A Garden in my Hands

Picture book written by Meera Sriram and published by Knopf Young Readers (Penguin RandomHouse) There's a wedding tomorrow! And one little girl sits patiently while her mother tenderly applies intricate, delicate henna designs on her hands. As she does, she shares family stories--about weddings, monsoons, and ancestors long gone. The little girl must be careful to protect her hands as the henna dries--one smudge could ruin a story! After a whole night of anticipation, when the flakes are washed away, what will they reveal?

"Dominated by intricate patterns and hues of purple and green, the digital art positively sings.... An intimate, lyrical story about an ancient artistic tradition." - Kirkus STARRED review

"Via saturated digital images that incorporate peacocks and paisley patterns alongside familial scenes, Prabhat’s art juxtaposes fantasy, memory," - Publishers Weekly STARRED review

AWARDS and ACCOLADES

★★★ SELECTED - 2024 Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

★★★ SHORTLISTED - 2024-25 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book (Pennsylvania State) Award

★★★ SHORTLISTED - 2024 CLEL BELL (Colorado Libraries) Award

★★★ Society of Children’s Books FINALIST - Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award in the California/Hawaii division

★★★ SELECTED - American Library Association’s ALSC 2024 Día Reading List

Cover design