Have you met the Parsis?covers a surprisingly comprehensive canvas considering it’s a book of just 42 pages. But what a wealth of information it contains! Written and illustrated primarily for children by Anastasia Damani (pictured), it is well researched, 
enhanced by an insider’s personal insights (her husband, Jamshed Madan, is a Parsi), has cute, pertinent illustrations peppered with interactive activities like filling in the blanks, coloring, recipes for children, etc. In her introduction the author/illustrator, who hails originally from Calcutta, and is now based in Copenhagen, writes: "My first interaction with the Parsis was with my then school friend and now husband. Being a part of his family opened up a whole new world for me that I knew so little about," a world she has affectionately shared with readers. She has dedicated the book "For Silloo Granny and Jamshed Grandpa. Shireen Granny and Bomi Grandpa."
Printed on art paper and profusely illustrated, the book covers Parsi predilections from food and folklore to festivities. It projects the culture and customs of the community through the fictional family of Cyrus and Jeroo Theatrewala, their children Darius, twin daughters Farah and Freya, and not to be left out, Twiggy Theatrewala, the family’s pet dachshund.
Priced at a reasonable Rs 199, this is an offering of Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House India Private Limited. The publishers have brought out another book by Damani in this series: Have You Met the Anglo-Indians? which should provide more than a cursory peek into the ways of that community.
SHERENE VAKIL