Tag Archives: Language

Hilwa’s Gifts

This heartwarming picture book follows a young girl’s journey to discover her cultural heritage through her grandmother’s traditional cooking. The story beautifully captures the intergenerational bond as Hilwa learns to prepare family recipes that connect her to her ancestral homeland. The illustrations, rendered in vibrant watercolors with intricate details, depict the rich textures of Middle Eastern fabrics, the steam rising from aromatic dishes, and the expressive faces of the characters as they share meaningful moments in the kitchen. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses a warm color palette dominated by rich oranges, reds, and golds to evoke the spices central to the narrative and create a sense of comfort and belonging. The final spreads feature stunning double-page illustrations of a family gathering where Hilwa presents her perfected dish, symbolizing how food traditions can preserve cultural identity across generations and distances. mjw

Title: Hilwa’s Gifts
Author: Safa Suleiman
Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan
Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2942-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Palestine
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian American
Author’s residence: Colorado
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Kazakhstan, raised in Armenia
Illustrator’s residence: Seattle
Subjects: Cousins, Farm life, Grandparents, Heritage, Middle East, Multigenerational, Olive harvest, Olive oil, Olives, Picnic, Traditions

Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu

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Ayo drifts off to sleep and dreams ( in ABC order) about the cultures, celebrations, and places of the African diaspora. He starts with A is for Afro and B is for braids, continues with H is for Hip-Hop and K is for Kente, and finishes with Y is for Yoruba and Z is for Zulu. Country labels, inset boxes, and pronunciation guides appear throughout the book. Backmatter includes a map, information about the diaspora, and extensive fascinating facts about the Black history and culture entries in the story, The brilliant, joyous illustrations were prepared digitally. mjw

Title: Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu
Author: Ain Heath Drew
Illustrator: Erin K. Robinson
Publisher: Barefoot Books. Concord, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 979-8-88859-211-3
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 5-10
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Africa and the Americas
Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Illustrator’s residence: Nairobi, Kenya and New York City, USA
Subjects: African American, Alphabet Book. Celebrations, Culture, Dance, Diaspora, Diversity, Heritage, Music, Revolutions, Traditions

The Spice Box

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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

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

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

The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery

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This engaging mystery follows Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl, who seeks to uncover the truth behind the missing family inheritance of her friend, Tara. Tara is promised to the greedy tea plantation manager who wants the precious gold jewelry. Sona has to prove her brother’s innocence, worry about her sickly mother, who is a tea plucker, and fret about her exams that will allow her to attend the Darjeeling International School. The story deftly intertwines the themes of friendship, bravery, and the rich tapestry of Indian heritage. The digitally rendered back-and-white illustrations add to the drama of this delightful blend of adventure and cultural exploration. The mystery is both entertaining and enlightening.

Title: The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery
Author: Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Maithili Joshi
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-62354-373-0
Hardcover pages: 128
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary
Book setting: Darjeeling, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: San Francisco
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Awards: The Author was nominated for the National Book Award
Subjects: Arranged marriages, Darjeeling, Examinations, Gold, Inheritance, Jewelry, School issues, Tea plantations

Music Of The Mountains: A Story In Pakistan

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In a contemporary Pashtun village in rural Pakistan, Roohi loves to listen to her grandfather play songs from Pashtun folklore on his beautiful rabab, a stringed musical instrument. She longs to play like he does, and he tells her that to play the music of the mountains, “you must feel the rhythm and feel the beat of your people.” She takes lessons, but sounds nothing like her grandfather. She is supposed to play in a school concert for Eid, but she is worried. Her grandfather is ill and she must play without his help. When the day of the concert arrives, her grandfather is able to sit in the audience. Roohi sees him, and her music flows and fills the hall. She plays to her own beat and brings everyone together as the sounds of her ancestors’ music echo over the auditorium. The rich, vivid illustrations were created digitally. Back matter includes information about the rabab, with a detailed image; sources and rabab musicians, with a QR code for listening to the music; a map of Pakistan; What is Eid?; details about traditional Pakistani dress; a Pashto glossary; an author’s note; and an illustrator’s note.

