65 Great South Asian American Children’s Books (ages 2-14)

I don’t know a lot about South Asian American children’s literature so this was a fun list to research and it was fun to hunt down books I had heard about but haven’t read in a while as well as discover a few really great authors that are new to me. I asked a Mom Friend at a birthday party — we were both waiting in the car for 2+ hours while our kids jumped on gigantic trampolines — since she’s East Asian what East Asian KidLit was in her bookshelves. She said there wasn’t a lot available and it’s true. These books are fantastic but under the radar. It turns out that she’s an expert on immigration, particularly refugee immigration to the United States. I only knew her as my child’s friend’s mother/room parent for 3rd grade.

If you know of any books that you or your children have enjoyed, please leave me a comment and I’ll keep adding. I know I am heavy on just a few authors for this list, so it would be great to expand it. It’s just that my library didn’t have all the books I was seeking that day and I’m too lazy to reserve. These days with money so tight, when you reserve a book you need to do it online at the library site that is frustratingly slow. In addition to that, you’ll get a notice that your book is in, but with new cutbacks, you have to go pull the book from the shelves yourself. I tried to get the books through my new color nook but these books aren’t popular enough to warrant ebooks yet. I hope that changes! The sign of the times, right? Caught between old-world inefficiencies but not in the new world of downloadable books.

p.s. Thank you to reader Navjot for giving these links to other great lists of Southeast Asian KidLit and one for Southeast Asian YA (Young Adult).

p.p.s. Author Darshana Khiani has the best and most complete list of South Asian Children’s and YA book lists that she makes at least twice annually!

65 Great South Asian American Children’s Books

10. The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami

Eleven-year-old Dini loves movies—watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own—especially Bollywood movies. But when her mother tells her some big news, it does not at all jive with the script of the life she has in mind. Her family is moving to India…and, not even to Bombay, which is the center of the Bollywood universe and home to Dini’s all-time favorite star, Dolly. No, Dini is moving to a teeny, tiny village she can’t even find on a map. Swapnagiri. It means Dream Mountain and it only looks like a word that’s hard to pronounce. But to that open-minded person who sounds the name out, one letter at a time, it falls quite handily into place: S-w-a-p-n-a-g-i-r-i. An honest sort of name, with no surprise letters waiting to leap out and ambush the unwary. That doesn’t mean there aren’t surprises in Swapnagiri like mischievous monkeys and a girl who chirps like a bird—and the biggest surprise of all: Dolly.

So now, Dini is hard at work on a new script, the script in which she gets to meet the amazing Dolly. But, life is often more unpredictable than the movies, and when Dini starts plotting her story things get a little out of control.

This is a joyful, lively Bollywood-inspired story is full of colorful details, delicious confections, and the wondrous, magical powers of coincidence. Uma Krisnaswami will have you smiling from ear to ear.  [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

9. American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“This had lots of great details about Lehka’s family dynamics and culture. It was interesting that while her family was unique in their town, they did have access to a larger Indian community in Detroit. Her complicated feelings about Avantika are so typically middle school that it was painful to read about– but SO true!” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

8. Hair Twins by Raakehee Mirchandani, illustrated by Holly Hatan

I wanted to include this Sikh story because it is also about celebrating natural hair. A father and daughter share hair rituals as they style their hair identically each day. This is a loving story of the special bond between father and daughter. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

7. The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Alea Marley

Harpreet wears colors to express his moods. Pink is for dancing to bhangra beats, red for courage, and yellow for happiness. He also has colors to express emotions such as sadness (gray), anxiety (blue), and shyness (white). As a young Sikh boy, he wears a patka, a younger version of the turban, and coordinates the color with his outfit. When he moves to a new city across the country, his colors show his adjustment. And, when he makes a new friend, he is able to wear every color of the rainbow. This is a wonderful picture book to introduce kids to the Sikh religion. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

6. Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Marsala by Meenal Patel

Priya’s house is the only one on the block with a garland of marigolds in the doorway. She learns about her Indian culture from her grandmother who carries India in her heart. When winter comes and the flowers are no more, Priya’s grandmother no longer picks marigolds from the garden. Priya and her classmates make a paper garland of marigolds for her grandmother which warms her heart to know that the children are interested in learning more about her culture. This is the perfect book to introduce kids to Indian culture. It empathetically portrays the balancing act that second or third-generation children have in trying to fit into American culture while being proud of their ethnic identity. Endnotes have further information on the pronunciation and definitions of the Indian words introduced in the story. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

5. A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa

Explore the colors of the rainbow on this trip to the market in India. A little girl searches for the perfect gift for her Amma (grandmother). What I really love about this story is how it explores color descriptions tied to the sounds, smells, and tastes of India. Vermillion red! Saffron orange! Turmeric yellow! This is a story for all the senses! The story bursts with joyous colors in this multi-generational story. The back matter delves deeper into the Indian culture and the markets of the world. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

4. Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

Set in Bangladesh, the Rickshaw Girl is one of my favorite books (and it’s not just because I met Mitali Perkins who lives in my town). It’s a short chapter book about a girl who uses her artistic ability to help her sickly father support their family in an unexpected and gender-bending way. Uplifting and very educational about the hardship of growing up in poverty in Bangladesh, this is a great read that transports the reader into a different culture and lets you walk in their shoes. I find that it is as appealing to boys and girls. [short chapter book, ages 7-10]

3. American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Supriya Kelkar

This rhyming picture book celebrates the two cultures of an American Desi girl. She can be proud of being both Indian and American. Vibrant artwork completes this joyous exploration of a bi-cultural child. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

2. Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Reha is a thirteen-year-old in 1983. Her family is one of the few Indian ones in town, although they have quite a network in the larger area, and spend weekends with “aunties”, and “uncles”, and plenty of delicious Indian dishes. Reha is concerned about common middle school issues, like wearing the same clothes as her friends, but also understands why her parents want her to study and do well in school. Her friend at school, Rachel, is Jewish and has a much more exciting family life than Reha’s quiet existence as an only child. When Reha’s mother falls ill and it turns out to be leukemia, Reha’s world is shaken. An aunt comes from India to help out, and it is hoped that she can be a bone marrow donor, but she turns out to be pregnant. Reha hopes to be a donor but isn’t a match. Against the background of her mother’s illness, Reha continues with her middle school existence, hoping to go to a school dance and have a budding relationship with Pete. Will she and her father be able to cope with whatever happens to her mother?” [novel in verse, ages 8 and up]

1. Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia, illustrated by Ken Min

This is the book that started the list. It arrived in the mail and my youngest made me read it over and over again even though he’s never eaten Indian food nor knows what a roti is or tastes like. It didn’t matter. He loved this book which is a spin-off of Popeye but instead of spinach, it’s homemade roti that fortifies Dada-ji (and his grandson Aneel too!). The brightly colored illustrations are appealing and I also like how this book combines the old country with a modern, harmonious East Asian American family. But be careful, after reading this book, you will be craving roti! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

More Great South Asian American Children’s Books

My Saree by Gita Varadarajan, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

Divya admires her mother’s collection of sarees, each a work of textile art. She dreams of the day when she is old enough to wear one. Heritage Night at her school is one month away. Divya longs to wear her mother’s peacock-blue saree, but it will be too big. On the day of her event, Divya’s mother has a surprise that will allow her to share her cultural heritage with her school. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

My Name is Long as a River by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Tara Anand

Kaveri Thanjuvar Jaylalakshmi Ganesan goes by Kav but her full name was chosen with great care. Her grandmother tells her the significance of each part of her name as they travel together for the Pushkaram Festival in India. Kaveri is for the Kaveri River.  Thanjavur is a beautiful place where dolls are made. Jaylalakshmi is a goddess who protects the river. Ganasen references Ganesha, the elephant god. Her name is long like a river, and her identity is infused with love, strength, and power. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and Resistance by Supriya Kelkar

