I’m delighted to reveal the cover for SOME OF US: A Story of Citizenship and the United States, written by me and gorgeously illustrated by Huy Voun Lee, coming May 2025 from Christy Ottaviano Books / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!Some of us are citizens by birth. Some of us are born outside … [Read more...]
FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS, Coming in Fall 2025!
I'm SO thrilled to be working with amazing Abhi Alwar again on a new picture book, FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS, coming from Abrams Books in fall 2025! FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS features lots of things we love about the season — a new school year, leaf pile jumping, and friendships, old and new.❤️📚🍁 … [Read more...]
SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS is a Bank Street College Irma Black Silver Medalist!
I'm so honored that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS is a Bank Street College of Education Center for Children's Literature 2024 Irma Black Silver Medalist! The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature (Irma Black Award) goes to an outstanding book for young … [Read more...]
SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS on the Mass Book Award Longlist!
I'm SO thrilled and honored that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS is on the longlist for the Massachusetts Book Award in the Picture Book/Early Reader Category! I’m so lucky to be in a state among such literary elite!! … [Read more...]
VIBHI AND THE VOICE, Coming in 2026!
I'm incredibly honored that my 2026 picture book VIBHI AND THE VOICE will be illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Cindy Derby!!! This is a story about a girl who’s afraid the dark…until she meets a girl made of darkness who’s afraid of light. Candlewick Press will publish the book in fall 2026!! … [Read more...]
A New Picture Book Announcement — SIDE BY SIDE!
I have a new picture book coming in 2026! SIDE BY SIDE celebrates all we do while next to each other, when face to face feels like too much. 💗 I’m thrilled that Brizida Magro will illustrate! … [Read more...]
Cover Reveal for MAUNTIE AND ME!!
I'm delighted to share the cover of MAUNTIE AND ME, written by me and illustrated by Nadia Alam, coming from Candlewick Press on November 12, 2024! Priya loves having her favorite aunt, Mauntie—short for "My Auntie"—all to herself. But what happens when cousin Aditi visits and wants to spend … [Read more...]
SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS is a Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book of 2023!
I'm THRILLED that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS by Abhi Alwar and me is on Chicago Public Library's list of Best Board and Picture Books of 2023! It's an extraordinary list, and I'm honored to see our book on it! … [Read more...]
YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART is an NCTE 2024 Notable Poetry Book!
I'm so honored and thrilled that YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART, written by me and gorgeously illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad, has been selected as an NCTE 2024 Notable Poetry Book! … [Read more...]
A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY on NPR’s Science Friday!
A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY, written by me and illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte, was featured on this week's Science Friday as a Best STEM Book of 2023! The list includes THE FIRE OF STARS by Kirsten W. Larson and Katherine Roy and GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE by Laurie Wallmark and Katy … [Read more...]
I’LL GO AND COME BACK Wins the Massachusetts Book Award!
I'm SO thrilled that I'LL GO AND COME BACK has won the 2023 Massachusetts Book Award in the Picture Book/Early Readers category! This book is so close to my heart and was inspired by my relationship with my grandmother. It's a story about love that grows despite distance, and how we don't have to … [Read more...]
The Book Trailer for MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW!
I'm delighted to share the incredible book trailer for MASALA CHAI, FAST AND SLOW! This book about family, patience, and chai is beautifully illustrated by Neha Rawat and releases from Candlewick on September 5, 2023! The trailer was created by my amazing friend, Dan … [Read more...]
A Wonderful Launch for YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART!
I'm so delighted that YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART is out in the world today! This nonfiction picture book, written in poetry, is stunningly illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad and teaches readers all about the human heart and all that it does. When I was a kid, a picture book got me interested in … [Read more...]
The Book Trailer for YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART!
I'm so thrilled to share the book trailer for YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART, written by me and gorgeously illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad, releasing on August 15 from Dial Books for Young Readers / Penguin Kids! This nonfiction book about the human heart perfectly exemplifies why to me, the workings of … [Read more...]
SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS Interview on NPR Weekend Edition!
I was SO thrilled that Abhi Alwar and I were interviewed for the "Picture This" segment on NPR Weekend Edition about our book SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS! It was such a delight to chat with Abhi, and you will see why I'm so in awe of her and her work! What a joy to celebrate cousins and … [Read more...]
SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS on THE TODAY SHOW!
I'm absolutely thrilled that SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, written by me and beautifully illustrated by Abhi Alwar, is on the Read With Jenna Junior Summer 2023 Reading List along with 23 other amazing books, several of which are written by friends! It was a dream come true to see our book on … [Read more...]
A New Picture Book on Naturalization!
I'm SO thrilled that SOME OF US: A STORY OF CITIZENSHIP AND AMERICA will be illustrated by amazing Huy Voun Lee and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in 2025! As an immigrant and a naturalized citizen, this book is very important to me, and I can't wait to share it with the … [Read more...]
A Booklist STAR for A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY!!
I’m so excited that A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY, my nonfiction picture book illustrated by amazing Kathleen Marcotte and coming from Little Bee Books on June 20, 2023 has received a STARRED review from Booklist!! I can’t wait to share this book with the world!! You can preorder now from your … [Read more...]
A New Picture Book Announcement!
I'm thrilled to announce that my picture book BRACELETS FOR BROTHERS will release in 2021 with Charlesbridge Publishing! It tells the story of a girl named Chandrika who uses patterns to make bracelets for her three older brothers to celebrate the Hindu holiday Raksha Bandhan. A part of the … [Read more...]