India
Thukpa For All
By Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt, Shilpa Ranade (Illustrator)
Thukpa For All. Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt. Illustrated by Shilpa Ranade. Karadi Tales Picturebooks, 2019. First published in Chennai, in 2018. ISBN 9788193388983. 48 p. (Ages 7-9). Picture book.
Tsering can’t wait to eat his grandmother's noodle soup, Thukpa. He invites all his friends and neighbors for a celebratory moment, but there is a power cut. Will his Abi, grandmother, be able to make the noodles? Narrated from a blind child’s, Tsering’s, perspective with remarkable illustrations, this story is perfect for readers who want to learn more about Ladakh region of India. Would pair with My Ocean is Blue by Darren Lebeuf. The first author, Praba Ram, is a children’s writer, reading specialist, and early childhood educator. She is also the founder of Saffron Tree— an award winning site dedicated for children’s literature from India and the US. Ram resides in Chennai with her family. The second author, Sheela Preuitt is based in Oregon, US and is a writer, cuisinière, applications developer, childhood literacy advocate, and craftswoman. Thukpa For All was selected for the 2019 IBBY list of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. It was also featured in the 2020 USBBY Outstanding International Books list. Shortlisted for Neev’s Book Award (2019) and listed as Highly Commended book by South Asia Book Awards (2019). Watch a book-reading of Thukpa For All by author Praba Ram. [mi]
The Middle East & North Africa
Iran
A Sweet Jam
By Hūshang Murādī Kirmānī, Caroline Croskery (Translator)
A Sweet Jam. Hūshang Murādī Kirmānī. Translated by Caroline Croskery. CreateSpace, 2015. Originally published as مرباى شيرين in Farsi in 1998/1999 by Muʻīn in Tehran. ISBN 1507886241. 158 p. (Ages 9-12). Fiction.
A stuck jam jar sends 12-year-old Jalal to his teachers, neighbors, family, and anyone else who can help. Jalal’s mission to eat his breakfast contains a story of courage, persistence, and community. Well known within Iran, Kermani’s work has been widely translated and regularly wins international book awards. [ea]