My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages
Written by Uma Menon
Illustrated by Jomepour Bell
Published by Candlewick Press
Sumi’s mother can speak two languages, Malayalam and English. And she can switch between them at the speed of sound: one language when talking to Sumi’s grandmother, another when she addresses the cashier. Sometimes with Sumi she speaks a combination of both. Could it be she possesses a superpower? With awe and curiosity, young Sumi recounts the story of her mother’s migration from India and how she came to acquire two tongues, now woven together like fine cloth. Rahele Jomepour Bell’s inviting illustrations make playful use of visual metaphors, while Uma Menon’s lyrical text, told astutely from a child’s perspective, touches lightly on such subjects as linguistic diversity and accent discrimination (“no matter how they speak, every person’s voice is unique and important”). This welcome debut, penned when the author was still a teenager, is an unabashed celebration of the gift of multilingualism—a gift that can transport people across borders and around the world.
Primary ISBN: 9781536222517
Publication Date: February 2024
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Indian/Indian American
Themes: Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Family Relationship: Parents, Generation: 1st, Identity: Multilingual, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
Click here for details about how we define our titles.
Engagement Projects & Resources:
Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.