A Project of the South Asia National Outreach Consortium
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 …
Four Eids and Funeralby Faridah Abikke-Iyimide and Adiba Jaigirdar (Macmillan, 2024) Four Eids and a Funeral is a heartfelt, humorous, and community-rooted love story co-written by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar. When Said Hossain returns to his small Vermont hometown for the funeral of a beloved librarian, he finds himself face-to-face with his former best friend, …
The Door Is Open (anthology of stories) edited by Hena Khan (Little, Brown Books for Readers, 2024) The Door Is Open, edited by Hena Khan, is a powerful collection of interconnected short stories that center the voices and experiences of South Asian American middle schoolers in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey. Each story …
Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani (Harper Collins, 2024) Prior to the Partition of 1947, Twelve-year-old Raj, and his best friend, Iqbal, spent their days flying kites, climbing trees, and eating mangoes. After Partition, a British lawyer draws a line on a map splitting India into separate countries. Raj’s family originally lived in what is …
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 Salt Thief by Neal Bascomb (Scholastic Focus, 2024) The Salt Thief is a dramatic, narrative nonfiction account of Gandhi’s Salt March and India’s struggle to gain independence from Britain. Gandhi is known throughout history for his nonviolent protestations. Leading his followers to the Arabian Sea to protest Britain’s salt tax led to decades of conflict …
The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi (Harper Collins, 2024). Mahnoor navigates the challenges of home life and the struggles of school, all while dealing with friendships that test her strength. Amid the chaos, her passion for journalism becomes a lifeline—guiding her toward understanding her Pakistani identity. When her grandmother arrives from Pakistan, carrying a history long …
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 …
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 …
Himalaya, (or jimālaia in Sanskrit), means “abode of snow” is a rich non-fiction book that provides a factual examination of the Himalayas. Himalaya is focused on a specific area of the mountainous range that runs throughout China, India, and Nepal. With beautifully illustrated representations of the regional cultures, readers can examine the history and legends across the various communities. This book may serve as a wonderful reference book for K-12 educators, and also provides a source of adventure for readers as part of a classroom library, or can be used as a picture walk with younger readers to explore different areas around the world, featuring positive and historically accurate representations of South Asians. This book provides many opportunities for readers of different ages. (Grades 1-3)
