Ritu Weds Chandni // written and illustrated by Ameya Narvankar

I'm so glad I got to read this one. The illustrations in this book are absolutely amazing. I found myself staring at them much longer than I usually spend on children's book illustrations. The story was both sad as well as uplifting and something we really need more of. We get both an insight into the difficulties that same-sex marriages, a topic that may feel difficult to introduce their child to for some, still face today as well as the graceful way in which Ayesha shows her bravery in the face of that difficulty. This book is really lovely and a great start for this author and illustrator. I'm looking forward to what he will produce in the future.

why you need this story in your life ( regardless of your age ) :

➤ features a wlw couple getting married as the central storyline — in a traditional manner, the same way weddings of straight couples are carried out, cleverly indicating that same-sex couples aren't an alien concept that does not adhere to tradition and custom.
➤ simply beautiful art, portraying different skin tones, colourful saris and pretty wedding snapshots at the end !
➤ a very cute girl who is her cousin's biggest supporter and one of the best allies EVER.
➤ a glossary at the end for english translations of the few hindi words sprinkled throughout the story.
➤ showcases the fact that while homophobia is very much a thing and almost ruins their blessed day, ritu and chandni still have a close-knit group of loved ones to support them.
➤ have i mentioned the art ?
➤ doesn't make the central wlw couple an unnecessary spectacle — their wedding seems natural enough to convince any child that homophobic people are unreasonable and illogical.
➤ shows how even a little girl can make a big difference in her own way and bring about happiness and love.
➤ in a note at the end, the author mentioned that growing up, he found a severe lack of lgbtqiap+ stories, and acknowledged that wlw have it worse due to heavier societal expectations; this becomes a disadvantage for lgbtqiap+ people because growing up, queer people do not know what a healthy relationship is supposed to look like.
➤ the sheer cuteness !
➤ the author has also recommended some south asian lgbtqiap+ books at the end !
➤ THE ART.

For whatever reason, I ever received this book. It is probably the fault of the the tech I am forced to deal with. Still, from the blurb alone I knew this was going to be a wonderful, encompassing book that would bring value to all who read it.

Therefore I am giving it five stars and I hope that anyone who is lucky enough to read this in its completion , you enjoy it as much as I anticipated

Five stars.

First of all, I loved this!!! There needs to be more LGBTQIA children's books like this!!! The art was very interesting to look at and I LOVE how informational the book was on the culture of India (and including a very nice dictionary in the back for terms children (and some readers) might not know). There is also a passage in the back giving some more information on same-sex couples in India.

I LOVE that this book is centered around a lesbian couple, and uses the word "girlfriend/girlfriends" instead of "partner/partner". This very small thing I pointed out is ver crucial (at least to me). It helps normalize lesbian marriages/couples/relationships instead of alienating them by calling them "partners".

Homophobia is present in the book, however I think that it is important for today's youth to be aware of this. This can be a good starting point for helping kids understand LGBTQ issues, rather than learning later on.

This is a children's book that could benefit many adults too. But that's a discussion for another time! If you're looking for a book about same-sex marriage with a strong, little heroine at its centre, this is it! Love is love, gender and culture have nothing to do with it.

Absolutely beautiful. The art is gorgeous and bright. The message is so necessary and timely. The topic was handled with so much care and it was heartwarming to see a supportive family. I absolutely loved the book and would recommend it to everyone. And please, let your kids read it too.

This was absolutely adorable. The illustrations were pretty and so many great colors! I just love the concept and the idea behind this children's story book.

Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar is such a great message of inclusivity in Indian culture, for a same-sex marriage. I love the way this book focuses on the innocence and strength of someone so young to call out and stand up against bigotry. A young girl's love for her family is stronger than prejudice, and I love the message.
I absolutely love the style and vibrancy of the illustrations, as well. Overall, a wonderful book that should be in every library and home for young people to learn from.

I loved this book I thought it was so cute! I love the LGBTQ aspect and how Ritu was having a Baraat when it’s traditionally a grooms job. The graphics are also lovely and on point. I will definitely add this to my list of books to buy for my future children that will have one American and one Indian parent!

A AMAZING STORY. ABSOLUTELY HEARTWARMING AND SO PRECIOUS. A MUST READ! This is a beautiful story about a little girl named Ayesha attending her cousins wedding, however not everyone is happy that her cousin Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni. It’s up to Ayesha to save the day! The story teaches kids to stand up against prejudice and bigotry and is a powerful message. I would 100% recommend this for everyone, especially young kids!

*Thanks Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars

This was an eye opener book i highly recommend to all the Indians out their to read and not be so traditional in terms of culture.

This was a cute about how Ritu Weds Chandni which was a LGBTQ children's book which is a surprise honestly. i hope this book gets more awareness in the world especially our older ancestors are totally against gay and lesbians marriages. Children books are taking the stand which is something we need to share with our younger generations. you will be loved no matter what you are.

Thank you Netgalley for making this arc book in an exchange of a honest review.

