Great for young children and also a great read for adults to children! I liked how nurturing and welcoming the characters were and how warm the entire book made me feel. I would for sure put this book in my future classroom.

Ayesha has been looking forward to the day of her favorite cousin’s wedding. Now it is finally here and her family is getting all dressed up to dance in the baraat. Tradition was that the groom brings the baraat to the wedding, so Ayesha’s parents are worried about what the response will be to Ritu leading her baraat herself. Once at the house, Ayesha discovers that many of her family aren’t going to attend the wedding, since it’s a marriage between two women. Soon the wedding procession began with Ritu on horseback, but they are met with anger and harsh words by the people along the route. People wanted to stop the procession, which was now silent and stifled. Even Chandni joining them could not lift their spirits when someone sprayed them both with water, ruining their outfits and hair. Ayesha could not stay silent, stepping forward to say that she wanted to dance all the way despite the angry people!

It is wonderful to see a book take a wedding tradition and show how a same-sex couple can make it work. This book doesn’t shy away from the fact that people’s attitudes have not changed about gay marriage, instead making it an opportunity to show exactly what being an ally looks like, especially if you are a child.

The art in this book has is a mixture of the flatness of folk art and a modern edginess that incorporates watercolor washes and vibrant colors. The deep reds of the wedding couple’s clothes, the golds of the bangles and backgrounds, the wash of teal water and leaves all combine into a vibrant world of love and standing up for acceptance.

Get ready to dance yourself with this LGBT picture book. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

This is a liberating children's book which is so needed in today's times. There is a need for more LGBTQI books for children and this is one of them. It beautifully captures the love between Ritu and Chandni and how their marriage challenges the prejudices of society. Charu, a child, who is clueless as to why some of their family members refused to attend the marriage shows that children are naive and pure and it is the society who makes them rigid and puts such inhumane thoughts into their minds. The illustrations are beautiful and it is a must read.

Little Ayesha is excited for her cousin Ritu's wedding to her girlfriend Chandni. The story is about their struggle to gain acceptance in our Indian society. It is a short picture book of about 35 pages & I finished it in about 10 mins. The book was adorable, beautiful & sweet. Illustrations are so beautiful & perfectly depict the colourfulness & vibrancy of our indian culture which I loved.😍 The message in thebook was most important & beautiful. I did not expect a picture book to make me this emotional in just few pgs but it did! It is the kind of book that I would want my kids & the future generations to read. Thank you to the author for writing this.🌈❤

I cannot even begin to tell you, how much needed this book is for the people of India especially the elder citizens, their theory that same sex relationships is a modern concept and only exists abroad, while it is a taboo to even talk about in India, the author shows two Indians being in love and wishing for their families blessings and acceptance and support. I loved the little narrator's characters and the fact that she narrated the story while she herself was trying to understand the happenings around her, and with pure heart she accepts the relationship and wishes her best. 

It was lovely to see an Indian Wedding  in a book and that too with stunning illustrations and colors. 
I wish to read more books by the author.

What an absolutely gorgeous children’s book! a true celebration of love, with beautiful and bright art reinforcing words of love and acceptance. Seeing little Ayesha delight in celebrating the wedding of her beloved aunt Ritu, and then grapple with why people would oppose that wedding, both quietly, by not attending, and forcefully, by assaulting the wedding procession, and then circle back to celebrating, was a beautiful story. Kids understand love and acceptance. They must be taught to hate. And beautiful books like this help to make sure that they are taught love, not hate.

This a terrific, diverse book, celebrating Indian culture, complete with traditional food, clothing, and ceremonies, along with a number of Hindi words. (There’s a guide in the back of the book, if you and whoever you’re sharing this with aren’t sure from context what they mean.). There’s obviously a focus on LGBTQ+ acceptance, with an afterword by the author talking about his experience with/ knowledge of homophobia in his culture. And there are additional representations of diversity in the background characters, including at least one Black party member.

Highly recommended to share with the kids in your life and/ or add to your collection.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Yali Books/ @yalibooks for giving me a digital #advancedcopy of #RituWedsChandni in exchange for an honest review.

Ritu Weds Chandni explains the culture and traditions of weddings. The excitement of the young Ayesha who is attending the wedding is shown throughout the book as well as the disapproving views of family and the community. As someone who did not know the Hindi words sprinkled throughout the books, it was hard to read with constantly trying to figure out the words. The community disapproval of the two brides and fear of the brides provides a conversation point for children and their adults. Ayesha stands up to the disapproval and shows that it is okay to be different. The author's note provide an additional explanation of the laws in India, the author's past, additional readings and hope for the future. This book provides a view into different cultures and weddings as well as standing up for the people you love and believe in.

Such a wholesome book with a beautiful message and illustrations. I hope this book becomes mainstream in India!

Beautiful colorful pages! Great illustrations and a great message! This book follows the traditional Hindi wedding along a baraat but it is interrupted because of the anger of neighbors at the fact that it is a wedding of two women. This story shows the strength and love a child has for her family, her traditions and her happiness. The story includes many wonderful words and a list at the end to know the meanings of these unfamiliar terms. A book with the message of love and acceptance.

I don't read children's books but decided to check out Ritu Weds Chandni since it was highly recommended. I am so glad I did. The book is a hidden gem. The book is beautifully illustrated. And the story from a child's point of view speaks of innocence. A must-read for south-Asian parents. It is high time we start the conversation.

Ritu Weds Chandni is a welcome change in the category of Children books. A book which captures the empathy urgently needed in the 21st century while highlighting the story of Indian characters. 

I loved how beautiful and simple the illustrations were through the book. It captured the happiness of a wedding through Ayesha and the innocence of children who see love as love. 

It's a great conversation starter between parents and children, a story which shows the victory of love over all odds and most importantly while having the support of family is one which needs to be told to our children more today. It teaches them empathy and acceptance which at the end of the day is what most of look for.

This is a gorgeous and important Childrens book that dives into queer people and Desi weddings. Gorgeous illustrations and a very important story!

I am not South Asian and I haven’t read a children’s book in a long time, so my thoughts on this book are not the most important. That said, this book was absolutely beautiful in both story and visuals. It caught my interest because I am passionate about LGBTQ rights and I enjoy learning about different cultures. Homophobia is a big element of the story, but the overall message is one of support for this wedding between two brides. Ayesha’s love for her cousin, who is one of the brides, is a beacon of happiness. I teared up while reading this and the note at the end from the author was perfect (in my opinion). This can be appreciated by many audiences and I’d recommend it to anyone interested!

In this book we meet Ayesha, who is thrilled to attend her favorite cousin’s wedding. She is excited to dance in the baraat (a celebratory wedding procession) and celebrate the way she did last year at her older brother’s wedding.

But this wedding is different.

Ritu is marrying her girlfriend Chandni, and she will be the first bride in the Kapoor family to lead a baraat – a tradition that is usually reserved for the groom.

Ayesha’s family tries to explain to her that some people are not pleased with Ritu leading a baraat. When Ayesha wonders where her extended family could be, her aunt tries to explain that many of them are not attending because they do not approve of Ritu marrying Chandni. She even tells Ayesha’s father that some neighbors are so upset they plan to stop the celebration. Ayesha can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t be happy for Ritu and Chandni.

I love the way Ayesha loves her cousin in this book! Ritu Weds Chandni beautifully captures the unabashed affection that children show the people they love. There will be no spoilers here, but in the end, it is Ayesha’s love and joy that save the day, even when faced with the hatred of homophobia.

Ritu Weds Chandni is a beautiful celebration of love, and both South Asian and LGBTQ+ cultures. I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy.

I would like to thank Yali Books for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley. This was an absolute joy to read!

I love the vibrant colors of India’s weddings and Ameya Narvankar’s Ritu Weds Chandi displays them in all their glory. The colors are crisp and clean without textural shading. Individual pages have been dedicated for full scene displays. I like the interconnecting use of hoses and streamers to connect pages. The colors, connectivity, and the action on the page will keep a child entertained.

The best part of Ritu weds Chandi is the story which teaches children to be open and to stand up against bullying. Narvankar does not get preachy, but instead lets the story tell the tale of what to do in a situation like this. This is fiction of course so Ayesha’s will does not get truly tested...it is a children’s book (smile). This means we get a happily-ever-after for Ritu, Chandi, and of course Ayesha.

I love reading stories about multicultural LGBTQIA+ humans..I also have a preference for stories from India so Narvankar and Yali Books had me at the cover. Ayesha will have you at the first reading. Add Ritu Weds Chandi to your bedtime reading rotation and travel while lying in bed reading a story.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

Around two years back, the Supreme Court of India decriminalised  homosexuality in the country. However, despite this progressive  judgement, India does not recognise same-sex marriages. None of the  marital laws too expressly recognise same-sex marriages. With this background in mind, I was not at all surprised to see that the first Indian lesbian wedding storybook, though written by an Indian, needed a New York-based pubisher. I hope this situation changes and the book finds a market, as well as creates a new market in India. As the author himself says in one interview, "Children aren't born homophobic."

'Ritu Weds Chandni' is the story of a young Ayesha who is excited to be going to her cousin Ritu's wedding. She recollects her cousin brother's wedding and imagines the same fervour and festivities this time around too. However, the situation at the wedding venue is quite different, simply because Ritu is marrying another girl.

The book is aimed at the 8+ age group. And the story clearly provides a look at the wedding from the eyes of an eight year old, from her excitement over the flashy clothes and sweets to her wonderment at the discomfort of the adults to her brave opposition of the protesters.

The story skips mentioning the location of the place, but if same-sex marriages were to ever be legalised in India, I presume this could occur anywhere in the country.

The illustrations are really beautiful and will appeal to the little readers.

What was illogical to me was how the protesting riders carried long water hoses with them and started splashing the baraatis with water. Hopefully, no eight year old asks that question to his/her parents. 

I loved the line in the end note where the author says, "Let us not pass on the fear of 'log kya kahenge' to future generations." Agree with that sentiment!

I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a lovely story! Although this particular book is for elementary reading levels, the plot was just heartwarming. Despite the negative actions taken by people due to prejudice, seeing this type of love story through the eyes of a child was brilliant. The representation is awesome, and I hope to see more stories like this in the future!

The sweetest little book. Oh if we all could have the youth and innocence of a child, who sees things as they are with their unadulterated mind. This was an excellent book. I can only imagine the presence it will have in young children's lives, and the difference it will make in these communities. The art is also stunning, and I'm a huge fan. So much thanks to the publisher for sending it my way. I would happily buy this for any young child in my life.

I never knew a picture book could make me cry, but this one did.

A heart-warming tale with an important social message, Ritu Weds Chandni is the book we have been waiting for. This book combines storytelling with vibrant colors, which makes it very memorable. The story is relatively simple, yet makes such an impact! I can't wait for kids to pick this book up, and I really wish I had it growing up. I love how it normalizes sapphic relationships, yet at the same time shows children the way society may treat them and the challenges such couples may face, all while leaving us with a message filled with hope and love.

Important representation and nice illustrations. I like the bones of the story, though the text itself felt a bit lacking. I didn't read the synopsis, so I was surprised by the focus on homophobic opposition to the wedding (which includes water hoses being turned on the brides and wedding guests).

TW: homophobia