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“Illustrations are brimming with riotous colors, both displaying the vivid Indian saris as well as embodying the joy of being reunited with family lending a glow to the page. . . . An overall rich narrative, this book covers an important but underrepresented Indian tradition of gifting mithai boxes, making it a necessary purchase or read.”

—School Library Journal, Starred Review

The Mithai Box Is Not Empty

Written by Namrata Agarwal
Illustrated by Parvati Pillai
Published by Holiday House

Ria wants to be the best chai party host to impress her grandparents, who are visiting all the way from India. She even shares her precious mithai box of her favorite sweet, motichoor ladoo, with the whole family. After all, her grandparents always taught her “Atithi devo bhava, like God we welcome our guests with warmth and respect.”

Everyone loves the motichoor ladoo. And Ria is happy that everyone else is happy. But as the ladoo disappears, she worries that there will be none left for her. What good is being the best host if Ria doesn’t get to have fun too?

But her grandmother has a surprise. . .one last motichoor ladoo!

Sharing has never been so sweet! The Mithai Box Is Not Empty celebrates the joys of generosity, but reminds us not to forget our own happiness. An author’s note on mithais and a matching mithai game are included in the back of the book.

Primary ISBN: 9780823454976
Publication Date: September 2025
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

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Setting: Unspecified

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

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

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