SATA

• Centaurs Picture Window Books (North Mankato, MN), 2021
• Fairies Picture Window Books (North Mankato, MN), 2022
• Namaste Is a Greeting Candlewick Press (Somerville, MA), 2022
• My Name Is Long as a River Penguin Workshop (New York, NY), 2024
• Greatest Host of All Time Candlewick Press (Somerville, MA), 2024

1. My name is long as a river LCCN 2024938151 Type of material Book Personal name Subramaniam, Suma, author. Main title My name is long as a river / by Suma Subramaniam ; illustrated by Tara Anand. Published/Produced New York : Penguin Workshop, 2024. Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations, color map ; 29 cm ISBN 9780593522936 (hardcover) 0593522931 (hardcover) CALL NUMBER Not available Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms 2. V. Malar: greatest host of all time LCCN 2024937341 Type of material Book Personal name Subramaniam, Suma, author. Main title V. Malar: greatest host of all time / Suma Subramaniam, Archana Sreenivasan. Edition First edition. Published/Produced Somerville : Candlewick Press, 2024. Projected pub date 2411 Description pages cm ISBN 9781536229110 (hardcover) (ebook) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 3. Namaste is a greeting LCCN 2021953467 Type of material Book Personal name Subramaniam, Suma, author. Main title Namaste is a greeting / Suma Subramaniam ; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. Edition First edition. Published/Produced Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2022. ©2022 Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm ISBN 9781536217834 (hardcover) CALL NUMBER PZ7.1.S827 Nam 2022 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 4. Fairies LCCN 2021006155 Type of material Book Personal name Subramaniam, Suma, author. Main title Fairies / Suma Subramaniam ; illustrated by Martín Bustamante. Published/Produced North Mankato, Minnesota : Picture Window Books, [2022] Projected pub date 2108 Description 1 online resource ISBN 9781663909619 (kindle edition) 9781663909596 (pdf) (hardcover) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 5. Centaurs LCCN 2021006174 Type of material Book Personal name Subramaniam, Suma, author. Main title Centaurs / by Suma Subramaniam ; illustrated by Martín Bustamante Published/Produced North Mankato, Minnesota : Picture Window Books, [2021] Projected pub date 2112 Description 1 online resource ISBN 9781663909572 (kindle edition) 9781663909558 (pdf) (hardcover) Item not available at the Library. Why not?

• A Bindi Can Be ... (Suma Subramaniam (Author), Kamala Nair (Illustrator)) - 2024 Kids Can Press , Toronto, ON, Canada
• The Runaway Dosa (Suma Subramaniam (Author), Parvati Pillai (Illustrator)) - 2023 Little Bee Books , New York, NY
• She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change (Suma Subramaniam (Author), Shreya Gupta (Illustrator)) - 2022 Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, NY

• Amazon -

  Suma Subramaniam is the author of several children’s books including V. Malar: Greatest Host Of All Time (Candlewick Press, 2024), My Name Is Long As A River (Penguin Workshop, 2024), and A Bindi Can Be…(Kids Can Press, 2024). She is a volunteer at We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI Western Washington. When she’s not writing, you will find her blogging about children’s books or at the library or walking her dog who understands multiple languages. Suma has an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Visit her website for more information.

• Erin Murphy Literary Agency Inc. - https://emliterary.com/clients/suma-subramaniam/

  Suma Subramaniam
  Suma Subramaniam’s interests and passions in writing for children are mostly centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she’s not recruiting or writing, she’s volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI. Suma was the short story contest winner of the We Need Diverse Books short story contest. She is also the author of Namaste Is A Greeting, She Sang For India, and other books for children and young adults. Suma has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College Of Fine Arts.

  Open to work for hire and IP work in board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult. Special interest in India, Indian heritage, STEM/STEAM, fantasy, and verse.

  Agent
  Miranda Paul

• Suma Subramaniam website - https://sumasubramaniam.com/

  Hello! Welcome to my website! I’m an Indian-American who loves music, movies, books, knitting, mountains, oceans, sunshine, and rain. Learn how to pronounce my name here.

  My interests and passions in writing for children and young adults are mostly centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When I’m not writing, I’m gardening or volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children’s books at Diverse Verse or Cynsations.

  I also love to cook. My favorite foods are Indian although Vietnamese runs a close second. I am afraid of horror movies. I have had many pets in my adult life (dogs and cats). They appear at my doorstep like spirit animals with their tongues sticking out and wagging tails. My current dog, Malli, will do anything for sweets and snacks. She also listens to me read a picture book to her every day.

