Sadiq Wants to Stitch

This is a simple but heart-warming tale that shows how gender norms must and can be defied. It also highlights the beautiful relationship between a mother and her son. It shows how intergenerational change can be simple and can be embraced openly ~Booked For Life

Encouraging children to read books similar to this, is essential to enable them to tackle a society rife with their opinions on who gets to do what. ~MultiStory

Author Mamta Nainy chooses to subvert notions of gender by creating the character of a young Bakarwal boy who loves to stitch and who follows his heart despite the fact that boys in his community only tend to the livestock. ~GoodBooks

A lovely book by Mamta Nainy that breaks gender norms and also offers us a peek into the life of the Bakarwals and brings attention to their dying craft. ~Indian Moms Connect

I loved the bright colors used in this story. The reader can clearly see that the inspiration for these rugs come from the beautiful colors found in this mountainous region--green grass of the hillside, yellow on a bird’s beak, and blue of the clear sky. This book is perfect for children over the age of three years. This is a great story to let children know they can do and be whatever they want. ~Youth Services Book Review

"This picture book gives an authentic peek into the lush meadows and high mountains where [Sadiq's] tribe travels to find the best grass for their herd...It also highlights gender stereotypes in his community...Colorful watercolor illustrations show expansive landscapes, vibrant embroidered rugs...Defying gender stereotypes, this book touches upon important topics." - Kirkus Reviews ~Kirkus Reviews

"In sturdy, colorful spreads, Wadia portrays mountain scenery and the tent where Sadiq lives with his widowed mother, Ammi, who stitches rugs in bright yarn motifs...[Nainy] delivers triumph for Sadiq and warm gratification in his mother’s prompt about-face, creating a warm picture of gender role resistance" - Publishers Weekly ~Publishers Weekly

"This simple, heartwarming story shines a light on the Bakarwals, a nomadic community of shepherds and goatherds in the Pir Panjal ranges and the Himalayan mountains of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Wadia’s delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations showcase the ornate designs of the embroidered rugs (a traditional shepherd craft of the Bakarwal people) and convey the emotional range of the story." - School Library Journal ~School Library Journal

"Its message of love, passion, responsibility, and cultural norms is clear, and while the reading level is approximately third to fourth grade, children aged seven to eleven will likely feel fondness for it. Further, it’s ideal for classrooms across the globe in which culture is illuminated." - Seattle Book Review ~Seattle Book Review

"In this tender tale of possibility and hope, the message is both universal and culturally specific, bringing attention to a part of the world seldom seen in literature. Back matter provides context about the unique lives and craft of the Bakarwal people." - Booklist ~Booklist