Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam, Sandhya Prabhat
Published by Candlewick Press on October 11, 2022
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Namaste has always been associated with the practice of yoga but it has many meanings. It is a word for mindfulness, to take in all that is around. The author explores the word through the eyes and feelings of a little girl going on errands with her grandmother. Namaste is the greeting she hears all along the way. It has many meanings: I bow to you, I recognize your value, it is silence, it is a word that calms your heart. It is a bond. The text is simple and quiet but is complimented with big, bright illustrations that bring the spirit of the word to the youngest readers. You don’t have to practice yoga to understand that this is a word like “aloha” or “shalom”, a word with many meanings. As libraries seek to accommodate a more diverse readership, this is a good choice.

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian