New Non-Fiction Picture Books

I have really enjoyed the "Consider" series of books by Jennifer Grant and illustrated by Julianna Swaney, so I was delighted to see that they had a new book: Consider the Night Sky, especially since the original meaning of the word "consider" is to literally examine the stars! 

The book begins with the sun and daytime and how as evening comes "orange and pink and purple paint across the sky" and finally "the sky fades to smoky gray and then turns inky blue or black, it is Night!" Now we explore the night sky--phases of the moon, constellations, planets, empty space. Lyrical writing paired with beautiful illustrations lead a child gently to wonder about the vastness of the universe, how God knows each and every one of His creations, including the reader. A wonderful introduction to astronomy. Thanks to  NetGalley for a review copy. 

 

The Messenger by Lyndsay Roberts Rayne is a nearly wordless picture book that tells a story of love and sacrifice for a greater good so beautifully. One little girl gives up her beloved dog to be trained as a messenger dog to be used on the frontlines during WWI. The soldier and the dog develop a deep bond and when the soldier is injured, it is the dog who comes to his rescue. This is a  picture book for older kids--8 and up--because of the reality of war. At the very end, the author gives more information about the animals that were used during the war. Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.  

Journey of Shunya Means Zero

I just received my author copies of Shunya Means Zero, a book that's had a very long gestation...23 years!!! Sometimes, when you flip an idea on its head, it falls into place.

I've always been fascinated with numbers and patterns and so it was natural to write about the history of our numerical system. Magazine writing has trained me to have a tight focus so I decided to stick to the history of zero, which was invented in India, and followed it with an introduction to the history and culture of India using the tried and true method of counting. Zero violence. One Taj Mahal. Two Language Families. Etc.

 
I started submitting to publishers in 2003 and after about a dozen submissions over three years with only a few personal rejection letters encouraging me, I shelved it. I was busy writing other books and teaching. In 2017, I revisited Shunya (see Vijaya Bodach: Journey of Little Thief! Chota Chor! ) and flipped it--first the counting, then the history of zero and it was accepted right away by Reycraft. My editor, Sunita Apte, helped me make the text even tighter and I was so delighted that Nayantara Surendranath was again paired with me to do the illustrations. But it was a long wait...but God's timing is always perfect. And worth the wait. 

I wrote this for my children, but it is their children who will be the beneficiaries of this book. I was able to dedicate it to my grandbabies. Just five days after Dagny's baby boy was born, my editor sent me the final art (I'd seen some sketches before but seeing the art in full color took my breath away) and we went through another round of tweaking the text. I had the baby's initials for the dedication. Yay! I wrote to Max and Laura, asking whether they had decided on a name for their baby girl. I promised I'd keep it secret and only my editor would know, lol. But they hadn't decided. So I went with babyB. 

I got an email with the final proofs the day Max and Laura's sweet baby girl was born. We still didn't know the name until the evening, but once they decided, I shot back an email to my editor for the final dedication. Whew!!! 

More importantly, although I'm proud to be American, I have not forgotten my roots, the place that began shaping me into the person I am today. I have wanted so much to share it with my children, but by the time they were old enough that they'd remember a trip to India, my health was declining, and travelling was (still is) too hard on me. Max and I had the opportunity to go to Kolkata and work with the Sisters of Charity in 2020, but the lockdowns meant no travelers were being issued visas. It was a huge disappointment. I pray that we'll all be able to take a family trip to India with the children and grandchildren...but in the meantime, they'll have this book. It is so much more meaningful now than when I first penned it. I can't wait to share it with not just my grandbabies, but with school children everywhere. Here's Grandpa practicing for reading to the grandbabies :)     

Let Freedom Ring!!!

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” ~Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776).

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend celebrating America's 250th birthday! We had a relatively quiet celebration, walking over to Smythe Park for music and food. What a surprise to have an Indian food truck! And Dagny made the beautiful fruit platter. But I really, really missed having fireworks on Daniel Island. If not now, then when?

My thoughts are very much on the freedoms we enjoy. True freedom isn't doing anything we want, but the freedom to do the right thing. As our pastor reminds us, we are free to sin, but not free from the consequences of sin. May God help us choose rightly!

July 4th would've been my father's 98th birthday. And I keep praying that he chose to be with Jesus in heaven. I am so grateful to him for bringing us to this country. I fished out an old picture, a Polaroid, that was taken when I was naturalized as a US citizen in the courthouse in Spokane, WA. I was 19 years old and had been waiting for this day since arriving in the US five years prior as a "resident alien." The term evoked laughter with thoughts of Martians (my family is from Maharashtra and years later my kids would simplify it to Martian). I knew even then that the US was the BEST country in the world to live in. And it's been confirmed over and over since living and visiting other countries. I came across a tweet by Jordan Peterson where he sums up the root of America's greatness: Dr Jordan B Peterson on X: "To the Americans: I've travelled all over the world. I've familiarized myself with many places, and met many people. And I'm a Canadian, although I’m privileged to reside once again in the States. And here's something I've noticed, and it’s a key element of America's continuing" / X 

I am so happy that my barbershop chorus will bring our Red, White, and Ringing show to various communities this summer to celebrate America's 250th birthday. God bless America!!!