Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal

Illustrated by Ani Bushry 4 stars A vibrant picture book told in catchy rhymes and an infectious beat. Bhangra Baby wants to join in the fun of the Punjabi folk dance. With the help of his family and friends, he learns the moves and spends the night dancing and celebrating. Bold, colorful illustrations. An adorable…

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Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar

Illustrated by Charlene Chua 3 stars A lovely rhyming picture book highlighting the different ways of celebrating Diwali. In the story, the family prepares and celebrates by hanging mango leaf buntings, creating rangoli, singing hymns, telling stories, feasting, and joining together with their community. The artwork is stunning. Beautiful use of color. It really captures…

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She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change

by Suma Subramaniam, Illustrated by Shreya Gupta 5 stars A stunning picture book following the life of M.S. Subbulakshmi. Subbulakshmi loves to sing and wants to share her magnificent voice with others, but girls are barred from singing at public performances in India. That doesn’t stop her. With the support of her mother, she keeps…

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Holi Hai! by Chitra Soundar, Illustrated by Darshika Varma

5 stars A wonderful story to celebrate Holi. At first, Gauri is excited to celebrate with her family and welcome spring with colorful gulal. But when she doesn’t get her favorite color, her excitement turns to anger. A great story with an emphasis on forgiveness, acceptance, new beginnings, and love. The book shares various aspects…

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I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca, Illustrated by Sara Palacios

3 stars A heartwarming story of family, quality time, and always coming back. When Jyoti feels out of place visiting family in India, her grandmother is quick to step in to share with, teach, and comfort her. Jyoti mirrors this experience when her grandmother visits, finding the commonality within the unfamiliar. Despite language and cultural…

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Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

4 stars A heartwarming and magical tale that explores family structures, fantasy versus reality, and self-discovery. Mystery, secrets, and magic combine to explore some of the complexities of growing up and coming into one’s self. The majority of the book is in black and white, which makes the full-color fantasy scenes even more magical. The…

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