In This Family

by Shelly Anand, Meenal Patel (Illustrator)

Overview

A multicultural family welcomes a new member in this warm and lyrical picture book that celebrates family love.

In this family
We are a blend, a combination
of cornbread and roti,
of the Green Bay Packers and Bhangra…

This family has ancestors hailing from the Land of Five Rivers, the Emerald Isle, the Swiss Alps, and the Silk Road. When it’s time to greet the newest arrival, four generations around the globe—Mummy and Papa, bhaiyya, grandparents, and even Parnani—show her that while some might call their family mixed (biracial, adhi Indian, adhi white), there is nothing half and half about them. They are whole.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665919043
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	05/14/2024
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	105 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shelly Anand is the author of the acclaimed picture book Laxmi’s Mooch, which was featured on the Today show, NBC News, and in Glamour magazine. Shelly is also an immigrant and labor rights attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA from Wellesley College and her JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. She lives in Georgia with her fabulous husband and two adorable but also naughty children.

Meenal Patel is an artist, illustrator, designer, and children’s book author. She hopes the experiences and joy she infuses into her art will result in connection, belonging, and delight for someone else. Meenal has replanted herself in her home state of Minnesota, though part of her heart resides in California after spending many years in the Bay Area. Outside of the studio, she loves reading cookbooks, painting with her nieces, baking birthday cakes, and hiking amongst trees with her husband and sweet dog, Dosa. Visit her online at MeenalPatelStudio.com.

Editorial Reviews

2024-04-20
A family with roots in the “Land of Five Rivers and the Emerald Isle, the Swiss Alps and the Silk Road” makes its newest member feel welcome.

Speaking directly to the infant, the narrator says that this family speaks Hindi, English, and some Spanish. “My name is Narayan,” the young narrator says. “We have named you Uma.” The narratorial voice then appears to shift as other members share their perspectives, including maternal grandparents who call themselves Nana and Nani and love to tell riddles and serve boondi ki raita, a great-grandmother who lives in New Delhi, a paternal grandmother who enjoys gardening and making spaghetti and turkey meatballs, and a paternal grandfather who lives in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, and takes the child to Al Johnson’s for cherry-stuffed French toast. Uma’s dark-skinned mother explains that, although Uma’s lighter skin tone makes it hard for people to see the similarities between the two of them, they are still a family. And while strangers may call the family “half-and-half,” they are in fact a beautiful, diverse whole. Imbued with a frank, child-friendly sense of optimism, this lyrical tale conveys the challenges of being part of a multiracial family. Though the shifts between narrators can be confusing—a problem that’s sometimes aided by the illustrations—overall, it’s a wonderful tribute to family. Patel’s earth-toned artwork swirls with energetic linework as young Uma matures over the course of the story.

A rich and inviting portrait of a loving multiracial family. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews