Dadaji's Paintbrush

BEST OF THE YEAR
Chicago Public Library · School Library Journal · Five Books

Carnegie Medal Finalist

Once, in a tiny village in India, there was a young boy who loved to paint. He lived with his grandfather, who taught him to paint with his fingers, to make paints from marigolds and brushes made from jasmine flowers. Sometimes, the village children would watch them painting together, and the boy’s grandfather would invite them to join in. 

They didn’t have much, but they had each other.

After his grandfather dies, the boy notices a little box wrapped in string with a note that read: “From Dadaji, with love,” with his grandfather’s best paintbrush tucked away inside. But he feels he will never want to paint again.

Will the boy overcome his grief and find joy in painting and his dadaji’s memory again?

A lushly illustrated tale of love, art, and family.


P R A I S E

★ “Extraordinary. This book stands out for the depth of its wise messages, and its gentle, evocative art.”
—School Library Journal (starred)

★ “Perfect for an art class, a read-aloud session at a library or for sharing with a child who has recently lost a loved one.”
—Shelf-Awareness (starred)

“This story of familial love and the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren wraps readers in a tight hug… A gentle, reassuring reminder that love lives on long after death.”
—Kirkus

“A moving tribute to the role of mentors and memory in a young artist’s life, as well as to what “time and attention” can bring about.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Explores the pain of losing a grandparent and the quiet joy of coming to see the legacy the person has left.”
—Wall Street Journal