A Dupatta Is . . .

Written by

Marzieh Abbas

Illustrated by Anu

Chouhan

MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING GROUP

A Dupatta Is . . .

Marzieh Abbas; illustrated by Anu Chouhan April 2023 A dupatta is so much more than a beautiful piece of fabric.

These shawls—traditionally worn in various cultures of South Asia—are eye-catching and colorful, of course. But they’re also fun and functional, and they carry the sounds and smells of family and identity.

Brightly illustrated by Anu Chouhan, Marzieh Abbas’s debut picture book is a lyrical ode to the much-loved dupatta.

Raised between the bustling cities of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Karachi, Pakistan, Marzieh Abbas loves baking, reading, samosas, and her colorful collection of dupattas. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is a lifelong learner. She runs a kidlit review group on Facebook, and blogs about her author journey and life in Pakistan. marziehabbas.com Anu Chouhan is a Canadian illustrator and video game artist. A trained animator with a background in mobile game development, Anu often combines her love of her Punjabi cultural heritage into her art, as well as drawing inspiration from anime, nature, and global fashion. Her unique, edgy, and energetic art has garnered attention from major publications, celebrities, and influencers online. anumation.ca

Feiwel and Friends An Imprint of Macmillan 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 mackids.com

ISBN: 978-1-250-82094-5 | Price: $18.99 US / $24.99 CAN | On Sale Date: 04/11/2023 | Category: Picture Book Nonfiction Format: Jacketed Trade Hardcover | Pages/Trim: 32 / 11" x 8½" | Age: 3–6

This digital copy has been distributed for promotional and review purposes only. No other uses are allowed, including but not limited to consumer viewing.

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A Feiwel and Friends Book An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 • mackids.com Text copyright © 2023 by Marzieh Abbas. Illustrations copyright © 2023 by Anu Chouhan. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022910004 First edition, 2023 Book design by Mariam Quraishi Art created with Photoshop CC and Procreate on iPad Pro Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto Printed in China by RR Donnelley Asia Printing Solutions Ltd., Dongguan City, Guangdong Province

ISBN 978-1-250-82094-5 (hardcover) 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Written by

Marzieh Abbas

Illustrated by Anu

Chouhan

Cotton balls or silkworm cocoons Plucked and spun into thread Woven into cloth Soft and flowy

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Trimmed into a rectangle Corners neatly tucked Edged with lace Or piped with ribbons

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Dyed to match the deep, rich hues Of Nani’s shalwar kameez

Or the bright, citrus tones Of my lehenga choli

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Swooshing, swashing Like a superhero cape Flitting, flapping Like the wings of a bird

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Cinnamon and cardamom Peppermint oil and crushed coriander Sweet, smoky incense lit before sunset Driving away evil spirits

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Ajrak from Hala Chunri from the Cholistan Desert Phulkari from Bahawalpur Balochi-tanka from Quetta

Swati embroidery from the Swat Valley Kashmiri-tanka from Muzaffarabad But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Protecting

Sheltering Shielding

Rocking

Veiling

Comforting

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Fabric splashed with color Patchwork, appliqué, embroidery Beads, lace, sequins Motifs, block prints, patterns A masterpiece worked by hand

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Silky, sophisticated Trailing like a robe Crimson-red for a bride Draping henna-stained hands

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Playing peekaboo Building cushion forts with dupatta canopies

Pretending to be Dadi, wrapped in a sari

A picnic blanket for a surprise lunch A napkin for cleaning sticky hands

A rope to play tug-of-war

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

As Dadi rolls out her prayer mat Five times a day An ittar-scented dupatta awaits Fastening it firmly in place She raises her hands up in prayer Allowing her worries to slip away

But a dupatta is so much more . . .

Handed down through generations Tucked away for special occasions Creases smoothed out Shoulders braced for a powerful speech

But a dupatta is so much more than fabric, shape, color, sound, scent, place, function, art, beauty, fun, faith, and legacy . . .

Originally a symbol of modesty, a dupatta is a long, wide scarf traditionally worn as part of the national dress of Pakistan, the shalwar kameez. While that symbolism still continues today, many now wear it as an accessory. It is also worn by people of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

The embroidery and fabric styles from which dupattas are crafted often vary depending on where it was made! Locals can often identify where you come from or where you bought the dupatta based on the regions’ famous, iconic patterns.

a long tunic and a baggy pant, the traditional dress of Pakistan, paired with a dupatta. a fancy crop top with flared pants often worn especially for weddings. an essential oil derived from flowers that is used like a perfume, especially for prayer-time. Muslims pray five times a day on a special mat. Dupattas for prayers are usually white, and a special one is set aside for prayers and rolled into the prayer mat. maternal grandma paternal grandma

Playing peekaboo Building cushion forts with dupatta canopies Pretending to be Dadi, wrapped in a sari A picnic blanket for a surprise lunch A napkin for cleaning sticky hands A rope to play tug-of-war