The Boy and the Bindi

Summary of Book

In this beautiful children’s picture book by Vivek Shraya, author of the acclaimed God Loves Hair, a five-year-old South Asian boy becomes fascinated with his mother’s bindi, the red dot commonly worn by Hindu women to indicate the point at which creation begins, and wishes to have one of his own. Rather than chastise her son, she agrees to it, and teaches him about its cultural significance, allowing the boy to discover the magic of the bindi, which in turn gives him permission to be more fully himself.

Author Biography

Vivek Shraya is a writer, musician, performer, and filmmaker. His previous books include the novel She of the Mountains and the YA book God Loves Hair, and he has been shortlisted for Lambda Literary Awards three times. He has read and performed at shows, festivals and post-secondary institutions internationally.

Illustrator Biography

Rajni Perera is a Sri Lankan-born artist whose internationally showcased work floats between Western and immigrant culture.