Les récits de Kashmira Sheth explorent les complexités de la transition culturelle et la quête d'identité, souvent centrés sur de jeunes protagonistes féminines. Son écriture se caractérise par une représentation sensible des émotions et des liens familiaux, profondément ancrés dans la culture indienne tout en naviguant dans de nouvelles expériences de vie à l'étranger. À travers ses personnages, Sheth explore les subtilités de l'adolescence, le choc entre tradition et modernité, et la résilience face à l'adversité. Sa prose offre aux lecteurs une profonde exploration de la quête universelle d'appartenance.
Set against the backdrop of the vibrant monsoon season, the story follows an Indian boy and his grandfather as they embrace the joy of a rainy day. Their shared experiences highlight the beauty of nature, the warmth of family bonds, and the simple pleasures found in life’s little moments. Through their adventures, readers are invited to appreciate the magic of rain and the special relationship between generations.
On Take Your Child to Work Day, Nina, Kavita, and Jay accompany their mother, a landscape architect, to learn about gardening. While Kavita and Jay are content with the experience, ambitious Nina envisions a vegetable-selling business. However, her grand plans overlook the challenges of gardening, such as dealing with pests like rabbits and slugs, setting the stage for a humorous and educational adventure in entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
Trapped. For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned.
An Indian grandmother and her American granddaughter explore culture, imagination, and individuality through a collection of saris. Every day, Rupa's grandmother wears a beautiful Indian sari. Each is brightly colored and very pretty. "Don't you ever want to wear a gray skirt and red blouse with round buttons like Mommy or a green dress like me?" Rupa asks. But Dadima prefers to wear her traditional saris. Dadima shares all the wonderful things that saris can do—from becoming an umbrella in a rainstorm to providing a deep pouch to carry seashells. Soon Rupa's own imagination is sparked as she envisions saris protecting her in the scary Gir Jungle, bandaging up an injured knee, and holding a special secret for her and Dadima to share. Kashmira Sheth provides a warm, unique peek into Indian culture in this sensitive portrait of a grandmother and her American granddaughter. Hindi words defined and sprinkled throughout the text further add to the story's authenticity. Yoshiko Jaeggi's sweeping, colorful, and fanciful watercolor illustrations capture the extraordinary bond of love that unites families across generations and cultures. A note from the author and instructions for wrapping a sari are included.
Nina Soni's competitive nature shines during Halloween as she strives to outdo her friend Jay's costume. Inspired by old boxes in the basement, she plans to create a thrilling haunted house to charge admission. However, as she dives into her ambitious project, unexpected challenges arise, putting her Halloween queen status to the test.
Nina, a lively Indian-American girl, finds herself bored during a rainy spring break and frustrated with her little sister Kavita's antics. When a pile of dirt appears at their neighbor's house, she seizes the opportunity to embark on an ambitious engineering project. Teaming up with Kavita, Nina aims to create something spectacular, but their plans take an unexpected turn, leading to humorous and unforeseen outcomes. This charming story explores sibling dynamics and the excitement of creativity.
A vibrant and deliciously amusing suspenseful story set in India about food and gardening, anticipation, and generosity. Every morning, Jiva works in his garden until the sun turns as red as a bride's sari. He plants peas and beans, potatoes and tomatoes, eggplants and okra in his vegetable patch. While his friend Ruvji admires his plants Jiva sings, "Plump peas, sweet peas, Lined-up-in-the-shell peas. Peas to munch, peas to crunch I want a feast of peas for lunch!" But each time Jiva is ready to pick the peas for his feast, they're already gone. He tries making a scarecrow and a fence, but it's no use. Who might have taken them this time?
The story revolves around a young boy who longs for his sister's attention as he asks her to read his favorite book. However, she is preoccupied with her own reading, oblivious to the magical events unfolding around them. As the boy's imagination comes to life, a tiger emerges from the steam of his soup, highlighting themes of childhood wonder and the desire for connection. This enchanting tale explores the intersection of imagination and reality, showcasing the transformative power of storytelling.
Nina juggles multiple responsibilities, from finishing a school project to planning her sister Kavita's birthday party, all while trying to mend her friendship with Jay. Her organized nature clashes with her forgetfulness, leading to a chaotic but relatable journey of balancing personal commitments and relationships.
Anoop, an eighth-grader, grapples with his identity and faith as he navigates a new class where his patka draws unwanted attention. Amidst personal and societal challenges, including his grandfather's declining health in India and rising attacks on American Sikhs, he reflects on his place in the world. This poignant exploration delves into themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and resilience in the face of adversity.