Author Archives: omnilibros

About omnilibros

Professor of Education Carthage College Kenosha, WI PhD. Children's Literature

The Spice Box

Rishi’s grandmother (Paati) is arriving from India. Rishi wants to help his dad make potato curry using the family’s cherished spice box, a box that holds not just fragrant spices, but also family history and stories passed down through generations. When an accident with the box occurs, Rishi must draw on these treasured memories to set things right. The story highlights South Asian and Tamil cultural elements, such as the use of traditional spices and the term of endearment “Paati”. The vibrant illustrations are digitally rendered. Back matter includes descriptions of spices in a traditional Indian spice box and a recipe for Paati’s Potato Curry.

Title: The Spice Box
Author: Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-503-42713-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Berkeley, California
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: California
Awards: 2025 South Asia Book Award for Young Readers winner
Subjects: cooking, Courage, Grandmothers, Intergenerational stories, Love, Resilience

Frank’s Red Hat

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One day, Frank the penguin shows up wearing a red knit hat that stands out in his black-and-white-and gray Antarctic world. The other penguins become very nervous because they have never seen anything red before. Frank convinces his friend Neville to try out the ref hat – it would not be dangerous. But just then, a killer whale leaps from the ocean and eats Neville in one big bite ( the action takes place off the page). Frank tries other hat designs and many different colors to get his penguin friends to don the hats, but they don’t trust a single one. The new colored hats in violet and cyan to apricot and fuchsia stand out on the black-and-white double-page spread. Frank declares, “THAT’S IT, I WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE HATS!” A seal hears him and asks for a hat. Seals like his hats. In the end, all the seals appear wearing Frank’s brightly-colored hats. His hats still make the penguins nervous, but that doesn’t stop Frank. He comes up with a new idea to bring warmth and wonder to his winter white world – the scarf. This heart-warming, humorous story was illustrated using digital collage techniques and snow brushes.

Title: Frank’s Red Hat
Author: Sean E. Avery
Illustrator: Sean E. Avery
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, Pty Ltd.
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-761600-66-1
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Antarctic Coast
Author’s ethnicity: born in South Africa
Author’s residence: Perth, Western Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: born in South Africa
Illustrator’s residence: Perth, Western Australia
Awards: Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year
Subjects: Colors. Hats, Penguins, Seals, Snow, Social themes, Walruses, Whales

The Sleeper Train

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This soothing bedtime story is about a little girl who is spending the night on a sleeper train with her Sikh family. However, she is so excited that she cannot sleep. As the train weaves through various Indian landscapes, she shares memories of places where she has slept, from a camping trip on the beach to her grandparents’ house. Jackson’s prose is lyrical and gentle. The richly detailed pencil and digital illustrations, vibrant and enchanting, complement the text perfectly and are based on the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora experiences. They include traditional Indian attire, hair practices, and visual motifs.

Title: The Sleeper Train
Author: Mick Jackson
Illustrator: Baljinder Kaur
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books. UK
Original Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 978-1-5362-3898-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Brighton, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: London
Subjects: Bedtime books, Memories, Sleep, Trains, Transportation

My Saree

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Divya adores her mother’s lovely sarees. Each one is unique. There are Kancheevaram silks, Bengali cottons, Banarasi brocades, and Rajasthani chiffons. They are parrot green, peacock blue, turmeric yellow, and lotus pink. Divya watches her amma (mother) carefully drape and fold the cloth into a beautiful saree. Divya dreams of the day when she can wear her own saree. Then, at Heritage Night at her school, students are to wear something that celebrates their culture and heritage. Divya is so excited, but her amma says that she has to be older to wear a saree and that she should wear the red silk skirt that her grandmother sent her for her birthday. She is heartbroken, but when Heritage Night arrives, Amma surprises her with a green and blue saree decorated with peacocks that she sewed just for Divya. The vibrant illustrations were created with pencil on paper with digital coloring. An author’s note, an illustrator’s note, and a glossary (with pronunciations) appear as back matter in this gorgeous picture book. mjw

Title: My Saree
Author: Gita Varadarajan
Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan
Publisher: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-338-83414-7
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Princeton, New Jersey
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Bangalore, India
Subjects: Culture, Dress, Fabrics, Heritage, Sarees, Self-discovery

The Beautiful Layers Of Me

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This reassuring picture book is a heartfelt exploration of self-acceptance and identity. The story follows a young girl, Ameena, as she navigates the complexities of understanding her unique qualities and the beauty within them. Through an engaging narrative, she learns to embrace her differences and celebrate the layers that make her who she is. The watercolor and pencil illustrations beautifully complement the text, featuring vibrant colors, Indo-Caribbean cultural details, and expressive characters that enhance the emotional depth of the story. Some unfamiliar words are defined at the beginning of the book.