The most famous diamond in the world, the Kohinoor diamond, is set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown used by British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation crown. How it ended up here is the story of colonization, including the kidnapping of the mother of a ten-year-old boy-king of India. He was kept from his mother for 13 years despite giving up his kingdom and the Kohinoor diamond. Learn about how to decolonize in the end notes. [picture book, ages 8 and up]

Ghee Happy Gods and Ghee Happy Goddesses (A Little Boardbook of Hindu Deities) by Sanjay Patel

Each board book features five Hindi gods or goddesses with a tab at the top for easy reference. The vibrant graphic illustrations capture each god or goddess’s essence. [board book, ages 2 and up]

My Mother’s Sari by Sandhya Rao, illustrated by Nina Sabnani

This is a gorgeously illustrated picture book that collages sari fabrics with appealing drawings of multicultural children enveloped in the richly colored sari which can be anything from clothing to a hanky to a magical world of pretend. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Catch That Crocodile! by Anushka Ravishankar, illustrated by Pulak Biswas

A simple story about a crocodile who shows up unexpectedly in a village. Only little Meena knows what to do. The illustrations are two color block prints that give this picture book its quirky appeal. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Hair Oil Magic by Anu Chouhan

Hail oil days when her mother massages sweet-smelling oils onto her scalp make Meenu feel warm and fuzzy inside. When she tries to mix the oils herself, the magic just isn’t there. Perhaps it’s not the oils themselves, but the ritual between mother to daughter that makes the magic. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

My Bollywood Dream by Avani Dwivedi

Review by A Kid’s Book A Day:

“In My Bollywood Dream, a girl who dreams of being a filmmaker enjoys an evening at a Mumbai cinema with her family. As they drive to the theater, she imagines turning what she sees in the city streets into Bollywood-style film scenes. Everyone enjoys the movie, and during the final number, the entire audience gets out of their seats to sing and dance. The last page shows the narrator as an adult behind the camera.” [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Farmer Falgu Goes on a Trip by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Kanika Nair

This series reads like a sweet and kind version of Aesop’s Fables but with an Indian spin. Farmer Falgu goes on a trip in search of silence because his farm is so noisy. But on the way, he helps many other travelers by giving them a ride on his ox cart. Their happy sounds and the sounds of nature around him make him realize that his farm is noisy with the sounds of happiness. This idea of gratitude is different from the lessons of Aesop’s Fables but a welcome one! [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Farmer Falgu Goes to the Kumbh Mela by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Kanika Nair

The theme of this picture book is an Indian tale that demonstrates that kindness is its own reward. Farmer Falgu goes on another trip to experience the pleasures of a festival in Allahabad. Because he is always helping others in need, he misses the procession of sadhus, the elephants, and eating the sweet treats sold there. Farmer Falgu is disappointed but, in the end, karma has a way of repaying his kindness. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages by Uma Menon, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

Sumi’s mother is bilingual in both Malayalam and English. Sumi also learns both languages, weaving them seamlessly together. Some of Sumi’s relatives speak even more languages! Celebrate the superpower of multilingual language skills in this gentle story. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Light Within You by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Kamala Nair

Review by A Kid’s Book A Day:

“In The Light Within You, Diya is back in India for a visit from her new home in the United States. She’s excited to see her grandmother, Nani, and to celebrate Diwali, a holiday that the kids in her new school know nothing about.” [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Lali’s Feather by Farhana Zia, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Clever Lali! When she discovers a feather, she finds all kinds of creative uses for the plain feather that the other birds underestimated. When her feather is lost to the wind, her bird friends help her to retrieve it. What will happen next when she finds a button?! This is a great picture book about ingenuity and using your imagination. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