  Bio

  Suma Subramaniam’s interests in writing for children are centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she’s not writing, she’s volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children’s books.

  Her books include Namaste Is A Greeting, She Sang For India, The Runaway Dosa, A Bindi Can Be…, My Name Is Long As A River, V. Malar: Greatest Host Of All Time, and more. Her poems have been published in Poetry Foundation’s first Young People’s Poetry Edition of Poetry Magazine. Suma has advanced degrees in computer science and management, and an MFA in Writing For Children And Young Adults. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Learn more at https://sumasubramaniam.com.

• KidLit - https://www.kidlit411.com/2022/10/author-spotlight-suma-subramaniam.html

  Author Spotlight: Suma Subramaniam

  October 7, 2022

  We're excited to feature author Suma Subramaniam's picture book, SHE SANG FOR INDIA: HOW M.S. SUBBULAKSHMI USED HER VOICE FOR CHANGE, illustrated by Shreya Gupta (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) (November 8, 2022). Enter to win a copy!

  Tell us about yourself and how you came to write for children.
  Thank you so much for having me on Kidlit 411. I write STEM/STEAM based for children and young adults, mostly centered about India or Indian heritage. In 2010, I attended my first SCBWI Conference in Redmond, Washington. There I met some wonderful authors who urged me to keep writing.

  I followed their advice, and twelve years later, I’m now a published author.

  Congrats on your picture book, She Sang For India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change! Tell us about the story and what inspired you.

  Thank you so much! She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used her Voice for Change is a picture book biography about the first Indian musician who performed at the United Nations.

  The inspiration for this story came from listening to M.S. Subbulakshmi’s voice every day of my childhood. Her life is an example of how little children can use their power and their voice for the good of the world.

  Was your road to publication long and winding, short and sweet, or something in between?

  The road has been long and winding with several happy and sad surprises, countless. rejections, and pleasant acceptances along the way. I started writing for children in 2010. In 2014, I got accepted to the MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. In 2017, my short story won the We Need Diverse Books short story contest. In 2019, The Hero Next Door (Penguin Random House), was released. The same year, I landed a publishing deal for Namaste is a Greeting and signed with my wonderful agent, Miranda Paul. Namaste is a Greeting releases on October 11th this year, followed by She Sang for India which releases on November 8th.

  What are some of your favorite classic picture books? recent ones?

  My favorite author as a child was R.K. Narayan. He wrote a collection of short stories called Malgudi Days. The language in the book is simple. The first version was published in pre-independent India. It was later republished by Penguin Classics many years later.

  Another favorite is Amar Chitra Katha books which are a series of comics and graphic magazines based on religious legends, folklore, epics, and biographies from Indian culture.

  Recently, I loved Thirst by Varsha Bajaj. It transported me straight to Mumbai. I also loved the picture book, The Moon From Dehradun by Shirin Shamsi, illustrated by Tarun Lak (Simon and Schuster, 2022).

  What projects are you working on now?

  My debut fiction picture book, Namaste is a Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick Press) releases on October 11th this year. Other than that, I have quite a few upcoming projects in the works.

  The Runaway Dosa, illustrated by Parvati Pillai (Little Bee Books), releases in fall next year. It’s a fairy tale mash-up of “The Gingerbread Man” and the Tamil rhyme “Dosai Amma Dosai.”

  In 2024, I have three books:

  A Bindi is a Dot, illustrated by Kamala Nair (Kids Can Press), releases in spring 2024. This picture book is a celebration of the beauty and cultural significance of bindis that explores the different names for bindis, when and how they are worn, and how they are made.

  My Name is Long As a River, illustrated by Tara Anand (Penguin Workshop), releases in fall 2024. The picture book follows young Kaveri—who insists on a nickname—as she and her Paati take a journey along the Kaveri River. As they travel, stories of how Kaveri got her long name unfold, deepening her understanding of who she is.

  The first of my middle grade series, V. Malar: Pongal Super Host releases in 2024 and the second book is slated for release in 2025.

  I have one more book that is yet to be announced.

  What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

  Find your joy in the journey.

  What is one thing most people don't know about you?

  I read a picture book every day.

  Where can people find you online?

  Website: https://sumasubramaniam

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suma_subramaniam/

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/suma_v_s

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suma.subramaniam/

  Suma Subramaniam’s interests and passions in writing for children are mostly centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she’s not recruiting or writing, she’s volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI. Suma was the short story contest winner of the We Need Diverse Books short story contest.

  She is also the author of Namaste is a Greeting, She Sang For India, and other books for children and young adults. Suma has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Learn more on her website.

