American Desi
Written by Jyoti Rajan Gopal
Illustrated by Supriya Kelkar
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pavadais in bright gold colors
Jersey shirts and faded jeans
Swapping, changing, feeling seen…
Which is the color of me?
A young girl longs to know where she fits in: Is she American? Or is she Indian? Does she have to pick or can she be both? With bright, joyful rhyme, and paired with an immersive art style using American and Indian fabrics, American Desi celebrates the experiences of young children growing up first and second generation Indian American: straddling the two cultural worlds they belong to, embracing all they love of both worlds and refusing to be limited by either.
This story is a powerful tribute to the joy of being South Asian and for every reader who aspires to bridge their worlds with grace, grit, and confidence.
Primary ISBN: 9780316705301
Publication Date: June 2022
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Indian/Indian American
Themes: Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Generation: 1st, Generation: 2nd, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: 1st Generation, 2nd Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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