A Sari for Ammi by Manta Nainy, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Kaithoon, a town in Rajasthan, India, is famous for the beautiful saris they make. Two girls watch their mother, Ammi, weave saris all day to sell. They decide to use the money they saved to buy her one because she only has old worn-out salwar kameezes (a kind of tunic outfit). When they break their piggy bank, it’s not enough money. The girls keep at it and find ways to earn money until they have just enough. The fabric that their mother weaves (and others in their town) often has metallic threads woven in the fabric and can take a month or more to weave. Pair this book with The Kathka Chest. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Katha Chest by Radhiah Chowdhury, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

At Nanu’s house, there is a Katha chest filled with quilts made from old saris. Some have golden threads woven into the fabric. Each quilt has a past life and a story, telling the history of the women in the family. The katha chest is a treasure chest of quilts and memories. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

It’s not surprising that Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi would write a love letter about cooking with her mother and feeling a connection with her grandmother in India. They are making Paati’s special tomato sauce using heirloom tomatoes from the farmers’ market. When she visits them from India, they can share this canned goodness together. Padma can’t help but share facts about the tomato, from its history as something feared and not consumed, to their growing season. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh Gangotra, illustrated by Michaela Dias-Hayes

Amrita’s sister is getting married and her relatives are at her house. Some of the aunties think that fair skin is more beautiful than tan skin. Amrita and her mother disagree. She decides to dress in yellow as a sunflower, despite the chatter that yellow will make her skin look darker. And she celebrates this feeling of joy with her best friend Kiki. Colorism is discrimination based on skin color within a race or ethnicity with the belief that lighter skin is more desirable. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Bringing Asha Home by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Jamel Akib

Asha arrives at long last from India to her newly adopted bi-racial family in the United States, just in time to celebrate Rakhi Day with her new older brother Arun. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Monsoon by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Jamel Akib

The theme of this story–a child impatiently waiting for a change in the weather is a fairly common one in literature, especially picture books. But the heart and soul of this story is India, and properly so. It’s no surprise to anyone who reads this picture book that the author grew up in India. In the story India is not a faraway or exotic place, it is home Ms. Krishnaswami’s poetic prose paints the love of her home on every page, with every word. The text on each page is brief, but it is text to be savored, full of rich imagery as everyone prepares for the monsoon rains. This is clear from the very first line: “All summer we have worn the scent of dust.” The author does not fall back on old clichés but finds new metaphors to describe the town and the coming rains. The result is a description that is refreshingly vibrant and just different enough to tantalize–but not to alienate readers. It allows me to step into another country as if I were a native, experiencing the anticipation through the young narrator as she waits, worries, and hopes for the rains to come. At the very back of the book, the author has included a page of information about the monsoons and India for those who want to understand the ‘what’ and ‘where’ of the story better. The addition of the information at the back allows the author to accomplish the goal of sharing the knowledge without allowing it to bog down the text of the story itself. from Shamshad at Amazon [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Ganesha’s Great Race by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes, illustrated by Sanjay Patel

It’s a race three times around the world between two brothers to win a magic mango. These are not ordinary boys but Hindu gods. Ganesha is the Remover of Obstacles. His older brother, the god Kartikeya, is the god of war. Ganesha doesn’t have speed like his brother, so he has to use his brain. Can he define the world in a different way to win? His mother, Pavarti, goddess of fertility, will decide. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran

Hatha yoga has been practiced in India for centuries and is now a popular activity for children to help them focus and calm their minds. My middle daughter who is energetic, to say the least, likes Vinyasa Yoga and says that it makes her feel calm. This is a good thing! If your child enjoys yoga, he or she will like this story about how Meena, who thinks she’s clumsy, uses the power of yoga to help her during her school play when she’s a wiggly tree. The yoga poses in the back include tree, frog, lotus, cat, and cobra. If your child wants to explore yoga, the card deck Yoga Pretzels is a fun way for kids to explore different yoga poses! This would also make a nice gift paired together. [picture book, ages 6 and up]