• Cynthia Leitich Smith - https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/intern-suma-subramaniam/

  Intern Suma Subramaniam

  By Suma Subramaniam

  I was born and raised in India and had always been a reader since I was a child. Most of my time while in school and outside school was spent in the library. We didn’t travel much. We couldn’t afford to travel much. But my parents filled my life with books. They made sure that books were the sanctuary I needed outside study.

  Suma (on the left) with her sister in India
  Even with a meager income, my parents’ made school education and library memberships a priority. They enrolled me in a school where speaking and writing in English was a priority. No matter how many financial difficulties we suffered, they made sure to keep the library memberships and cut other expenses. They believed in the power of stories.

  But even with this most precious gift, I did not choose the writing life until I got married and moved to the United States in 2005. In his book, Outliers (Little, Brown, 2008), Malcolm Gladwell writes that to be successful at anything, you need ten thousand hours or ten years in the pursuit. It took me more than ten thousand hours and more than ten years to find my way into writing.

  After immigrating to Seattle, I spent most of those initial years, trying to make sense of my new life, work jobs, and finding my community in a new country.

  In 2008, I completed a certificate in popular fiction from the University of Washington. In 2010, I attended my first SCBWI conference. In 2015, I got accepted to Vermont College of Fine Arts.

  At VCFA, I met many great advisors and worked closely with Martine Leavitt, Amanda Jenkins, Jane Kurtz, and Margaret Bechard on honing my craft. I spent long hours reading and analyzing the craft of writing in a ton of children’s books. The writing didn’t come easily. It took many years to develop a daily writing routine. I’m still a work-in-progress.

  Suma with Martine Leavitt
  At VCFA, Martine Leavitt said, “You become a writer by writing. If you really want to be a writer, it should be the first thing you do every morning.”

  Amanda Jenkins said, “A book can only connect with readers if the writer is writing from her raw and honest heart. Connect with your character’s emotional story.”

  Suma with Jane Kurtz
  Jane Kurtz said, “Think about story structure in terms of setup and payoff. Like a chef, you’re cooking and putting a dish together by tasting and figuring out what it needs.”

  Margaret Bechard said, “Slow down. Make sure you’re showing. Not telling.”

  With Uma Krishnaswami, a faculty member at VCFA

  I found their advice valuable. In 2019, I became a contributing author of The Hero Next Door (Penguin, 2019), a middle-grade anthology, and signed with an agent. In 2020, I announced two debut picture book deals. Along the way, all these years, I met many wonderful people and some of them became my very good friends.

  These days, writing is the first thing I do everyday morning and reading is the last thing I do every night.

  When I’m not writing or working my day job, I volunteer for SCBWI Western Washington as the Mentorship Program Coordinator and We Need Diverse Books as the Director of the Internship Grants Committee.

  Working multiple jobs and living the writing life at the same time gives me the opportunity to value the time I have, and develop the habit of being a lifelong learner of the craft. It takes time to get back on the horse some days, but putting pen to paper, word after word after word, is the only way to beat the demons of self-doubt and tell my stories.

  Writing has become a part of me, and I’m ready to share it with the world. I would not want it any other way.

  Cynsational Notes

  Suma Subramaniam is the contributing author of The Hero Next Door (Penguin Random House, July 2019). She is also the author of She Sang For India: How MS Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change (Macmillan FSG, Winter 2022) and Namaste Is A Greeting (Candlewick, Fall 2022). She is the Mentorship Program Coordinator of SCBWI Western Washington and the Director of the Internships Grants Committee at We Need Diverse Books. She hires tech professionals for a leading software company during the day and is a writer by night.

  Suma has an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and degrees in computer science and management. Learn more at www.sumasubramaniam.com.

• We Need Diverse Books - https://diversebooks.org/blog-spilling-the-tea-author-suma-subramaniam-on-maximizing-your-time/

  Spilling the Tea: Author Suma Subramaniam on Maximizing Your Time
  November 2, 2022 by JoAnn Yao

  spilling the tea header featuring an image of a wndb mug with a puff of steam rising from it. the text reads, "spilling the tea: authors on writing, publishing and more"
  Welcome to Spilling the Tea, a feature where we ask authors all about craft, industry ins and outs, and more! This week we have Suma Subramaniam on the WNDB blog to discuss time management, writing habits, and avoiding burnout.

  *

  What’s your advice for people balancing writing with a day job and life in general? Are there any specific methods or habits that have helped you?

  I’ll share the advice I got from my wonderful mentor, Martine Leavitt. I think of her every day. I am forever grateful for her advice. Read and write every day even if it’s only a sentence or two. Write for the child in you.

