Kai Po Che Mini's Perfect Kite

A familial narrative centered on Sankranti, the Indian festival of kites, transforms sibling rivalry into a tale of innovation. Mini, admiring her brother's airborne kite, "longed to fly one of her own." But Bhai's smirking response--"Kites aren't for little girls! Go play with your crafts"--drives her to make one herself. Paper, sticks, and strings "soon took the shapes of Mini's hopes and dreams." Yet after repeated attempts, she still can't get it to fly, until Bhai's instructions finally help the object gain altitude and navigate the kite fights that are part of the day. Though a beat hinges on information provided only in back matter, affectionally punny language from Gupta ("Kite-astrophe!") and a jewel-toned palette from Oza make for a story of fortitude bolstered by lively visuals--the kites read like breezy confetti scattered against the sky. Characters cue as South Asian. Back matter includes an author's note. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)

An Indian girl faces down a rival with her brother. It's Sankranti, "the Indian festival of kites," and Mini wants to join in the fun. But when she asks her brother, Bhai, for a turn flying the kite, he scoffs, "Kites aren't for little girls!" Determined to prove him wrong, Mini designs her own "not-so-perfect" kite, which, despite her best efforts, simply refuses to fly. Although Bhai initially laughs at her struggles, he finally shows her how to get her kite into the air. Mini is overjoyed to see her kite join those of her neighbors flying over her community's rooftops--until a red kite flown by someone they can't see slices through Bhai's kite string, ending his fun. "KAI PO CHE!" yells the unseen attacker as the kite flies away. Can Mini stand up to the red kite's owner…or at least protect her own kite from being stolen? The narrative's abrupt switch from Mini's attempts to prove her brother wrong to her focus on the red kite makes for somewhat uneven storytelling. Still, confident, creative Mini will delight kids. Filled with bright, geometric shapes, Oza's artwork sets a whimsical tone; scenes involving the kite festival are particularly charming, as is a montage of Mini painstakingly designing her own kite. Though it encounters a few bumps along the way, this tale ultimately soars.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.