Review by Booklist Review
Isha is excited to tell her elderly neighbor that her nani (grandmother) in India will soon be flying in to celebrate Isha's birthday. She's been telling her favorite neighbors and friends about Nani, who has weekly conversations with Isha via video call. When Nani becomes ill and must postpone her trip, Isha is disappointed that her grandmother will miss her birthday party. Recognizing her sadness, Isha's neighbors offer comfort, and as she delivers party invitations to her neighbors and friends, she begins to value her feeling of kinship with them all. On her birthday, Nani pays Isha a virtual visit and meets her special friends, young and old, who now feel like family. While the basic story may sound somewhat idealized, Isha's first-person narrative clearly expresses her sorrow as well as her happiness in sharing her thoughts and feelings with friends of different ages. Reflecting the story's tone, the illustrations feature simplified forms, rich colors, and an irrepressible sense of joy. A heartfelt, encouraging story that will resonate with kids whose relatives live far away.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young girl of Indian heritage eagerly awaits a relative's arrival. Isha excitedly tells Mrs. Garcia, who lives next door, all about Nani, her grandmother. Christened the "queen of fun," Nani lives across the ocean and loves to dance. Isha video chats with Nani as they both make grand plans for Isha's upcoming birthday party. The next week is a flurry of activity as Isha hands out invitations, picks out a dress, and decorates Nani's room with a welcome banner. Unfortunately, Nani falls ill and must postpone her trip. Upset, Isha rips down the banner and mopes about, but her neighbors and friends rally around to cheer her up. Sensing her disappointment, Mrs. Garcia asks Isha to help her bake cookies for her granddaughter in New York and for Isha, who she says "is like another granddaughter to me." Her comforting words help Isha reflect on her friends, who feel like family, and she enjoys a joyous get-together with her chosen family. Bajaj's heartwarming story, with its clever coinage of the termgrandfriend to describe Mrs. Garcia, encapsulates relationships that grow from a close-knit community. Lobo's endearing illustrations create a sense of coziness and celebration. Isha's surrounded by an intergenerational, multicultural mix of loved ones. A charming rendering of life's ups and downs and those who buoy us along the way.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
