The Boy & The Bindi
Published by Arsenal Pulp Press
The Boy & The Bindi is a playful picture book about a young boy’s fascination with the dot on his mother’s forehead.
Ammi, why do you wear that dot?
What’s so special about that spot?It’s not a dot, says my Ammi—
It’s not a spot, it’s a bindi!
With his mom’s help, the boy discovers that wearing a bindi allows him to joyfully explore and express his difference—and that even a little “spot” can be meaningful and magical.
Featuring illustrations by Rajni Perera.
Winner
- South Asia Book Award · Highly Commended Book
Unforgettable.
Some of the most lush illustrations I’ve ever seen… the picturebook is sure to delight readers, young and old.
Beautiful and inspiring treasure.
A beautiful read and a visual extravaganza.
Imparting an important lesson on inclusivity and individuality, this multicultural, intergenerational story of young agency is a timely acquisition for all libraries.
…And most precious and rare of all among children’s books, it’s a well told, richly illustrated representation of expansive gender that isn’t white. This matters because, like so much of children’s publishing, books that feature kids exploring gender in non-traditional ways almost always feature white characters.
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