Title: Music Of The Mountains: A Story In Pakistan
Author: Sabrina Shah
Illustrator: Manal Mirza
Publisher: Barefoot Books. Concord, MA
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-8-88859-367-7
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 6-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani (Pashtun)
Author’s residence: Singapore
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Muslim American Pakistani
Illustrator’s residence: Chicago, IL
Subjects: Courage, Culture, Eid, Grandfathers, Holidays, Instruments, Intergenerational, Music, Muslim fiction, Pashtun, Performing arts, Rabab

Ajay And The Mumbai Sun

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In this fast-paced adventure set in modern-day Mumbai, Ajay, a street kid abandoned on the Mumbai railways, dreams of becoming a journalist. He and his friends find an old printing press and start their own newspaper, The Mumbai Sun. As they search for stories for their paper, they uncover a plan to tear down their slum. Hundreds of people will become homeless. Ajay is clever, courageous, and determined. His ambition is to print the truth about the political corruption threatening his home. The bustle of Mumbai is brought to life in this beautifully written novel. mjw

Author: Varsha Shah
Publisher: Chicken House
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-338-87546-1
Hardcover pages: 208
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction, Novel
Book setting: Mumbai, India
Author’s ethnicity: India
Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Cricket, Homelessness, Journalism, Newspapers, Poverty, Railways, Slums, Social justice

The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story

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Inspired by the author’s own life as an Afghani refugee, this impactful story expresses the importance of the family carpet. The carpet is the centerpiece of life – sipping tea and talking together, helping, sharing, caring, playing, learning, listening, remembering, and dreaming. The carpet is a piece of home. The bold-colored illustrations were made with ink drawings on paper and digital coloring. An author’s note tells the author’s backstory. mjw

Title: The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story
Author: Dezh Azaad
Illustrator: Nan Cao
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers.New York
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6361-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Afghani
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Cuisine, Culture, Cooking, Games, Folklore, Home, Refugees, Stories, Traditions

A Map For Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search For Home

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At school, a young Palestinian girl named Falasteen struggles to find her homeland on a map. She is troubled, confused, and curious when her teacher tells her she “thinks there’s no such place.” Falasteen asks her grandfather why Palestine isn’t on the map, and he draws her a colorful outline map showing various Palestinian cities and villages that she can take to school to show her teachers and classmates. She also asks her grandma, who is working in the kitchen. Grandma tells her of when soldiers, tanks, and guns forced her family from their home. Finally, Falesteen asks her mother why Palestine isn’t on the map. Mama replies that there are places you don’t need a map to find – their favorite trail, the bird’s nest in the chimney, their music and food, their names and language, and things that they haven’t seen with their own eyes. She says, “Palestine lives in you and me.” Beautiful, inspiring illustrations and thorough back matter round out this important and timely book. mjw

Title: A Map For Falasteen
Author: Maysa Odeh
Illustrator: Aliaa Betawi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company. New York
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-250-89670-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Author’s residence: California, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Illustrator’s residence: Alexandria, Egypt
Awards: 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award. Elementary Honor
Subjects: Arabs, Family life, Homes, Israel, Maps, Middle East, Multigenerational, Palestine, Refugees

Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!

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Baba takes his son Ibraheem and the cat Mitu in his rickshaw on a trip through the big city. They encounter all kinds of vehicles and discover that each one has its own language. The rickshaw’s motor says Putter Putt. The car says Honk Honk. The bus tries to barge in with a Toot Toot and the mighty truck joins with a Rumble Rumble. The vehicles screech to a stop when there is a toad in the road saying Burp! Everyone safely shares the road. The bright, playful illustrations that convey each vehicle’s personality were digitally drawn. An author’s note describes her experiences with big city traffic around the world. mjw

Title: Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrator: Chaaya Prabhat
Publisher: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House of Canada, Ltd.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-774882-658
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Goa, India
Subjects: Buses, Cars, Cities, City life, Horns, Rickshaws, Sharing, Toads, Traffic, Trucks, Vehicles

Big Gorilla: A Book Of Opposites

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This brief, oversized concept book teaches young readers about opposites. What’s the opposite of alone? Together. What’s the opposite of old? Young. Anthony Browne’s delightful depictions of different kinds of primates, with their intriguingly detailed facial expressions, will educate and entertain. The surreal primate portraits were rendered in watercolor and gouache. mjw

Title: Big Gorilla: A Book Of Opposites
Author: Anthony Browne
Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. UK
Original Copyright: 2024
ISBN: 978- 1-5362-3569-2
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-5
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: England
Awards: 2000 Hans Christian Andersen Award
Subjects: Apes, Concepts, Gorillas, Monkeys, Opposites, Primates