The Yellow Suitcase by Meera Sriram, illustrated by Meera Sethi

A quilt handmade by grandma comforts Asha after her family journeys to India only to be too late to see her. For kids visiting relatives when they are very ill, this book affirms that they are not alone in their grief and loss, in a country where customs and even relatives may not be familiar. [picture book, ages 6 and up]

Sona Sharma, Looking After Mother Earth by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun

When Sona learns in school that the Earth is in trouble, she decides to make changes at home but they don’t go over very well with her family. Still, at the family meeting, Sona convinces her family to embrace some of her ideas. Their neighborhood has a kolam competition and one of her grandmothers uses rice powder to create traditional designs. Her other grandmother uses materials with chemicals and glitter. Sona is determined to get the competition to outlaw plastic decorations, chemicals, and glitter but she needs a plan to get everyone on board. It’s easy to fall in love with plucky Sona Sharma, and learning about Indian culture in a modern setting is the icing on the cake. [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Desert Queen by Jyoti R. Gopal, illustrated by Svabhu Kohli

Harish Kumar turned to dance after his parents died to support his sisters, wearing the traditional female clothes of Rajasthani folk dancers. As Queen Harish, he mesmerized his audience. But, during the day, when he is living as a boy, he suffers terrible insults and jeers. Still, his fame grows and he becomes a shining light in the desert as a drag performer. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]

Chachaji’s Cup by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Soumya Sitaraman

The beauty of making a list on a topic that I know nothing about is discovering really outstanding authors and Uma Krishnaswami was my find from this list.  I wasn’t able to find all her books at my library, but the ones I read were consistently sensitively told yet mesmerizing stories. Chachaji’s Cup is no different. This is an advanced picture book that tells of the hardships of Partition (when India was split from Pakistan and many, many people were forced to uproot and move based on their religion) but told from grandfather to grandson in a gentle way to explain the significance of a special teacup he uses every day. This teacup is symbolic of hope, resilience, memory, and love, and bridges the new life in America from the old one in India. It’s a picture book that would be important in an elementary school classroom but would also be good at home for any child to understand how others arrived in America whether it’s someone in their family or a classmate. [picture book, ages 7 and up]

In Andal’s House by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Amanda Hall

Alex of Randomly Reading has this great picture book for older readers about a young boy in India who feels the sting of discrimination even though the caste system no longer exists. [picture book, ages 7 and up]

Letters to Ammi by Aftab Yusuf Shaikh, photographs by Adrija Ghosh and Soumotra Ranade

The story is a little confusing. At first, I thought this was an epistolary picture book, a picture book written in the form of a series of letters.  I suppose it is … but these are one-way letters from Fatima the daughter to her mother. I wish the letters addressed to her mother would keep the same name, “Ammi,” because I also found it confusing when the daughter addressed her mother by different names. As Fatima tours the city of Delhi, she’s remembering references to her mother’s experience here. The final scene is when the reader learns that the daughter is visiting her mother’s gravesite, and it gives the story a bittersweet ending. The readers don’t really get the context of the daughter-mother relationship. Is the daughter grown up? Why is the mother buried in Delhi and her husband and daughter live somewhere else? When and how did she die? Who is Khaalu? Who is Khala? Why are they visiting now? I have more questions than answers but the images and descriptions of Delhi are haunting and enticing. [picture book, ages 9 and up]

Meet Yasmin! series by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly

I love this early chapter book featuring a Pakistani-American 2nd grader with a knack for exploration and mischief. This is perfect for kids learning how to read independently. Yasmin is a strong girl character that kids can relate to, doing typical things that second graders do like dressing up, exploring their neighborhood, and painting. Small details about Pakistani culture enrich this lively early chapter book sure to charm those kids who like Ivy & Bean, Clementine, and Dory Fantasmory. [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Mehndi Boy by Zain Bandali, illustrated by Jani Balakumar

Review from A Kid’s Book A Day:

“Tehzeeb is a great character who learns how to be true to himself, and it was refreshing to see Ayaz Uncle change his ideas and admit to his nephew that he was wrong.” [early chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Nina and the Travelling Spice Shed by Madhvi Ramani

Nina is seriously grumpy. She’s been saddled with a school project that she doesn’t want to do and her parents who won’t stop telling her how wonderful India is. But she’s never ever been there!
 
