Nisha Knows Best

Nisha is used to being swooped into hugs or having her cheeks squished by her aunts and uncles, but she’s acting different now that her Ammamma and Appappa have come to visit from India. Nisha is now a bit shy and apprehensive about interacting with them. Nisha questions why hugging them feels scary and worries that if she doesn’t hug them, their feelings will be hurt and they’ll just leave.

What I Liked: This book is a great option for parents who are trying to teach their children about boundaries and are looking for a way to start that conversation. This book does a great job of introducing the topic in a way that is suitable for a younger audience. It manages to do this by highlighting one of the things that tends to occur in young children’s lives quite often, hugs. By using hugs, the author manages to highlight one of the ways in which we can provide children with bodily autonomy and show them respect, in which you ask for a hug and respect their response without taking it personally.

As Nisha is worried about her grandparents leaving because she declined a hug, her mother offers support, which is a beautiful moment in which we see that Nisha’s decision is encouraged. Her mother explains to her that there are various ways to show love and gives her those options. By doing so, Nisha gains the courage to try again with her grandparents. Because Nisha was given choices and her decision is respected, she is able to enjoy time with her grandparents on her own terms. All of this is great for showing children how to have boundaries and to teach adults the importance of respecting a child’s boundaries.

The illustrations throughout this book do a great job of bringing the story to life and ensuring that a child’s attention is captured throughout. Through the illustrations, you get to see the variety in Nisha’s family and the subtle differences in the families’ appearances. There are also moments in which the illustrations add humor to the story, as Nisha’s family is squishing her in an embrace, and heartwarming moments, as when she joins her grandparents on the couch.

Final Verdict: Nisha Knows Best is a gentle reminder for children and adults alike that love is shown in various ways and that children can set boundaries around their bodies. This book is perfect for children ages 3 and up to begin to teach them about consent and the boundaries that they can hold when it comes to their bodies.