A lyrical and charming picture book celebrating henna, a traditional plant-based form of temporary tattooing in South Asian, North African, and Middle Eastern cultures.
Henna is so much more than a form of temporary body art.
Henna is nature-seeds sprouted into shrubs, leaves kissed by tropical rain.
Henna is color-the orange of juicy mangoes, sun-kissed brown, or black as the feathers of crows.
Henna is fragrance-earthy and nutty, lemony and clove-y.
The intricate patterns of flowers, feathers, vines, and other symbols painted and stained onto skin has been a tradition in cultures all around the world for thousands of years. Beautiful and eye-catching, henna also carries the scents, textures, and colors of family and identity.
"The book's refrain is, 'But henna is so much more...' and in delicate, poetic language, Abbas explains just how much more there is. ... Chouhan's renderings of the intricate, complex henna patterns are especially striking. ... A tranquil and colorful exploration of an art form that has been around for thousands of years, this should be in all picture book collections."
School Library Journal, starred review
"Writing in vivid, sensory language, [Abbas] offers an all-encompassing exploration of the topic, accompanied by Chouhan's enticing illustrations dominated by floral patterns and symbols from the various cultures where henna is popular. Nontraditional henna designs"