  One method that has worked for me is writing by hand in a journal. It helps me process my thoughts slowly and write with heart.

  When do you actually write and revise? Early in the morning or late at night? Squeezed into pockets of free time?

  If I don’t wake up early in the morning and begin work at 6 am, writing will not happen. Having a day job gives me limited time to write. My family is central to everything I do, and I spend most of my time keeping everyone at home comfortable.

  I also write at the end of the day when the family has gone to sleep. When the creative energy is spent, I read or work on admin activities.

  How much time do you devote to the admin work of being a professional writer? How do you make sure to set aside enough time for writing as well as keeping up with your emails, social media, etc?

  As for emails, admin work, and social media, I make a to-do list and attend to those that need my immediate attention first. Over time, I have realized that I do not have to respond to all emails the same day, and writing takes precedence over everything else.

  I have an online accountability writers group called Good Morning Crew. We check in on slack every day and announce that we’re here, working. Some days, we do 15 min sprints if we don’t have long blocks of time in the day to write.

  Writing rituals are common—whether it’s as small as brewing a cup of tea or as elaborate as completing a list of tasks before sitting down to write. Would you say you have one? If so, what is it?

  Writing is the first and the last thing I do every day. I write by hand. I usually have a warm cup of herbal tea at my desk. This is my writing space. Here’s what you see: A passed-down photo of Saraswati—the goddess of arts and learning on the wall, a 120+ year-old ancestral, passed down Happy Human figurine, a meditation mat on the chair, a handmade journal from Joni Sensel, and a “light me while writing” candle from Cynthia Leitich Smith.

  Photo of Suma's desk and chair, which has a red fabric cover draped over the back.

  Juggling more than one job is never easy. How do you avoid burnout?

  I try to take time off for a few days every three months to recharge. During those days, I mostly stay at home, go for long walks, make time to sleep well, and read. Sometimes, I travel.

  Anything else to add?

  Thank you so much for interviewing me!

  *

  Suma’s picture books She Sang for India (out November 8, 2022) and Namaste Is A Greeting (out now) are available for pre-order and order, respectively.

  ******

  Suma Subramaniam headshot photoSuma Subramaniam is the author of She Sang For India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change (Macmillan FSG, 2022), Namaste Is A Greeting (Candlewick Press, 2022), A Bindi Is A Dot (Kids Can Press, 2024), V. Malar series (Candlewick Press, 2024 and 2025), My Name is Long As a River (Penguin Workshop, Fall 2024), as well as Fairies (Capstone, 2021), and Centaurs (Capstone, 2021), with more books forthcoming. She’s also a contributing author to The Hero Next Door (Penguin Random House, 2019). Her poems have been published in the Young People’s Poetry edition of Poetry Magazine from Poetry Foundation. She is a volunteer at We Need Diverse Books, Diverse Verse, and SCBWI Western Washington. Suma has an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Visit her website at https://sumasubramaniam.com.

• MATTHEWCWINNER - https://www.matthewcwinner.com/post/suma-subramaniam-namaste-is-a-greeting-and-she-sang-for-india

  Matthew C. Winner
  Jan 17, 2023
  12 min read

  Namaste and Music as Activism with Suma Subramaniam
  Updated: Jan 28, 2023

  Suma Subramaniam shares NAMASTE IS A GREETING, a sweet, universal text shining a light on a word with significance far beyond yoga class, and SHE SANG FOR INDIA, a picture book biography about M.S. Subbulakshmi, a powerful Indian singer who advocated for justice and peace through song.

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  Namaste is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

  Page Length: 32 pages

  Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

  What is namaste? It's found in a smile, a friendship, a celebration. It exists in silence; it can be said when you're happy or when you're feeling low.

  For one small girl in a bustling city, namaste ("I bow to you") is all around her as she and her mother navigate a busy marketplace--and when she returns with a little plant and chooses to give it to an elderly neighbor, it can be seen in the caring bond between them. In a sweet, universal text, debut author Suma Subramaniam shines a light on a word with significance far beyond yoga class, while artist Sandhya Prabhat makes the concept of mindfulness come alive in delightful illustrations likely to draw children in again and again.

  She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change by Suma Subramaniam; illustrated by Shreya Gupta

  Page Length: 40 pages

  Ages 4 to 8

  Before M.S. Subbulakshmi was a famous Carnatic singer and the first Indian woman to perform at the United Nations, she was a young girl with a prodigious voice.

  But Subbulakshmi was not free to sing everywhere. In early 1900s India, girls were not allowed to perform for the public. So Subbulakshmi busted barriers to sing at small festivals. Eventually, she broke tradition to record her first album. She did not stop here. At Gandhi's request, Subbulakshmi sang for India's freedom. Her fascinating odyssey stretched across borders, and soon she was no longer just a young prodigy. She was a woman who changed the world.

