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“In this uplifting picture book debut, Sibu T.P. spins a story of belonging through a cup of tea… digitally finished, smartly lit acrylic and graphite illustrations portray domestic spaces against sweeping landscapes, exploring an emotional push-pull through a daily ritual.”

—Publishers Weekly

“An Indian American child constantly feels like the odd one out…Happily, summer break is finally here, and Ajesh is thrilled at the prospect of “two whole months where I can be myself.” But when Mummy and Daddy announce a trip “back home” to the South Indian state of Kerala, Ajesh is unsure…Relying on strong sensory imagery, this keenly observed tale speaks to the alienation experienced by many who straddle two cultures.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Home, Home

Written by Sibu T. P.
Illustrated by Sibu T. P.
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summer has arrived and Ajesh is ready to spend the next few months in the comfort of his bedroom, drinking the chaiya that his mom makes specially for him. Ajesh feels most at home when he is drinking the warm, milky tea that is like the color of his skin with his parents, and away from the outside world that often makes him feel like he’s different.

But when his parents announce that they’re going on a trip “back home”—to Kerala, India—he has trouble connecting with a place that is so unfamiliar to him. The sticky heat, crowded streets, and swaths of family members who seem to know his name, even though they’ve never met, make him long for the life and physical spaces that he’s used to—that is, until chaiya is served.

Home, Home is a beautiful debut picture book about the duality of home, connecting with your ancestral lands, and the daily rituals that ground and link us across space and generations.

Primary ISBN: 9780593403730
Publication Date: August 2025
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States, India (Kerala)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation, Home Country

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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