I'm a former English and ESL teacher and will always be a teacher at heart. I wrote this book with my niece and nephew in mind, hoping they could see characters like themselves in stories. As an avid young reader, I look back and wish I could have found more books that represented my background. I wanted to see characters who looked like me, celebrated the same traditions, and even enjoyed similar foods. Seeing myself in stories would have made young me feel less different and more like I belonged. That's why I believe it's important for South Asian children in the West to have books that reflect their lives and culture, allowing them to feel understood, valued, and proud of who they are. It's just as important for kids to read about cultures that are different from their own. These stories help us understand and respect people with different backgrounds. When we explore stories about different cultures, it makes us curious and encourages us to ask questions about the world outside of what we know. Learning about others helps us see that we're all unique but also have things in common like taking joy in food.
