Padma Venkatraman

Award winning American author, Padma Venkatraman, has worked as chief scientist on oceanographic ships, spent time under the sea, directed a school, and lived in 5 countries. Her 3 novels, A TIME TO DANCE, ISLAND’S END and CLIMBING THE STAIRS, were released to multiple starred reviews (12), received numerous honors (> 50 best book e.g. ALA, IRA Notable; Booklist, Kirkus, NYPL, Yalsa BBYA; IBBY outstanding; and > 10 state lists), and won several national and international awards. She gives keynote addresses, speaks on TV and radio, serves on panels, conducts workshops, has been chief guest at international author festivals and visits schools all over the world. Padma Venkatraman's most recent novel, A TIME TO DANCE, was released in May 2014 to starred reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, VOYA, SLJ, and BCCB and rave reviews online and in newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Newsday, The Providence Journal and The Denver Post. A TIME TO DANCE accumulated numerous awards and honors, such as: ALA Notable, ALA/YALSA BBYA, Booklist Editor's Choice Best Books, Booklist Top 10 art bk, CCBC Choices Crystal Kite Finalist, CSML Best Books, Eliot Rosewater (IN) masterlist, IBBY Outstanding bk yod, IRA Notable (NBGS), Julia Ward Howe Boston Authors Club honor bk, Kirkus Best Books, Mighty Girl Top 10 Character Driven Books, New York Public Library Top 25, New York City Reads (#NYC365), Nutmeg Award (CT) master list, Rebecca Caudill (IL) master list, Red dot award (Singapore), Sanoc/Saba hn, Sequoyah (OK) master list etc. Padma Venkatraman’s second novel, ISLAND’s END, was released to four starred reviews (Booklist, Kirkus, SLJ and VOYA), won the international South Asia Book Award and the national Paterson Prize, was a finalist for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Crystal Kite (NE-SCBWI) and the Boston Authors Club Julia Ward Howe award, and received several other honors, including an ALA/Amelia Bloomer selection, American Library Association (ALA)/ Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA), Booklist Editor’s Choice/Best Book, Kirkus Best Book, and a Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) choice. Padma’s debut, CLIMBING THE STAIRS, was released to three starred reviews (Booklist, PW and VOYA), won the Boston Authors Club Julia Ward Howe award and the ASTAL Rhode Island Book of the year award; was shortlisted for RARI (Reading Across Rhode Island), the Cybil award and state awards in NJ, ME, SC and UT; and was also honored with an American Library Association (ALA)/ Amelia Bloomer List citation, ALA/Young Adult Library Association (YALSA) Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA), Booklist Editor’s Choice/Best Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education Best Book, Capitol Choice, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) choice, Children’s Literature Network (CLN) Top 20, CBC/NCSS (National Council of Social Studies) Notable, NYPL Best Book, Pennsylvania School Library Association (PASLA) Top 40, etc. Visit Padma Venkatraman at www.padmavenkatraman.com.