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The Katha Chest Hardcover – Picture Book, March 1, 2022

by Radhiah Chowdhury (Author), Lavanya Naidu (Illustrator)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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Reminiscent of Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow’s Mommy’s Khimar, this beautifully woven tale about the bonds of love, culture, and memory follows a young girl learning about her family history through her grandmother’s katha chest.

Asiya loves to visit Nanu’s house where she can rummage through Nanu’s katha chest filled with quilts. There are stories in each of the quilts that her Nanu has collected through the years, all about the bold and brave women in Asiya’s family. Among all of the games and exciting things at Nanu’s house, Asiya thinks these hidden histories are the grandest treasure.
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  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD1080L
  6. Dimensions
    11 x 0.4 x 9 inches
  7. Publisher
    Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    March 1, 2022
  9. ISBN-10
    1665903902
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1665903905
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Asiya knows that inside her nanu's house, there is a treasure chest. It is the katha chest, filled with quilts her Nanu made out of old saris. As Asiya examines each quilt, she thinks of the women the saris once belonged to and the stories that define their unique strengths. While Asiya does not narrate, the text has a simplicity evocative of childhood, focusing primarily on her sensory exploration of the katha quilts. After Asiya introduces each quilt, along with a brief reference to the woman who wore the sari, the following page spread conveys the woman's story in four highly detailed wordless panels. For example, the panels show a woman wearing the sari; holding her three worried children close to her pregnant belly as her husband strides away bearing the flag of Bangladesh; cradling her newborn and older children within her sari, while an image above shows shadowy figures firing guns; and the husband returned to his smiling family, holding the youngest child and wearing a medal. Many of the panels portray serious issues such as war and death. Most young readers will need the guidance of an adult, and for that reason the book may be best suited to one-on-one reading. The volume of significant visual details, many specific to Bangladeshi culture, mean this book can be explored at multiple levels. Educators can simply enjoy a vibrant story about family, or use the book to discuss the impact of trauma and the power of resilience. VERDICT This engaging and colorful celebration of the legacy of strength shared by women is recommended for general purchase.-Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P. L., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About the Author

Radhiah Chowdhury grew up at the mercy of a highly enthusiastic children’s librarian. She has been an avid lover of books ever since and is passionate about stories that reflect all the magnificent different facets and experiences of a community and has been an advocate for representative publishing in her work as both an editor and an author. She’s the author of picture books Jumble and Katha Chest. Radhiah now lives in Sydney, Australia.

Lavanya Naiduis an animator, designer, and award-winning children’s book illustrator, born and raised in Kolkata, India. Her work has most recently been featured at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content as a selection for their Digital Gallery 2020. Lavanya now lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 1, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1665903902
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665903905
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD1080L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11 x 0.4 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
19 global ratings
A lovely intergenerational story of durability, woven with beauty
5 Stars
A lovely intergenerational story of durability, woven with beauty
I think what I like most about this book is how the charming MC works through the layers of family history (and their corresponding katha quilts), almost as if she was doing an archeological dig. Each katha quilt contains its own story, but they also form a collection that shows the creativity, resourcefulness, care, and art of each of the women in the family who have created them. At the end of the book (spoiler!), we find out why the katha quilts have come out and whom the family has come together to celebrate and remember with these very special handmade testaments. A great book to spark stories with extended and elder family members.
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Top reviews from the United States

