Paper dolls have always been famous with children. This art has been around from early 1800s, but it is said that paper art has existed in some form or the other as long as there was paper.

Children from the very early age are fascinated with paper figures as this is where they can participate easily and show their talent. By taking the paper art approach, Fauzia Aziz Minallah introduces kids to the traditional dresses of Pakistan in Bano, Billoo, and Amai: The Paper Doll Book; the book has Amai, the bird of light, who introduces you to her young friends, Bano and Billoo.

Amai wishes a peaceful Pakistan, which can in some way be achieved when children learn to respect each other’s language and traditions. This activity book showcases Billoo and Bano travelling to different regions of Pakistan wearing traditional clothes and finding out about the languages, food and music of the diverse regions of our country.

The book is beautiful presentation of various cultures of our country and children from very early age can learn about traditional dresses, cuisine and culture by taking part in the activity of putting different colourful, traditional dresses on the paper dolls of Bano and Billoo. On one page, the dress is given such as, in Balistan, Natin (a traditional cap), Chogha, Kahlum (woollen shoes) are given separately, you can cut them out and put them on the paper doll cut-outs of Bano and Billoo, also in the book. Similarly, there is Sindh, Balochistan, Chitral, Punjab and Khyaber Pakhtunkhwa.

Besides providing hours of fun-filled activity, the book also introduces children to the local beauty of various regions of Pakistan while giving opportunity to draw and colour dresses simultaneously. This vibrantly illustrated paper doll book by Ms Fauzia Aziz Minallah also aims to create awareness in children about respecting each other’s customs and traditions.

The book is published by Oxford University Press.