My Best Friend's Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera (review)

Reviewed by: My Best Friend's Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera Cassidy Russell Ponweera, Thushanthi My Best Friend's Bangles; illus. by Maithili Joshi. Simon, 2024 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781665921718 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781665921725 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 3-6 yrs Selvi and her best friend Divya both miss their ammas, who cook, clean, and babysit for families in a country far away and only come home to Sri Lanka once a year. When Divya's amma comes home to visit and brings Divya a gift of rainbow bangles, Selvi's loneliness turns to anger because the bracelets' bright colors make her miss her own amma. In a fit, she throws the bangles to the ground and spends the next few days certain she's ruined their friendship, but fortunately, Divya is a forgiving and sympathetic pal who eventually decides to share her bangles so they can "each have our own rainbow for gloomy days." Joshi's vibrant digital illustrations spiral and bounce across the spreads, making strong use of the rainbow motif; bright tendrils exploding out of the bangles and bubble-like vignettes showcase Selvi's happy memories of her mother's orange saree or yellow dahl. But her yearning is never far away, as highlighted by the "old green suitcase" her mother packs when she has to leave. The girls' friendship is sweet, and their connection will remind young readers about the importance of apologizing, forgiving, and finding connections in lonely times. Though their mothers are back abroad at the end of the story, the girls still have rainbows: in the love their ammas send, in their attachment to each other, and in the glowing of their bangles. An author's note discusses Sri Lankan tea pluckers and the country's history of sending domestic workers abroad.