India, while simultaneously emphasizing cultural heritage via dress. The little boy explains to the reader, that in his culture, women wear a garment known as a Sari, while men and boys wear Kurta pajamas and a Stole. All in the context of attending a wedding.
The story is wonderful for its ability to help children of Indian heritage, become less confused about cultural differences. In addition, I believe it is a valuable tool for teaching others a smattering about the Indian culture and should be included in both elementary grade and community libraries everywhere. Suitable for ages 3 – 5, and for parental reading.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the gorgeous illustrations in this book. The end papers are stunning. Tori Tilahun uses a technique that is part intensive illustration combined with a watercolor wash to produce the books pictures – especially effective in capturing aging family photos.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wanted to read this book because I can relate to feeling confused about your identity, especially as a child. Sheeba Varghese explains this really well at the end of the story, and delves into a little bit of backstory, history, and culture, but I wish we got to learn a little bit more and possibly have some stronger character introductions. I recommend this book because it could help children of colour better understand their identity, and other children learn about a different culture. The illustrations by Tori Tilahun are beautiful. “We are not just Indians today when we were these fancy clothes. We are Indians every day.”
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love this story and how we get the perspective of the kids. As parents, we often forget that sometimes kids don’t understand the nuances of culture and can come to conclusions about themselves and it’s our job to make sure that we are teaching our children. I love how Varghese addresses these issues in her story. It’s lighthearted and completely as a child would (I suspect this comes from personal experiences) and the way it’s handled by the mother is phenomenal. She uses it as a learning opportunity to teach her children not only about their culture, but also about their family. I loved this book not only for the story but also the illustrations and the bright colors. Definitely pick this one up today!
Reviewed by @meggs1717
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Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story introduced children to the idea that just because they aren’t celebrating their culture everyday doesn’t mean they aren’t a part of that culture. In this story the little boy asks his mom if he is Indian that day because they are getting dressed in traditional Indian clothing for a wedding. The mom explains where their family is from and how they are always Indian. The illustrations help the author paint a beautiful portrait of this family and the country of their heritage. This is a very short story and doesn’t deep dive into the idea of cultural self. What it does do is open the conversation for families.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute book. It was a little advanced for my 4 year old. I like how she explained to her boys a little about their heritage. They understood a bit more. I liked that it told us the names of the garments that they wore.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We can all learn a thing or two about the cultures around us. Learning about our heritage and cultural identity is so important to our families. The more our children know the better we will all be. The author shares a question in this interesting story. I really enjoyed this story. It was informative as well as captivating. What a pleasure to find out such interesting information about my own niece and nephew. Family history is so very important in society today. Our children are our leaders and can learn from every story they are allowed to read. I hope to discover more from this author. A must read!!!
Review@cinful
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Mommy, Am I Indian Today?* is a delightful and thought-provoking children’s book that elegantly addresses the complexities of cultural identity through the innocent lens of a child’s curiosity. The book showcases the vibrant journey of a family as they navigate their multicultural identity, emphasizing that one’s heritage extends far beyond clothing to encompass a rich tapestry of traditions, values, and cultural legacies. Varghese expertly weaves her family’s migration story into the narrative, providing readers with a context for the broader immigrant experience that resonates on multiple levels. By sharing personal anecdotes, she fosters a connection with young readers, prompting them to reflect on their own cultural backgrounds.
One of the standout features of this book is the stunning, vibrant illustrations that accompany the text. Each page is alive with color and detail, bringing the story’s cultural elements to life. These visual representations not only captivate young readers but also serve as a bridge to a deeper understanding of cultural attire and traditions, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. A little boy asked about his heritage and his mom told him. I love how it’s sweet, simple and age appropriate. It also leaves the door open for more questions and sharing about family. I enjoyed the sharing of the outfit that they often wear to celebrations. I believe our society should just share more about each other’s cultures like that. It’s kind of cool to learn about that .
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful book. I love the Indian culture, and this book is a good tool to teach other Indian children that they are not just Indian when they put on their cultural garments but everyday. And that they should be proud of where they come from and what their families have accomplished. The art work is also very lovely, kind of water color like, the colors are beautiful.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Mommy, Am I An Indian Today? is a sweet children’s storybook inspired by the author’s own son asking her that very question. The story is accompanied by cute, bright, colourful, and engaging illustrations that really made the story ‘pop’.
We follow as our characters explore cultural/multi-cultural identity and heritage, embrace and celebrate cultural roots and traditions- and discusses the importance of honouring one’s ancestors. There is a bit of an educational component to the story too.
I love reading stories that celebrate diverse backgrounds, while showing/teaching us about different cultures along the way.
Happy Reading…
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first experience with this author’s work, and it was nothing short of amazing! The storyline is simple yet captivating and informative. While it is gearing toward younger readers, I still found myself thoroughly engaged with the turn of every page. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and vibrant, beautifully enhancing the narrative. This book will definitely have a permanent place on our shelves. Both of my kiddos, ages 8 and 12, loved every bit of this book, and it also sparked some good conversations between us. I highly recommend getting this book and sharing it with young readers in your life. I can’t wait to explore more of this author’s work!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This charmingly illustrated story stemmed from one innocent question: “Mommy, Am I Indian, Today?” It is a story of embracing your heritage and knowing who you are every day but that traditional clothes the Kurtas is only worn for special occasions and in this case for a wedding. Sheeba has created an inspiring tale of diversity, culture, and ethnicity. It’s a story of family, heritage, and celebrating not only who you are, but also others around you. Although it is a children’s book, it holds important lessons for adults as well.
My grandsons loved this story; afterwards, they shared about the differences within their groups of friends. I am happy to say that I raised my kids right, and they have passed down the same philosophies to their children, and I’m sure to my great grandbabies.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute, quick read about a child who is learning about their culture. The family is going to a wedding so they put on their “fancy clothes”. Since the family only wears their Kurtas for special occasions, the child asks their mother if they are Indian today. The mother then goes into details about the family heritage and how they are Indian everyday.
I thought this book was a fun way to introduce Indian fashion culture in terms that and pictures that would make children understand easier. The illustrations were also very nice and detailed.
Mommy, Am I Indian Today? by Sheeba Varghese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A cute little story about a young child who had to get dressed up in a special outfit for every special occasion. As he is getting dressed up to match his brother’s outfit, he asks his Mommy, Am I Indian today?
She goes on to explain to him their ancestory and answers his questions.
Loved the pictures and can’t wait to read it to my grand daughter.
.•°*°•. BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE .•°*°•.
In the vibrant Bay Area of San Francisco, Sheeba Varghese resides with her husband, Santosh, where they indulge in fine dining, embark on exciting adventures around the world, and cheer passionately for their beloved team, the Warriors. As the CEO & Founder of Defining Moments 365 LLC, she leads a coaching consultancy dedicated to leadership training and coaching. A defining moment in her life sparked a profound desire to create children’s books, fueled by her love for simplicity and her experiences raising her own children, now adults. Through her stories, she seeks to impart valuable lessons and spread joy to the younger generation of readers.
