Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers by Rajani LaRocca is the perfect picture book to add a little bit of math to your child’s library. The latest addition to Charlesbridge’s Storytelling Math series that celebrates both math and diversity through fictional stories, Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers introduces us to a young Indian girl named Bina who is planning to make bracelets for her brothers for Raksha Bandhan – a Hindu holiday in which siblings exchange gifts symbolizing the love they will always have for one another.
We follow Bina as she asks her brothers which colors they like and dislike, and with her dog Tara by her side, she carefully uses this information to make special bracelets with unique patterns matching each brother’s preferences. I really appreciated the amount of thought put into each character in a story about math. You don’t always see full-fledged characters in math picture books, and this was such a refreshing change of pace.
I also loved that Bracelet’s For Bina’s Brothers tackles a more complex mathematical concept than just counting or shapes. Patterns are a fundamental element of mathematics and making bracelets is such a fun way to introduce children to the concept.
The illustrations by Chaaya Prabhat are absolutely wonderful. I love how each brother’s favorite colors are represented in the illustrations, offering lots of visual patterns for young readers to pick out.
The back matter contains an author’s note giving more information about Raksha Bandhan, as well as several ideas for activities involving patterns to further explore math at home.
Bracelet’s For Bina’s Brothers is available today wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)
Rajani LaRocca is both a doctor and children’s book author based in the Boston area. Please visit her website at rajanilarocca.com to learn more about her and her work.
Chaaya Prabhat is a graphic designer, illustrator, and lettering artist based in Chennai, India. To learn more about her and her work, please visit her website at www.chaayaprabhat.com.
Many thanks to Charlesbridge for providing me with a review copy of this wonderful book. I can’t wait to share this one with all the little learners in my life.
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