A Project of the South Asia National Outreach Consortium
Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India’s Woven Trees Written by Sandhya Acharya. Illustrated by Avani Dwivedi. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025) Join a young narrator and his mentor as they take a wonder-filled walk across a living bridge in the mountainous state of Meghalaya in northeastern India. The Living Root Bridges, …
Fitting Indian, A Graphic Novel Written by Jyoti Chand. Illustrated by Tara Anand. (HarperAlley, 2025) Join Nitasha, a South Asian American teenager, as she navigates the complex expectations of family, friendship, identity, and belonging while trying to find her place in both her community and the wider world. Set against the backdrop of high school …
The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic Press, 2025) The story of Simi begins in the northwest Punjab region of India and ends in the Bronx neighborhood of New York. Her story takes the reader through the emotions of an international immigrant. Simi’s experience of migrating to the US via Mexico sheds light on the …
Midnight Motorbike Written by Maureen Shay Tajsar. Illustrated by Ishita Jain.(Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2025) Join a young girl and her Amma on a magical moonlit motorbike ride through the villages, roads, and landscapes of South India on a night too warm for sleep. Through richly sensory storytelling, Tajsar invites readers to experience the sights, …
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We are now accepting submissions for 2027. Award Rationale In recent years, an increasing number of high-quality children’s and young adult books have been published that portray cultures, histories, and contemporary issues in South Asia or dealing with South Asians living abroad. To encourage and commend authors and publishers who produce such books, and to …
Meet the 2026 South Asia Book Award Winners Books selected for recognition by the SABA Review Committee accurately and skillfully portray South Asia, the experience of individuals living in South Asia, or of South Asians living in other parts of the world. Award, Honor, and Highly Commended titles are selected for: 1) literary quality 2) …
