Where To Discover South Asian Children’s Books
I was sixteen when I read The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. Sixteen years of reading fairy tales, American Girl books, and required school readings until I finally read a book where I saw myself reflected in its pages. And then it was Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies that made me realize how validated I felt when reading books with South Asian themes and protagonists. I yearned for more.
According to a 2019 diversity report, only 8.7% of children’s books have Asian main characters. It is only fair to assume that South Asian books take up a small portion of that 8.7%. When children don’t see themselves reflected in books, curricula, and media, they feel that they don’t matter. When they read stories, find role models, and learn about trailblazers they can relate to, then they can imagine what is truly possible for themselves. For girls, in particular, whose confidence dips starting at age eight, having access to these stories is even more paramount. Middle-grade series such as Payal Doshi’s Rhea and the Blood of the Nectar and Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah can help Indian girls (and boys) build confidence in who they are and where they come from by feeling a sense of ownership of the story when they see themselves reflected in its pages.
For these reasons, I wrote Shakti Girls, a compilation of poems that brings into the spotlight remarkable women from India and its diaspora. These are stories of women who inspire me to live authentically, passionately, and with purpose. These are women who were unafraid to walk off the beaten path and blaze their own trail. Thus, giving me the confidence that I can do the same. I did the research and wrote the poems just as much for me as for all the young girls (and boys) out there who need to see it to be it. You can learn more about Shakti Girls at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shaktigirls/shakti-girls
So, where can South Asian children and families learn and find books inclusive of their identity?
Fortunately, there are more authors of South Asian heritage and stories with South Asian protagonists and themes breaking through. At times it can be a challenge to find these fantastic titles, so I pulled together some resources that I have found useful for myself and my kids.
South Asian Kidlit https://southasiankidlit.org/
Social Justice Books https://www.socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/south-asian
Diverse Book Finder https://diversebookfinder.org
Tokabox https://www.tokabox.com/
Kitaab World https://kitaabworld.com/
Tip: Follow your favorite authors on Instagram to learn what’s up and coming. Supporting your favorite authors can go a long way!
Want to see more South Asian-themed stories at your local library or bookstore? Here’s what you can do:
Go to your local librarian and bookstore and ask if they take requests. Tell them you’d like to see more South Asian-themed books and that there is a demand in the community.
You can go to your library’s website and look for a section called “Recommend a Title” or similar. Check the Contact Us tab if you can’t find it anywhere else.
Share steps 1 and 2 with fellow South Asian parents who can do the same. Exercise the power of the collective voice!
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