  NOTABLE QUOTES

  ADDITIONAL LINKS

  TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE

  CREDITS

  AFFILATE LINK DISCLAIMER

  Listen along:

  FULL TRANSCRIPT:

  [1:04] Introduction

  Matthew: Welcome to the Children’s Book Podcast. I’m Matthew.

  I am a teacher, a librarian, and a fan of kids. I also LOVE discovering new-to-me music. And that’s going to come into play a little later in this episode.

  This is a podcast all about exploring big ideas in children’s books and the way that stories can help us feel seen, understood, and valued.

  Helping me out on today’s episode is Jonah.

  Jonah: Hi! My name is Jonah. I’m 12 years old and I’m from Maryland.

  Today on the Children’s Book Podcast, Suma Subramaniam is an Indian-American author who loves music, movies, books, knitting, mountains, oceans, sunshine, and rain.

  Today we’re talking about her two debut picture books: Namaste is a Greeting and She Sang for India.

  During the day, Suma hires engineers for a software company. And during the night, she writes for children and young adults. Her interests and passions in writing for children are mostly centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage.

  Matthew: Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam; illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

  What is namaste? It's found in a smile, a friendship, a celebration. It exists in silence; it can be said when you're happy or when you're feeling low.

  For one small girl in a bustling city, namaste ("I bow to you") is all around her as she and her mother navigate a busy marketplace--and when she returns with a little plant and chooses to give it to an elderly neighbor, it can be seen in the caring bond between them. In a sweet, universal text, debut author Suma Subramaniam shines a light on a word with significance far beyond yoga class, while artist Sandhya Prabhat makes the concept of mindfulness come alive in delightful illustrations likely to draw children in again and again.

  [3:35] Meet Our Guest: Suma Subramaniam

  Suma: Hi, my name is Suma Subramaniam.

  [Demonstrates pronunciation.]

  I live in Seattle, Washington with my family and a dog that watches baking shows. And, uh, I'm also the author of Namaste is a Greeting, which is published by Candlewick Press and Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. And She Sang for India, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and Illustrated by Shreya Gupta.

  Matthew: Listeners, we pack a lot into this episode because we’re talking about two books today. But each is so strong and so individual that I didn’t want to leave either book out.

  So, we’re going to spend the first half of the episode talking about Namaste is a Greeting, Suma’s picture book debut. We’ll then focus the second half on She Sang for India,

  Suma’s nonfiction debut about M.S. Subbulakshmi, a famous Carnatic singer and the first Indian woman to perform at the United Nations.

  Suma introduces Namaste is a Greeting by way of talking about the readers she had in mind when she wrote the story.

  [4:50] What Kind of Reader Did You Have in Mind?

  Suma: First of all, thank you for having me here, Matthew. I'm so excited to be here. And, um, to tell you about the kind of reader that I was thinking when I wrote Namaste, I had readers of all ages in my mind when I wrote this book.

  So, you know, I grew up in India in a very small apartment. I was just about 300 square foot. But with a large family and also with people from all backgrounds. And when I say all backgrounds, I mean all kinds of religious backgrounds as well as economic backgrounds.

  And, you know, uh, my family was not made rich by wealth, but we were made rich by people. So growing up I read everything that I got my hands on and it was wonderful because it meant that if a book was on the shelves, or if something, if there was a newspaper that was on the shelf, it was meant to be read and I could pick it up and read it.

  So in that vein, I wrote this book for readers who were young and old and who would want to see a different take on mindfulness using the word “namaste”.

  As a child, I bonded with my neighbors and friends when we celebrated and embraced our differences when we came together to, uh, celebrate festivals and events. And that's an experience that I wanted to capture in a book. And that's how Namaste is a Greeting was born.

  [6:25] What is “Namaste”?

  Matthew: Many listeners, I think, will associate the word namaste with the practice of meditation. I think that that is pretty common.

  Suma: Mmm hmm.

  Matthew: What does namaste mean to you?

  Jonah: Namaste, to me, is a word that means peacefulness. Whenever I think of peacefulness, I think of the word namaste. If someone is doing yoga, they might use the word “namaste” or things like that.

  Suma: So, namaste is a sanskrit word, and if we break that word into two, it is “namah” and “te”. And “namah” means “I bow” and “te” means “to you”.

