Romina's Rangoli
By Malathi Michelle Iyengar
Shen’s Books, 2007

Review by Sandhya Nankani
From Kahani Fall 2008



In Romina’s Rangoli (Shen’s Books, 2007), Romina’s class assignment is to make a project that represents the culture of her family. With an Indian father and a Mexican mother, she has a dilemma: How can she do a project that leaves one of them out? Inspired by her neighbor Mr. Gonzalez, Romina uses Mexican papercutting techniques to create an Indian rangoli floor design! Jennifer Wanardi’s manga-influenced drawings complement Malathi Michelle Iyengar’s uplifting story about growing up multiracial.