Yasmeen Lari, Green Architect, written by Marzieh Abbas, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi (Clarion Books, 2024) Yasmeen Lari has shattered multiple glass ceilings—not only as Pakistan’s first woman architect but also as a passionate activist and community organizer dedicated to preserving the country’s historic architecture and heritage sites. She has led humanitarian efforts that empower local …
My Mother’s Tongues, written by Uma Menon, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell (Candlewick Press, 2024) Sumi is in awe of her mother’s superpower: her mom can speak two languages- Malayalam and English. Through beautiful mixed media images, the author and illustrator invites the readers to join a story that highlights the importance of communicating through multilingualism …
Asha the Auto-Driver, written by Aruna Shekar, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Tulika Books, 2024) Follow Asha as she drives in the beautiful, bustling streets of Chennai from dawn to dusk. Her green-and-yellow auto is more than just a ride — it’s a moving sanctuary where stories bloom like the jasmine strings she sells. (Grades PK-2) Award …
Once Upon a Sari, written by Zenia Wadhwani, illustrated by Avani Dwivedi (Penguin Random House, 2024) When little Avani rummages through her mother’s saris, she expects a scolding, but instead, her mother shares the memories woven into each one. From celebrations to family heirlooms and even a sari carried through Partition, the fabrics tell stories of …
The Spice Box, written by Meera Sriram, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Penguin Random House Canada, 2024). In thisheartwarming intergenerational story about love, legacy, and flavor, Rishi is ready to carry forward his Dad’s and his Paati’s stories through the beautiful family spice box. Paati was known in her hometown in India as the Wizard of …
This story is about a young girl, Arthi wanting to know more about the wooden dolls (bommalu) that her father makes. She learns that each of the bommalu has a story to tell. The exemplary dolls that these artisans create are considered heirlooms and are passed on proudly from generation to generation. (Grades K-2)
Prema is looking forward to the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival, but her anticipation is marred – her mother has become sick from the chemicals leached into the river by the very plaster Ganesha statues used to celebrate the holiday! While walking by the riverbank, Prema has an idea. Using the clay from the river to build the Ganesha statues will let the people celebrate as usual, while also preserving the health of the river water. Though it takes her many tries, and the help of her friends, Prema creates enough clay Ganesha statues to make a difference in her village’s celebrations. This colorful picture book raises awareness of ecological issues surrounding the festival. (Grades PK-3)
The illustrations beautifully capture Dezh Azaad’s story about an Afghan refugee child, her innocence and uncertainty when she remembers the role the carpet has played in her family’s history and memories. This picture book is accessible to readers of all levels from beginner to advanced. Early readers can engage with the illustrations to follow along with the family’s journey, or use the entire book as a read aloud. Azaad’s story highlights the beauty of Afghan culture that is often misrepresented and misunderstood. (Grades PK-3)
Join us for a conversation with Shirin Shamsi, author of The Moon from Dehradun, moderated by South Asia Book Award committee member Ritu Radhakrishnan. Monday, June 3, 2024, 4-5 PM CDT Watch it on YouTube Here! The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition In time for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of British India, this picture …
Young Asiyah learns her family history through her grandmother’s chest of richly patterned katha quilts, hand-stitched from layers of repurposed, memory-laden, sari fabric. Asiyah’s tale is accompanied by wordless story panels that reveal their Bengali cultural history. These panels resemble a family photo album, reminiscent of Pattachitra, cloth-based narrative scroll paintings. (Preschool-Grade 3)