Title: The Beautiful Layers Of Me
Author: Sophia Payne
Illustrator: Ruchi Mhasane
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, UK
Original Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 978-1-5362-4289-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: British Guyanese
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian,
Illustrator’s residence: India
Subjects: Clothing, Culture, Diversity, Indo-Caribbean, Weddings, Pride, Salwar kameez, Sari, Traditions

Crossing The Finish Line

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Sri Lankan Ranatunge was the first runner to represent his country in the Olympics. He was a soldier who trained to be an elite athlete. On the day of the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, “Karu” had a bad cold, but he ran his best for his family and his country. He believed that “participating is more important than winning.” He didn’t win the race, but when he finally crossed the finish line, he imagined what being first would feel like. This inspiring nonfiction picture book about courage and perseverance is illustrated with colorful, spirited art. Back matter includes more information about Ranatumge Karungnanda and an Author’s Note. mjw

Title: Crossing The Finish Line
Author: Thushanthi Ponweera
Illustrator: Maithili Joshi
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-14549-5018-9
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Tokyo, Japan
Author’s ethnicity: from Sri Lanka
Author’s residence: Qatar
Illustrator’s ethnicity: South Asian
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Subjects: Athletes, Biography, Ceylon, Competition, Nonfiction, Olympics, Running, Sports and recreations, Sri Lanka, Victory

Milloo’s Mind: The Story Of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer For Women’s Education

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This impressive picture book biography tells of Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, which provided education to thousands of girls in Pakistan beginning in the 1930s when girls didn’t go to school. Her schools are still thriving today. The story is told by her granddaughter, the author of the book. As a young girl in India, Maryam dreams of becoming a teacher, but her parents believe that school is not necessary for girls. She is heartbroken but not discouraged. She finds a way to attend high school and college, graduating with honors. She marries, opens a school in her house, and eventually moves to Pakistan (after Partition in 1947) to open more schools. Urdu words are smoothly integrated into the text, and they are defined in a glossary at the end of the book. An author’s note offers fascinating and comprehensive information and a cool photo of Maryam on graduation day. Detailed, colorful paper collage art depicts fabric patterns in clothing and other aspects of Indian culture. An interesting, hour-long interview with Reem Faruqi, put together by Charis Circle in 2023, is available on YouTube. mjw

Title: Milloo’s Mind: The Story Of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer For Women’s Education
Author: Reem Faruqi
Illustrator: Hoda Hadadi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-06-305661-9
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book, Biography, Information Book, Nonfiction
Book setting: Poona, India and Karachi, Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani
Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian
Illustrator’s residence: Tehran, Iran
Subjects: Biographies, Education, Gender equality, Multicultural issues, Teachers, Urdu language, Women

Picking Tea With Baba

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A Chinese family of four rises before dawn to climb up the hills to the tea garden, where they pick tea leaves and carry them in wicker baskets on their backs. Their trek is hard, but beautiful. They see the gorgeous landscape, animals, and interesting insects. They sing folk songs, have a picnic, and get cooled by the rain. At the end of the day, they climb back down the mountain to sell their tea harvest at the village in front of the tea factory. Readers will learn about the origins of tea, discover Chinese culture and environment, and experience the close-knit family working together to make a living. The rich, vibrant artwork in bold strokes and strong colors further distinguishes the joyful story.

Title: Picking Tea With Baba
Author: Xu Bin
Illustrator: Yu Yin
Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Chinese
Translator: Shan Chen
Original Title: Father’s Tea Garden On Hilltop
Original Publisher: Magic Elephant Books
ISBN: 978-162354-623-6
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: China
Author’s ethnicity: Chinese
Author’s residence: Chinq
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence: China
Subjects: Agriculture, Asia, Chinese culture, Family life, Gardens, Insects, Mountains, Tea, Traditions, Weather

The Tree That Was A World

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“The Tree That Was a World” by Yorick Goldewijk is a middle-grade book that weaves together the interconnected stories of seventeen creatures who all live beneath an ancient tree as old as the world itself. Each animal character grapples with existential questions and dreams that go beyond their expected lives—a sloth yearns to somersault, a moon moth caterpillar chooses her own path, a barn swallow searches for something she’s forgotten, and a red squirrel suspects he might actually be human. Through these surreal and thought-provoking narratives, the book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the nature of existence, all while maintaining a hilarious and imaginative tone. The creatures’ philosophical musings and quirky personalities create an unforgettable cast that challenges readers to think deeply about consciousness and what it means to be alive. The spectacular, magical mixed media illustrations by New York Times/NYPL Best Illustrated awardee Jeska Verstegen bring this extraordinary world to life, complementing the book’s whimsical and contemplative storytelling with visual artistry that captures both the wonder and strangeness of the tree’s diverse inhabitants. mjw