A chance discovery changes everything — could her sweet aunty be a secret agent? Is her Aunty’s spice shed, in fact, a travel machine? Before long Nina is traveling in her shed with no idea where she will land.
 
Nina is about to embark on a crazy adventure involving a short-tempered holy man, a charming street thief, a glamorous film star, and a fierce Tiger. [chapter book, ages 7 and up]

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangy Mandanjna

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Kiki is a sympathetic character who reacts understandably when attacked by a demon, and even though she is anxious, undertakes to try to save the world. Having her thrust into a world of her own creation is fascinating. I really enjoyed the house that the Crows lived in and appreciated that a lot of time was spent there in between attempts to overthrow the demon. I was half expecting Kiki to have to travel all over on a quest, but this thankfully broke from that standard formula. There’s plenty of food, hot chocolate, and hanging around to recuperate from demon hunting, which I like just about as much as the action. My students, who always want things to happen, will find plenty of chases and demons setting things on fire.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Statistically, there should be more books about parents who divorce than parents who die. This book does a good job of showing the tension that bickering parents can cause in a family. The details of how a family deals with separation and divorce are rarely depicted in literature. This has an added layer of interest with the magical realism of Sonali’s new Bollywood reality. I enjoyed the bits of backstory we got about her grandfather and the interactions with her extended family. The friend drama is always popular.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Step Up to the Plate Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami

Uma Krishnaswami set this book in a really interesting time: the spring of 1945. Japanese Americans have been sent to internment camps, including a family in 9-year-old Maria’s town of Yuba City in California. There are still laws that prevent people of color from owning land, voting, or becoming citizens. America is at war on two fronts.

Against this backdrop, Maria Singh wants to play softball but Papi from India and Mama from Mexico are surely going to object. There’s the modesty issue, but Maria can’t field the ball in a long skirt. There are other issues the family is concerned about during these turbulent times: racism and its effects on their community, India’s bid for independence, and being forced to move from their home. That’s a big one. This is a little-known chapter of segregation that forced mixed-race marriages. Maria and her family will charm the reader, letting them see that love is color-blind, strong, and steadfast. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan

Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Ravi (pronounced rah-VEE, please!) has just moved to the US from India with his father’s job. It’s very different, especially since his grandmother and grandfather are now living in the same house with his family, instead of just down the street. Since he was popular in his old school and did well academically and in athletics, he has every confidence that things will go well at that the popular Dillon Samreen (who is American-born but still Indian) will be his friend. Unfortunately, his teacher has a hard time understanding his accent, and the children make fun of his button-up shirt and formal ways. He is sent to a resource room with Joey, whom he thinks is an oaf. Joey is very large but also suffers from an auditory processing problem. He is easily distracted by noises, so needs assistance with organization and tuning things out. His real problem this year is that his mother has gotten a job as a cafeteria lady! He is frequently the target of Dillon’s jokes and petty thievery, so tries to help out Ravi even though the other boy is rather rude to him. When the class has a big assignment, can the two band together to outwit the rude Dillon?” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Vanished by Sheela Chari

This book came highly recommended on a number of fronts including by children’s book bloggers and authors (see comments below). I will track it down so I can review it pronto! Author Uma Krishnaswami has an interview with author Sheela Chari here. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami

The reviews at Amazon are a little harsh but I disagree. I really liked this chapter book about 12-year-old Maya who has returned to Southern India (Chennai) with her mother after her grandfather died to sell his house. While the book is set in India and sparkles with imagery of rickshaws, crowded streets, and the colorful personalities of their neighbors, the story is really about relationships:  how Maya comes to terms with her parent’s divorce, Maya and her mother’s relationship with their housekeeper Kamala Mami and Kamala Mami’s complex relationship with her own son and daughter-in-law. To me, the tangled web of relationships is true to East Asian familial relationships and is a story that not only teaches about another culture but also how very alike we all are no matter where we hail from. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen by Mitali Perkins

In this engaging story about cultural discovery, thirteen-year-old Sunita finds herself resenting her Indian heritage when her grandparents come for a visit from India to California. She’s embarrassed by the differences she feels between herself and her friends, but she’s in for some surprises as she gets to know her grandparents — and herself! Includes a reader’s guide. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Tamarind and the Star of Ishtar by Jasbinder Bilan

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“I love books about children who go to spend summers with relatives in other countries; I always secretly hoped my mother would send me to spend the summer on my grandmother’s dairy farm, but she never did! The family dynamic between Tamarind and her father, as well as with his new wife, Chloe, was very realistic and nicely nuanced. It also made sense that Tamarind wouldn’t have been sent to visit her grandmother when she was younger. There are lots of good connections with Indian culture and mythology, and the landscape is incorporated into the story nicely.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame by Supriya Kelkar

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“This is a great book to use to replace Whelan’s Homeless Bird (2000) if that’s something that you are currently using in the classroom. While I always liked that title, it has made me increasingly uncomfortable as we get more and more #ownvoices stories. The details about everyday life, and about the sociopolitical situation in India at this point in history are well presented, and offset by a really page-turning story about a young girl trying to save her own life.” [middle grade, ages 10 and up]

Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj

“Karina Chopra would have never imagined becoming friends with the boy next door–after all, they’ve avoided each other for years and she assumes Chris is just like the boys he hangs out with, who she labels a pack of hyenas. Then Karina’s grandfather starts tutoring Chris, and she discovers he’s actually a nice, funny kid. But one afternoon something unimaginable happens–the three of them are assaulted by a stranger who targets Indian-American Karina and her grandfather because of how they look. Her grandfather is gravely injured and Karina and Chris vow not to let hate win. When Karina posts a few photos related to the attack on social media, they quickly attract attention, and before long her #CountMeIn post–“What does an American look like? #immigrants #WeBelong #IamAmerican #HateHasNoHomeHere”–goes viral and a diverse population begins to add their own photos. Then, when Papa is finally on the road to recovery, Karina uses her newfound social media reach to help celebrate both his homecoming and a community coming together.” from publisher [middle grade, ages 10 and up]

Finding Mighty by Sheela Chari

Sheela Chari’s second mystery combines graffiti art, parkour, Indian American characters, diamond smuggling, and family secrets. It’s set in Yonkers, NY, and is a fast-paced urban page-turner. [middle grade, ages 10 and up]

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I loved this YA romance novel of two kids the summer before college. It’s a fun and humorous take on When Harry Met Sally with a “sort of” arranged marriage of two high-achieving Indian Americans. Set in San Francisco’s SFSU, this book combines manga with web development, and love not exactly at first sight. If you like Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved series, you’ll like this. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Sister of the Bollywood Bride by Nandini Bajpai

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“There are lots and lots of good details about all of the work involved in planning an elaborate wedding. Readers who enjoyed Richardson’s The Meet-Cute Project will enjoy this one. The suburban Boston setting was interesting, and the relationship with Vir was very sweet. I loved how helpful he was. The dash of celebrity will go over well with readers, and all of the fashions were great.” [young adult, ages 12 and up]