  Now, in my mother tongue, which is tamil, or the language that I speak at home, um, is called tamil or tamir, namaste is said differently. We say namaskaram or vanakkam. But the meaning is the same, which is “the divine in me honors the divine in you”. And it's an expression of respect and appreciation to any being that we greet. And uh, that's why I have must in also described in different languages, different world languages, if you look at the book. And I think the word as such is universal.

  [7:46] Look-Fors in the Illustrations

  Matthew: The illustrations that Sandhya Prabhat created for Namaste is a Greeting are beautiful, vibrant, and joyous. Sometimes, picture book authors and illustrators work completely separate from one another and what results is a bit of magic from each offering a bit of something to delight and engage the reader.

  But in the case of Namaste is a Greeting, Suma was actually, in a way, telling two stories: that of the text, which communicates the heart and intention of “namaste”, and that of a girl, an elderly neighbor, and a selfless act of kindness.

  And what Suma and Sandhya accomplish together here is what I think makes this book so lasting.

  Suma: Sandhya really brought my vision to life in this book, in, you know, the most beautiful way.

  I did write up a visual narrative for the book and I shared it with the publisher and then we went back and forth on the structure and also the story structure of the book. And Sanya brought in her vision. So we collaborated quite a bit, uh, before, um, you know, she started illustrating the book.

  And, I'll talk about three specific pages that really moved me because it was so unexpected. And Sandhya, I mean, she did a fabulous job.

  So the first one is at the beginning when, you know, the little girl brings her hands together at her heart and she, when she meets the elderly neighbor for the first time, and the neighbor waves back to her, and then towards the end of the book you'll notice a role reversal of this gesture on another page where the elderly neighbor brings her farms together and she turns her loving attention to this little girl. And the little girl waves back to the elderly woman. And the story comes full circle there because it doesn't matter how, you know, how a person greets another person, but it uncovers the power of mindfulness when the characters begin to harmonize and they honor each other despite their differences.

  Another page that's close to my heart is in the middle of the book, when the child requests for a plant at the garden store. And she asks for this plant that's lonely and that's way up top, something that no one else wants because it's got a droopy flower and it's got fading leaves. But the little girl wants it and she wants to love it and care for that plant. And as we navigate through the pages, we see that her kind nature also reflects in her actions towards the elderly neighbor who is also lonely. And she expresses the same kind of, uh, empathy towards humans and plants and, you know, species that are beyond. That, that look like her and species that are not like her too.

  And the power of such diverse friendships is the, you know, is, is the bonding and the hope that it brings in times of adversity. And I think Sandhya brought the vision of this book to life beautifully by expressing, you know, expressing herself in those pages that way.

  Matthew: These illustrations are so beautiful, listeners. I’ll include samples in this episode on my website at matthewcwinner.com so that you can see them, too.

  [11:37] She Sang for India

  Matthew: It’s time we move into our second book, shall we?

  She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change by Suma Subramaniam; illustrated by Shreya Gupta

  Before M.S. Subbulakshmi was a famous Carnatic singer and the first Indian woman to perform at the United Nations, she was a young girl with a prodigious voice.

  But Subbulakshmi was not free to sing everywhere. In early 1900s India, girls were not allowed to perform for the public. So Subbulakshmi busted barriers to sing at small festivals. Eventually, she broke tradition to record her first album. She did not stop here. At Gandhi's request, Subbulakshmi sang for India's freedom. Her fascinating odyssey stretched across borders, and soon she was no longer just a young prodigy. She was a woman who changed the world.

  Suma: I speak for all her fans when I say this, that there is no Carnatic music without M.S. Subbulakshmi, and there is no M.S. Subbulakshmi without Carnatic music.

  So, she was the first of many. And she was the first Indian musician to perform at the United Nations. She was the first Indian musician to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her contribution to public service using her musical talent. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is deemed as a Nobel Prize of Asia.

  And also she was the first Indian musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, which is the highest civilian honor to be awarded to any Indian musician in India. And her career spanned for more than seven decades. And in her time it was very rare for a woman to make a mark in the world. And she gave most of what she earned to charity.

  So her story is one of quiet strength. You know? Her life is an example of how a small town girl with a great devotion to her craft realized her dream.

  And, like many other women in her era, there were rules by which Subbulakshmi had to live and a girl could be told that she could be anything she wants to be. But who is ever content with living a rule driven life? No one.

  And she broke those rules. And she did that by her unparalleled dedication and love for music. And she used her voice for change and peace for well over seven decades of her music career.

  And through her life, we can learn that the ability to heal ourselves and the world is within us. And it doesn't have to be dramatic. We could just use our talent.

  Matthew: I asked Suma if there was a piece of music performed by Subbalakshmi that was particularly special or memorable to her. She said, “There are so many favorites!”, but asked if I might share an excerpt from “Bhaja Govindam”. Let’s listen together.