Title: The Tree That Was A World
Author: Yorick Goldewijk
Illustrator: Jessica Verstegen
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: Laura Watkinson
Original Title: De boom die een wereld was
Original Publisher: Uitgeverij Ploegsma. Netherlands
Original Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5650-0
Hardcover pages: 88
Age range: 8-14
Genre: Short Stories
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: Amsterdam
Awards: Translator has won three Batchelder awards
Subjects: Creatures, Trees

Once Upon A Diwali

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Riya loves Diwali for the tasty treats called ladoos, but not for the dark night and the very loud fireworks. Mama says that Diwali is more than treats. She goes on to explain that it’s about the celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Riya’s Papa decorates the house with lights and candles. Her sister makes rangoli, which are decorations of patterns made with powdered rice and colorful sand or flowers. Riya helps her. But she still is afraid of the darkness and the spooky, loud fireworks. So Mama tells the legend of why lights are used on Diwali. Riya listens and learns about Ram, the crown prince, who, with his wife and brother, was banished from his kingdom. There was a terrible battle. Ram won and returned to his kingdom on a path with glittering diyas (oil lamps) and glowing lights. Riya understands, becomes a bit braver, and asks to bring her own lantern to the celebration, just in case. Brightly colored cartoon-style artwork further distinguishes the storytelling. An author’s note, an illustrated glossary, a recipe for ladoos, and instructions for a Diwali paper diya craft are included as back matter. mjw

Title: Once Upon A Diwali
Author: Anita Mishra
Illustrator: Diah Chakraborty
Publisher: Soaring Kite Books, LLC. Washington D.C.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-958372-44-9
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: El Paso, Texas
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Assam, India
Subjects: Celebrations, Differences, Diversity, Fireworks, Folktales, Holidays. Religions, Sweets

Azizi And The Little Blue Bird

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This contemporary fairy tale is set in the Land of the Crescent Moon, where oppressive rulers have captured all the blue birds and imprisoned the population in fear and suffering. Young Azizi lives with his parents under this iron-fisted regime, watching as the leaders grow fat and indulgent while the people shrink from hunger and oppression until they are nearly invisible. When a small blue bird escapes from the palace cage, it inspires Azizi—now no bigger than a pine nut—to take action against tyranny. Together, Azizi and the brave little bird embark on a courageous journey to liberate their people from the cruel and greedy rulers and restore peace to their land. The colorful brush and acrylic illustrations bring this allegorical tale to life with vivid imagery that contrasts the darkness of oppression with the hope symbolized by the little blue bird, as the story draws inspiration from Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution. The book is a powerful narrative about freedom and resistance for young readers. mjw

Title: Azizi And The Little Blue Bird
Author: Laila Koubaa
Illustrator: Mattias De Leeuw
Publisher: Lantana Publishing Ltd.
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Flemish
Translator: David Colmer
Original Title: Azizi en de lkeine blauwe vogel
Original Publisher: Book Island. New Zealand
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-1-83629-009-4
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-10
Genre: Picture Book, Fairy Tale
Book setting: Tunisia
Author’s ethnicity: Tunisian and Flemish
Author’s residence: Flanders, Belgium
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian
Illustrator’s residence: Belgium
Subjects: Activism, Fairy Tales, Freedom, Jasmine Revolution, Oppression, Politics and government, Social justice

Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community

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Monica loves the butter chicken that her father makes. It’s been a family favorite since her father ate it as a young boy in a wonderful restaurant in Delhi. The two have fun preparing the meal, and they set the table for two. But then the doorbell rings and Grandma, Uncle Jai, Uncle Arjun, Cousin Anya, and so many more appear with food for everyone – fresh mangoes, channa masala, palak paneer, naan, dumplings, and cupcakes. They all share the feast that was made with love. Brightly colored artwork in reds, oranges, and blues features South Asian arches and arabesque designs. This celebration of family, food, and Indian heritage includes a foreword by renowned chef José Andrés and the author’s own recipe for butter chicken. mjw

Title: Papa’s Butter Chicken: A Celebration Of Family And Community
Author: Monica Saigal
Illustrator: Abeeha Tariq
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-6643-0044-6
Hardcover pages: 36
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Washington, DC
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Pakistani-Irish
Illustrator’s residence: UK
Subjects: Celebrations, Communities, Cooking, Father-daughter relationships, Indian heritage, Recipes