Kirjahaku

A warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their authentic selves and that proclaims no one should ever have to shrink themselves to fit in. The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name encourages readers to take up space and support each other with respect and kindness. ​Perfect for fans of Alma and How She Got Her Name and Your Name Is a Song, this charming picture book is from author Sandhya Parappukkaran and illustrator Michelle Pereira. When Zimdalamashkermishkada starts at a new school, he knows he'll have to introduce himself to lots of new people. He trips over his long name and decides to shrink it down to the shorter, simpler Zim. The nickname works fine for introductions, but deep down, it doesn't feel right. It's not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamashkermishkada finds the confidence to step proudly into his long name. "This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

From author Sandhya Parappukkaran and illustrator Michelle Pereira--the creators of The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name--comes Amma's Sari, a tender and endearing picture book about family history, culture, and enduring love My sari is a memory of love. Shreya admires her mother's saris, whose silky swirls embrace her every morning. But her spirits plummet at the stares and whispers that the sari attracts. When Sherya asks her mother why she wears a sari, Amma answers the question with family stories brimming with generations of love. In this gentle and empowering picture book with vibrant full-color art, Shreya moves from embarrassment to pride as she learns that Amma's sari is much more than a beautiful piece of clothing. It is also a connection to their shared past and the love and care woven into their family history and heritage.

From the storytellers behind the award-winning The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name comes a powerful picture book about culture and connection through food, perfect for fans of Soul Food Sunday This gentle picture book speaks to the anxieties many children have about not fitting in with their peers, and celebrates the ways food can connect us to our cultures and to each other. Reshma loves dinnertime with her family. Their table is full of squishy splashy curies, crispy crunchy papadums, and heaping piles of rice. Her family scoops and mixes their delicious dinner with their fingers and Ammama always finishes the meal with a complementary burp. When Reshma is invited to for dinner at her friends' houses, she sees that not everyone eats like her family. At Phoebe's house, dumplings are eaten with chopsticks; and at Leo's house, pasta is twirled on forks. Mama wants to invite her friends to dinner, too, but Reshma is nervous. Will her friends laugh at the way her family eats?

Winner of the 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia's Award for New IllustratorThe Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name is a warm and uplifting story that encourages young readers to celebrate their individuality, and shows how no-one should ever have to shrink themselves down to fit in. When Zimdalamishkermishkada starts a new school, he knows he’s got to do something about his long name. When no amount of shrinking, folding or crumpling works, he simply settles for Zim – but deep down, it doesn’t feel right. It’s not until a new friend sees him for who he truly is that Zimdalamishkermishkada finds the confidence to step boldly into his long name. For ages 3 and up.

Amma's Sari is a powerful reflection on connection with family, the acceptance of difference, and the celebration of cultural heritage

Stay for Dinner is a powerful story that celebrates culture and connection through food, from the creators of The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name, winner of the 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia's Award for New Illustrator. Reshma loves dinnertime with her family. Her family eat with their hands – not just finger food type–eating, but hands-on squishy eating. When she’s invited to stay for dinner at her friends’ places, she finds out that they all eat in different ways. Some go ting ting with their cutlery, and others go click clack with their chopsticks. So what will her friends say when they see her family eat with their hands? For ages 3 and up.

Words That Taste Like Home is a heartwarming picture book about how language can connect us to our culture and hold on to the people we love. Rohan loves spending time with his grandmother, making mango pickle and sharing stories. But when he moves to a different country and learns a new language, words from his first language start slipping away until one day there are none left. How will Rohan find the words to tell his grandmother a story again? A much-anticipated follow-up to 2022’s Children Book Council of Australia award-winning The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name and 2024’s NSW Premier’s Literary award-winning Stay for Dinner, this story encourages young bilingual readers to take pride in their first language and retain strong ties to their family and culture.? 2025 CBCA Notable Picture Book of the Year ?

From author Sandhya Parappukkaran and illustrator Michelle Pereira--the award-winning creators of The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name--comes Words That Taste Like Home, a tender and endearing picture book about language, connection, and enduring love Rohan loves spending time with Muthassi--his grandmother. They share stories as they eat sour pickles and tell jokes while they walk through the mango trees. When Rohan's parents announce that they'll be moving to a different country, Rohan promises to call Muthassi every day. Their new country is full of new experiences: a new school, a new puppy, and even a new language. Rohan can't wait to tell Muthassi all about his adventures, but when he picks up the phone, he can't find the right words. Slowly, Rohan begins to worry that his new language is chasing away his first one, and with it, his connection to Muthassi. When his parents tell him that they'll be spending the summer in their home country, Rohan is nervous. What if he can't talk to Muthassi anymore? Words That Taste Like Home is a heartwarming picture book about how language can connect us to our culture and help us hold on to the people we love.