  [Excerpt of “Bhaja Govindam”]

  I’ll include a link to the full song in our show notes so that you can enjoy it in its entirety.

  [15:31] Music as a Form of Activism

  Matthew: Subbalaksmi’s story is one of music and of activism. It struck me that many of us might have a different image of activism in our minds. But then I was quickly reminded of how musicians and music have been acts of protest and activism since the very beginning.

  So I asked Suma if she would mind talking about the relationship between Subbalakshmi’s life and music as a form of activism.

  Suma: Yeah. You know, I, this was just such a wonderful question because, uh, it had me thinking about how I grew up and, you know, what kinda activism did I have to look up to, uh, Matthew.

  So when I, uh, grew up, I didn't, I didn't see girls in books. I mean, I did see them in girls books and media, but they were always secondary characters. They were sidekicks and mothers and grandmothers and sisters, but they were never heroes or superheroes.

  And I had to lean on, you know, the women in my family were not necessarily famous. But they were the feminists that I looked up to, and they showed me how to evolve, you know, into, um, uh, who I am today. And, um, you know, and, and just become, become a person of activism, you know, who can do something about it.

  And now if we look at just children's book industry, there are a number of books that celebrate musicians who are involved in activism, for example, Drum Dream Girl, Freedom in Congo Square, When Marion Sang, Muddy, Dancing Hands, and so many others.

  And I grew up listening to M.S. Subbulakshmi all my life every morning and even today, I wake up to her music. And not just me, I know that there are many Indian households that wake up to her first thing in the morning. Not just homes, but they're played her music is played in temples and everywhere.

  So these lists of books that I just told you, they go deeper and deeper and they feature, uh, people with many different musical styles and forms like western, classical, jazz, folk, salsa, and also music with the east. The world as we see it right now is constantly going through political and social unrest. It happened at the time of M.S. Subbulakshmi. It's happening right now.

  And while there are so many people out there expressing their opinions in different ways, sometimes good, sometimes aggressive, using aggressive mannerism, you know, art and music are great tools to channel our energy and bring about a positive change, especially in the minds of young people.

  So if we look at accomplished musicians, right? They rather invest their time in creating good art than being involved in acts of violence or all things that are negative. They're better off and they're better able to articulate their thoughts and their feelings through music, because music heals them in a deeper sense and it becomes spiritual for them. And it also helps 'em explore a number of possibilities.

  For example, like, one doesn't need to know the language to appreciate good music. Right? And currently we see collaborations on YouTube and various online streaming platforms, which is amazing because world cultures come together. There's a fusion of, you know, world music out there. And the experience is worth our time so much more than spending on, you know, hating people. And eventually it transforms every.

  Transforms us like deep inside and it becomes a meditative and mindful practice, which is kind of the need of the hour right now. And it appeals to everyone, it appeals to people of all ages and all cultures and all speaking people from anywhere in the world. And what is life without music and art?

  [19:49] A Message from Suma Subramaniam to You

  Matthew: Listeners, I hope you will agree that Suma Subramaniam has shared such wonderful stories and wisdom with us in our time together today.

  As we close this episode, Suma had a message that she wanted to make sure reached you. All of you. And each of you.

  This is a message for you to take with you as we leave.

  Suma: You are loved. And this holiday season I hope you pay attention to species of all kinds who are lonely or who are having a difficult winter, and you give them a little bit of your time.

  [20:35] Closing

  Matthew: The Children’s Book Podcast is written, edited, and produced by me, Matthew Winner.

  Follow the show wherever podcasts are found, and leave us a rating or review when you do. That helps us out a whole lot because it helps the show get discovered by and recommended to new listeners.

  Suma? Where can listeners find you?

  Suma: First of all, I'd like to thank you for having me on this wonderful podcast and really having children, having, you know, listened to it as well. And I've been a fan of you in this podcast for a really, really long time. I'd love to say a big hello to all of your children and also. Thank them for checking out She Sang for India and Namaste is a Greeting.

  So my website is sumasubramaniam.com and I'm also Suma Subramaniam on Facebook and Suma_Subramaniam on Instagram.

  And for as long as we're gonna stay on Twitter, it's Suma_V_S. That's where everyone can find me.

  Matthew: Visit matthewcwinner.com for a full transcript of this episode plus some questions that you can use as you think about this episode.

  Want a copy of She Sang for India or Namaste is a Greeting? Jonah, where should people look?

  Jonah: Check your school or public library, your classroom, or, if you want to support independent bookstores, you can purchase a copy at Bookshop.org.