A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai

Fans of When Dimple Met Rishi will enjoy this young adult PG-13 love story with a similar vibe. The story revolves around a family legacy of matchmakers, and it looks like 15-year-old Simran “Simi” Sangha has the “gift.” She’s not sure she wants this career path though because she’s an artist that frequently uses henna as her medium. I was confused that “mehendi” means “henna” and once I figured that out, the book made a lot more sense to me. This book actually reads slightly younger than When Dimple Met Rishi, making it a fun beach read for middle school kids. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

When her father loses his job and leaves India to look for work in America, Asha Gupta, her older sister, Reet, and their mother must wait with Baba’s brother and his family, as well as their grandmother, in Calcutta. Uncle is welcoming, but in a country steeped in tradition, the three women must abide by his decisions. Asha knows this is temporary–just until Baba sends for them.

But with scant savings and time passing, the tension builds: Ma, prone to spells of sadness, finds it hard to submit to her mother- and sister-in-law; Reet’s beauty attracts unwanted marriage proposals, and Asha’s promise to take care of Ma and Reet leads to impulsive behavior.

What follows is a firestorm of rebuke–and secrets revealed! Asha’s only solace is her rooftop hideaway, where she pours her heart out in her diary, and where she begins a clandestine friendship with Jay Sen, the boy next door. Asha can hardly believe that she, and not Reet, is the object of Jay’s attention. Then news arrives about Baba . . . and Asha must make a choice that will change their lives forever. [young adult, ages 12 and up]

More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood

Wow, this was one of my favorite books this year! I love a light YA romance beach read and this is that and more. When I started the book, I didn’t realize that Danyal Jilani is a boy. I was expecting the pretty face airhead to be a girl and this to be an LGBTQ+ story. Once I got on track a few pages in, I was taken by Danyal. The author has penned in a refreshing and believable voice. So he’s not academic (very non-Asian but I like that). He has other talents. He’s an incredible chef. And I love that he cooks Indian. There’s also matchmaking involved. Did I mention that I’m obsessed with the Netflix series Indian Matchmaker? Danyal must choose between smart and beautiful Kaval and bookish Bisma who has a sordid social media scandal. When he gets selected for Renaissance Man, an academic competition, he decides to take this seriously. With Bisma’s help, he wants people to know about Winston Churchill and the three million people he let starve in Bangladesh. This is a love story that should be featured in Indian Matchmaker! Too bad it’s fictional! [YA, ages 14 and up]

Thank you to Sunita who suggested two more books: There have been some recent releases that my girls have liked – my teenager recommended The Lost Girl and my 8-year-old got Nina and the Travelling Spice Shed from her school library. I’ve read both and they are fantastic – both have strong Indian female characters and both are mostly set in India.

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination – an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her ‘other’, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready. 

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this. 

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known – the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love – to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive. [young adult, grades 14 and up]

First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover by Mitali Perkins

In time for an election year, meet America’s first daughter!

Adopted from Pakistan when she was three, Sameera (“Sparrow”) Righton is not your typical all-American girl. None of this used to matter, but that was before her father decided to run for president of the United States. Now some of her father’s campaign staffers think that maybe a dark-skinned, adopted daughter could hurt his chances. They begin to pressure Sameera to change her name to Sammy and to be more “American.” Sameera is torn between molding herself into the perfect daughter and being true to herself. Who will win out? Sparrow? Or Sammy? [young adult, ages 12 and up]

p.s. Related posts:

Books for Kids and Teens to Learn About Indian Culture & GIVEAWAY!

Hindi Nursery Rhyme Videos to Teach Kids Indian Culture

Raksha Badhan Multicultural Picture Book Club GIVEAWAY!

South Asian-American Picture Books of Joy & GIVEAWAY!

Middle Grade Books Featuring Characters Who are Incarcerated & 24 Hour GIVEAWAY!

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

My books:

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants®  Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

• Junior Library Guild Gold selection

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
• Junior Library Guild Gold selection
• Massachusetts Book Award Long List
• dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
• Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
• 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
• Green Earth Book Award Long List
• Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
• Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me