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Super Nani and Captain Yaz

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Book Synopsis

A heartfelt celebration of family, Punjabi culture and the rag doll-making tradition with a dash of superheroes! Brought to life by debut author, Saira Shah, and vibrant illustrations with real ‘POW!’ from Maria Gabriela Gama.

In a bustling city, there lived a little girl called Yazmin. And in a small village far away, there lived an old lady called Nani. Yazmin was Nani’s granddaughter. But the two of them had never, ever met. Yazmin is very excited to meet Nani for the first time. Until they realise getting to know each other is going to be a bit tricky – they don’t speak the same language! But with the help of Yazmin’s trusty superheroes and a new rag doll, Yazmin and Nani find there are ways for them to talk after all.

This touching story encapsulates the communicative power of toys and Saira’s storytelling gives voice to challenges faced by many multi-generational and multi-culture families. Paired with Maria’s artwork, which represents the unbreakable bond between grandparent and child regardless of distance, this book deserves a place on every bookshelf. Perfect for readers of Julian is a Mermaid, The Proudest Blue and Faruq and the Wiri Wiri.

Our Review Panel says...

Yazmin is so excited to meet her Nani for the first time and play superheroes with her, but when she arrives, communication proves difficult as Nani only speaks Punjabi. However, love has a language all of its own, and Nani creates Yazmin a new superhero doll that looks just like her! They begin using their imagination, sharing play and individual words, and they build a strong bond together, proving that communication is more than just spoken language.

I love the references to Yazmin’s Punjabi heritage – the inclusion of words such as khedo and khaao, applying mhendi and wearing the salwar kameez, as well as the Pakistani tradition of mothers making rag dolls for their children. The vibrant illustrations complement the superhero theme, and speech bubbles and clever text placement all combine to make this a very engaging read. It’s refreshing to see a superhero story with a female protagonist at its heart, too.

The back matter includes a glossary, brilliant instructions for creating a rag doll and a personal note from the author about the inspiration for the story. It would be a superb text to use as a springboard for a DT project or for learning more about and celebrating South Asian culture.

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Super Nani and Captain Yaz

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