Romina's Rangoli

Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami

When her teacher asks each student to bring in something reflecting his or her cultural heritage, Romina doesn't know how she's going to represent the cultures she's inherited from each of her parents—her father is from India and her mother from Mexico. Romina's teenaged sister Leela suggests that she make rangoli designs, representations of the colorful and intricate ephemeral floor art that is found in many parts of India. But that's not enough for Romina, who doesn't want to leave the Mexican side of her family out. Some touches exemplify the choices of identity that this family has made. Romina calls her father Appa. In conversation with Romina, her mother uses the Spanish mija as a term of affection, and it's clear also that Romina is to some degree bilingual in English and Spanish, although we can't tell whether she also knows an Indian language. The blending of their heritage material cultures is shown with a light touch. Appa makes chutney in a Mexican molcajete. And in the end, in this picture book debut, two arts from two continents become hybridized and united in a single school project. It is nice to see a blend in which both cultures are specific to different immigrant groups and neither is portrayed as generically "American." Although the author's intention is occasionally a little too evident in the writing, this is an interesting addition to the multicultural shelf. Back matter includes detailed notes on both rangoli and the Mexican paper art known as papel picado. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3- Romina's father comes from India, and her mother comes from Mexico. The girl is proud of her dual heritage, but when her teacher asks each child to bring something to school that represents their family, she is unsure what to do. How can she choose one of her beloved cultures without slighting the other? The girl's solution is to make a design reflecting an Indian art form using a traditional Mexican medium. Iyengar's writing is a bit stiff and didactic in some places, but it is clear, and readers will be able to navigate without trouble. Some Hindi and Spanish words are not translated in the text, but context makes them clear. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are realistic. Depicting Romina's family, their ethnic foods, and the girl's diverse classmates, they appear to be done on a heavy, textured paper that adds depth and interest. Colors are saturated and intense but not overly bright. An author's note explains rangoli and papel picado (Indian and Mexican art forms, respectively), including illustrations and fairly detailed explanations. While the answer Romina finds to her problem will not work for all interracial children, it will give them ideas for when they have to complete a similar assignment. The book can also be used to start a valuable discussion of the great diversity of this country.-Marian Drabkin, formerly at Richmond Public Library, CA

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