WALID REZANOOR
5.0 out of 5 stars Love!
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
Great book!
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ryan and sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised at how much my children enjoyed this lovely, quiet story. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text is warm and engaging.
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Elayne Crain
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely intergenerational story of durability, woven with beauty
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022
I think what I like most about this book is how the charming MC works through the layers of family history (and their corresponding katha quilts), almost as if she was doing an archeological dig. Each katha quilt contains its own story, but they also form a collection that shows the creativity, resourcefulness, care, and art of each of the women in the family who have created them. At the end of the book (spoiler!), we find out why the katha quilts have come out and whom the family has come together to celebrate and remember with these very special handmade testaments. A great book to spark stories with extended and elder family members.
Customer image
Elayne Crain
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely intergenerational story of durability, woven with beauty
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022
I think what I like most about this book is how the charming MC works through the layers of family history (and their corresponding katha quilts), almost as if she was doing an archeological dig. Each katha quilt contains its own story, but they also form a collection that shows the creativity, resourcefulness, care, and art of each of the women in the family who have created them. At the end of the book (spoiler!), we find out why the katha quilts have come out and whom the family has come together to celebrate and remember with these very special handmade testaments. A great book to spark stories with extended and elder family members.
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One person found this helpful
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Islamic School Librarian
4.0 out of 5 stars Needs backmatter to help connect with readers
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2022
This 40 page picture book for preschoolers and up shows connection to family, memories, and Bangladeshi culture as a little girl explores the quilts made from her Maa and aunts' worn out saris.  This book has been on my radar for a while and while there is nothing wrong with the slow and thoughtful story, it didn't sweep me up in a hug and wow me, as I had hoped it would.  The illustrations are as critical as the words in conveying the message, and the illustrations are indeed beautiful, I guess I just needed more.  More connection to the emotion the little girl was feeling recalling the strong women in her life, more impact to the fact that her Nanu is no longer with them, and more understanding about the history of Bangladesh that seems to shape the memories.  I worry that most readers simply won't get anything other than the surface level of the book, which is ok, the memories woven through generations manifesting in quilts, is tangible and perhaps enough.  I feel like, however, the framing of the story and the textless illustration pages attempted to add more layers to the story, and I think to anyone not Bangladeshi, those layers might not be understood.  I wish their was an afterward with notes about the pictured references, inclusion of such backmatter would really open the book up to a wider audience, and give the book discussion and staying power in my opinion.  If you are Bangladeshi this book will be a treasure I'm sure, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

Asiya loves going to her Nanu's house, there are treasures there.  Her favorite treasure is the katha chest.  An old trunk full of the quilts made from the old worn out saris of her Nanu, Maa, and khalas. She snuggles in their warmth and listens to the stories they tell. Stories of hardship, joy, skills learned, moves made, loss, death, love and family.

Boro Khala's looks like Khalu's medal, from a sad time when he was away.  Mejo Khala bright oranges and yellow like her fingers.  Shejo Khala's is stiff and neat, she is never messy.  Choto Khala's has a white streak like the white saris she wears since Khalu died.  Maa's katha is patchworked and different than the others, and Nanu's is paper thin and smells of tea, old books, porcelain and wood.

There is an author's note and illustrator's note detailing the construction and value of kathas, but nothing about Bangladeshi wars, wearing white after a husband's death, or the skills and artistry shown.  The book would read well with context or activities about family heirlooms, connections, and traditions.
3 people found this helpful
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Brinda
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2022
This book NEEDS to be in every library, and not just because Bangladeshi representation is (unfortunately) scarce. It’s because the storytelling is seamless, inspiring, and nuanced.

Asiya loves going through the chest of kathas her grandmother had sewn from worn saris. In wordless spreads, we see stories of women wearing the saris that eventually become the kathas. These kathas spark important conversations in her family about war, art, education, death, poverty, hard work, leadership, and religion.

I’m the illustrator’s note, Lavanya Naidu mentions using real saris from her own family, as well as those from the author’s family, to draw the saris in the book. She used the Bengali Pattachitra style of cloth painting for the wordless panels.
One person found this helpful
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Stacey B
5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet book
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
This book IS a treasure chest filled with family history, traditions and love! I enjoyed following the main character as she sorts through all the beautifully illustrated quilts, uncovering stories about the powerful women in her family.
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Top reviews from other countries

A. Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
I shared it with my British Bangladeshi teaching students who loved it too.
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