Mama's Roti

by Raakhee Mirchandani (Author) Shreya Gupta (Illustrator)

Mama's Roti
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A powerful story about the life-giving force of roti--a round Indian flatbread--and where it comes from, the people who grow it, and what it symbolizes within two families, inspired by the farmers' protests in India.

A roti isn't just a roti. It's a day in the hot sun tending to the wheat fields. It's little grains of truth about where we come from. It's a snack in the car for the perfect road trip lunch. It's hundreds of hands over thousands of years, kneading together our story.

Told through alternating perspectives of a family in America and a family in India, this powerful cross-continental, intergenerational story proves that something as small as a grain of wheat can create a powerful sense of community.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

This tender, lyrical picture book is a clever, poignant look at the myriad ways food nourishes us...a visual delight and a pleasure to read. A touching ode to a South Asian culinary staple.

Review quotes

Praise for My Diwali Light
A Junior Library Guild Selection

"[A] vibrant account of a close-knit family and community. MY DIWALI LIGHT should be part of all sets of books about traditions and cultures."—Booklist
"Mirchandani equates Diwali with collectivity, showing that the joy of the holiday can be shared with family and friends inside and outside of the culture."—SLJ
"Mirchandani's simple, elegant text explains the holiday, vividly bringing to life a family that loves coming together to share traditions, while Kelkar's bold use of color (particularly shades of purple, blue, and green) makes the illustrations pop.... A warm, heartfelt ode to Diwali and the joys of family."—Kirkus

Praise for Hair Twins:

* "A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love."

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Digitally collaged illustrations in a colorful cartoon style by Hatam spotlight a cast with a range of abilities, hair textures, religions, and skin tones. A sweet read that epitomizes a compassionate bond between parent and child."

Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A loving portrayal of a father-daughter bond that is strengthened over daily hair care, something that honors the characters' religion while nurturing their relationship."

Horn Book

Raakhee Mirchandani
Raakhee Mirchandani (raakstarwrites.com) is a journalist, children's book author, activist, and mom. Her work has appeared in Elle, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, HuffPo, Moneyish, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and the Boston Herald, and her books include Hair Twins, Super Satya Saves the Day, and My Diwali Light. When she isn't writing or working on her podcast, Raakhee is either organizing her bookshelves, running races to raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer, or styling her very curly hair with new oils and potions. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and daughter. You can follow her on Twitter @Raakstar and on Instagram @RaakstarWrites.

Chelsea Clinton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World; She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History; She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game; She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference; Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe; It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!; Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference; with Hillary Clinton, Grandma's Gardens and Gutsy Women; and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives, including those that help empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their children and their dog, Soren. You can follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at facebook.com/chelseaclinton.

Gillian Flint (gillianflint.com) is an illustrator who has a passion for painting in watercolors. She has been drawing and creating characters for as long as she can remember. Her work has been published in the USA, the UK and Australia. In her spare time she enjoys reading and gardening at her home in the UK. You can follow her on Instagram @gillianflint_illustration.

Alexandra Boiger (alexandraboiger.com) has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including the She Persisted series by by Chelsea Clinton; the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer; and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea; daughter, Vanessa; and two cats, Luiso and Winter. You can follow Alexandra on Instagram @alexandra_boiger.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316339469
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 29, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
Library of Congress categories
India
East Indian Americans
Flatbreads

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