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this book. It's adorable, and has such a great message. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

The main character is a little Indian girl called Ayesha. She is really excited to attend her cousin Ritu’s wedding. She can’t wait to dance at the baraat ceremony! A baraat is the procession before a wedding where (traditionally) the groom and his family make their way to the wedding. There is singing, dancing and lots of loud music – it’s lots of fun! But not everyone is happy that Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni. Some people want to stop the celebrations and the marriage. It looks like the grown-ups are ready to give in to the bullies but Ayesha isn’t. Can one little girl really save her cousin’s big day?

We are firm believers in having diverse picture books on our bookshelf so we can learn more about the world. Everyone deserves to see themselves in a book! This is our first LGBT book and we really enjoyed it. There are lots of different people and types of families in the world. This book tells the story of one family and shows children how people can find it hard to be themselves because they will be unfairly treated by others.

The story is well written. It is interesting and realistic. The illustrations are very good and remind us of lots of family weddings we have been to. We liked the brave Ayesha, who stands against some bullying grown-ups who are trying to prevent the wedding of her cousin just because there are two brides instead of a bride and groom!

4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a digital copy!

This was absolutely adorable. The illustrations were pretty and so many great colors!

I thought it handled its subject matter well. It dealt with people opposing two women getting married and a child who didn't really understand why (of course). The wedding is beautiful.

We get a nice glossary of Hindi terms used in the book, so it's also a nice opportunity to learn those!

"Ritu Weds Chandni'' is such a wholesome book.
It's a story about a same sex marriage in an Indian setting. I'm so glad this book exists because it's the perfect way of introducing children to the LGBTQ+ community. Honestly, this book shall sprinkle it's magic over the reader irrespective of their age.The fact that the author uses the child's perspective is probably one of the best things about this graphic novel. The book is a celebration of love, compassion and acceptance told seamlessly.
The illustrations are extremely cute too.
I 100% recommend it.

What can I say about this book. This book is very very short but it has a very strong message to it. A book that is short but the story will make complete justice to it. The art was so colorful, so eye catchy that you cannot miss staring at them.
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Ayesha, a cute little girl whose cousin Ritu was getting married and she was so looking forward to attend it. But she had no idea about what was different in that marriage. She just wanted her cousin to be happy.
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What all happens during the procession, what Ayesha's does will make you think at the first place why do we marry?
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I would just say that it is a beautiful story and everyone should read it. Thank you @netgalley for the copy. 4.5 stars.

As a note: this is just a preliminary review, I will be replacing it with my finalized review within the next 7 days (prior to publication!).

Illustrations: 5/5, absolutely adore the color palette chosen for this story. It is warm, loving, and yet still subtle power and strength conveyed from it when coupled with the illustrations themselves.

Format: 4/5 - full star loss here for me because I feel like the formatting suffered from the decision not to include the pronunciation of the words within the story. While it's great that it is included at the end, I wish it would have integrated it into the page itself. It would've helped enrich the read and make it feel more cohesive. It also would've made it smoother in explaining it to my child while not pausing to looking it up every few pages. We were delighted to learn new Hindi words but I feel like it could've been presented more digestibly.

The story: 5/5 - While there was certainly some parts that were a little clunky, overall this story is so important and so under told. There is almost no South Asian/Hindi/Desi representation in children's books of any kind, but especially not in any LGBTQIA+ stories. I feel like this book is needed. It is valuable. It is special and should be introduced into classrooms and homes as another way to bring exposure and representation to "normalize" lgbtqia+ love while respectfully touching on the cultural difficulties couples face around the world when they want to pursue their true selves and love.

Overall, we will be purchasing a physical copy to add to our collection and deeply thank the publisher for allowing us the opportunity to read this story in advance.

Ritu Weds Chandni is such a sweet and beautiful picture book in so many ways. The illustrations are colourful and vibrant, and I felt very visually pulled in as I read the story. The story itself really shines through though, as we watch a young girl celebrate her favourite cousin's wedding to another woman amid homophobic protest within the community and the family. It has a happy ending and a beautiful message, as well as much needed South Asian LGBTQ+ representation.

Definitely recommended!

An #ownvoices story of hope for a day when gay marriage is celebrated in Southeast Asian culture. Ayesha is excited to attend her cousin’s wedding, but trouble comes from community members who object to two brides.

The illustrations are gorgeous, well paired with Ayesha’s earnest narration and a sprinkling of Hindi words. I felt transported into the celebrations and the tension. A beautiful book with a happy ending.

A young girl named Ayesha sees only love between her Ritu didi (older female cousin) and Chandni, and asks an aunt why some of their relatives are not at the party. Resistance to the union extends to the wider community too,, but Ayesha makes it known that despite the hate the celebration must go on. At the end of the book the author includes a glossary for non-Hindi speakers, as well as a brief note about why such stories are necessary. And I agree: while there is a growing number of works for children featuring queer protagonists, there remains a dearth of stories centering those in countries and with cultures that are not Anglo-American or Western European. This makes RUTU AND CHANDNI not just an excellent addition to children’s literature, but also contributes to more expansive understandings of loving and being.