While the rhymes were a bit clunky at times, I appreciate that this book exists. Finding children's books by queer authors in the library is so encouraging, especially when I think about how much I would have appreciated these kinds of things when I was younger. (Which really wasn't all that long ago, but things have changed so much in even just the past fifteen years, I'm so excited to see more LGBTQA literature out there.)

This book touches on identity, gender, culture, and it's all done in a really positive way. I like that it doesn't treat any of those things as a "very special" issue -- the story itself feels really down to earth and authentic, despite the sometimes awkward writing. ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

A little boy is both proud and curious about his Ammi’s dot. He has already noticed many things about it, its many hues, how she applies it, and where she wears it. Now he wants to know exactly what it is. The boy’s mother tells him her Bindi keeps her safe and true. With this explanation, the boy now wants a Bindi, too and asks his mother if she has one to spare.

Critical Analysis: Storybooks can help children make realistic positive judgments as they come to see themselves in relationships and compare themselves with others in characteristics and in physical appearance. The book is a strong choice for developing many components of personality development and especially for building self-concept because it is a model for ethnic identification for the protagonist. Furthermore, Georgis informs that a child's developing self-concept also involves identifying with one’s heritage.

Favorite Quote: "I do not have the words to say but if I close my eyes and wait my bindi turns into a star, and then my forehead turns into the sky, that's when all my fears fade out of sight and my body feels so light - Ammi was so very right." ( )

“The Boy and the Bindi” is a colorful, portrayal of a mother and her son, sharing in the story of the traditional “Bindi”. The mother, called “Ammi” is asked by her son what the dot on her forehead is, and she shares with him that it’s a “bindi”, which “keeps [her] safe and true” (Vivek Shraya), and was lovingly passed down to her as a traditional custom by her mother. Bindi’s are more typically worn by women, but “Ammi” never mentions that to her son when he asks to wear one; she simply hands him a yellow dot happily, inviting him into the culture of peace and safety connected to the “dot” on his head. This young boy is learning that a value in his mother and grandmother’s life is wearing a bindi, and the connection that allows them to feel to themselves, their ancestors and to their inner peace and trust. His mother showed him the value of family, culture and individual identity is far more important than gender roles, through the easy introduction she provided him to the bindi, with no regard to the fact that women are the ones who typically wear it, and that those in their neighborhood may not understand it. This book portrays gender roles as being less important than family connection. This is a highly recommended read for any family or class. ( )

Gorgeous. The illustrations are beautiful and there are some great messages about culture and remembrance, gender identity and queerness, being different and embracing that, feeling like you're not good enough and changing that, etc. Lovely! ( )