The Fabric of Us

K-Gr 2–This picture book follows the story of a child and two fathers who appear to be of South Asian descent. Their house is full of love and color. While Dad teaches the child to cook, Papa offers how to sew with the family’s sewing machine. Papa is implied to be sick; he passes away, leaving the other two grief-stricken until they find a way to sew together in his honor. The final ­creation of the main character and the ­living dad is shown as something imperfect but created out of love. The text of this story is simple, emotionally moving, and relatable. Anand’s choice of color helps make the emotions of the characters clear. The oranges and yellows for happier times contrasts with a subsequent veil of a melancholy light blue sadness, even when words don’t directly tell the whole story. The illustrations depict a vibrant home full of warmth and childlike charm, using mixed media that offers a lot for readers to pore over in repeat readings. The simple narrative leaves out details rather than spell everything out, making this more of a read-aloud than a read-alone. Nevertheless, this story is heartwarming as it focuses on themes of processing grief and rituals of remembrance. The diverse representation of gay fathers of color feels authentic.