  Matthew: I’ll have a link in the show notes.

  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

  Our music is by Podington Bear.

  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

  We are a proud member of Kids Listen, the best place to discover the best in kids podcasts. Learn more at kidslisten.org.

  Anything else you want people to know, Jonah?

  Jonah: (closing thought/message)

  Matthew: Yes. I love that. Be well. And read on.

  End Of Episode

• The TeachingBooks Blog - https://forum.teachingbooks.net/2024/11/guest-blogger-suma-subramaniam/

  Guest Blogger: Suma Subramaniam
  November 11, 2024 in Guest Author Blog Posts

  Writing Cultural Bridges:
  Turning Family Traditions into Universal Stories

  Growing up in India, holidays and festivals brought me closer to my family. These celebrations not only passed on from generation to generation, but they also helped us navigate life’s joys and challenges with ease. In troubled times, we learned to recover together.

  In early 2020, I wrote a picture book about Pongal, the South Indian harvest festival, and shared it with a group of trusted friends. They asked me a lot of questions. When I tried to address them, the story became longer. The little girl in the story, Malar, had more to offer than what I initially believed. I followed her muse all the way to the finish line several drafts later.

  When I was a child, my parents were committed to making seasonal festivals a family tradition. Pongal is a four-day celebration in South India when crops are harvested in mid-January. It is celebrated every year in many Indian households during the Tamil month called Thai, in honor of the work farmers do. The harvest festival symbolizes a season of hope and renewal. It marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun’s six-month journey up to Earth’s Northern Hemisphere.

  Solstices are the planet’s longest and shortest days of the year. The longest day marks the beginning of summer and is called the summer solstice. The shortest day marks the beginning of winter and is called the winter solstice. The harvest festival is also celebrated in many parts of India and Asia at other times of the year than the solstice. It goes by different names depending on the region.

  Suma (in red) with her siblings
  Pongal brings families together to celebrate the blessings of good health and happiness. The first day of Pongal is called Bhogi Pongal. On this day, we clean our homes and discard old and broken items. The second day is called Thai Pongal. It is also called “Uzhavar Thirunal” which means “Farmers’ Day”. We worship the sun god and have an elaborate meal. The word “Pongal” means “to boil” in Tamil. It is also the name of the rice dish that is prepared on the second day of the festival. We make two types of pongal, sweet and savory. It is served with stew made with the season’s vegetables.

  The third day is called Maatu Pongal. We honor our cattle and seek blessings for a good harvesting season. The fourth day is called Kaanum Pongal. It is also known as “Thiruvalluvar Dhinam” because we celebrate the eminent Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar on this day.

  Holidays and festivals are the times to gather with our families and friends, and strengthen our relationships. There is so much love underneath the traditions, celebrations, and growing up in an Indian household.

  As I wrote about Malar, it was important to have her believe in the strength of her extended family. The relationship snapshots in the story show that the expectations of both parenting and being raised as a child can feel like you’re being pulled in different directions sometimes. These are the universal experiences faced by families all over the world. Malar’s story normalizes the challenges and joys of bonding in these relationships for the reader. Though Malar and her cousins grow up in different countries and don’t start off on the right foot at the beginning, they overcome the weight of miscommunications and frustrations over cultural clashes.

  V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time (Candlewick, 2024) is filled with moments of togetherness, joy, and empathy that begin in the family. I hope that through her eyes, all readers will access the experience of those relationships, take them to heart, and pass it on with love.

• Diverse Verse - https://www.diverseverse.com/blog/https/wwwdiverseversecom/songs-and-poems-interview-with-suma-subramaniam

  Songs and Poems: An interview with Suma Subramaniam
  Jan 19
  Written By Padma Venkatraman
  Suma Subramaniam is the author of She Sang For India - a picture book biography that is the true story of the first Indian musician who performed at the United Nations. Before M.S. Subbulakshmi became a famous singer, she was a young girl with a prodigious voice. But Subbulakshmi was not free to sing everywhere. In early 1900s India, girls were not allowed to perform for the public. So Subbulakshmi busted barriers to sing at small festivals. Eventually, she broke tradition to record her first album. She did not stop here. At Gandhi’s request, Subbulakshmi sang for India’s freedom. Her fascinating odyssey stretched across borders, and soon she was no longer just a young prodigy. She was a woman who changed the world.

  Suma Subramaniam also has a picture book entitled Namaste Is a Greeting. This picture book explores the word’s layers of meaning. It follows the story of a child, going about their day in a bustling city, and finding the different ways Namaste is used in friendship, community, and empathy.

  Suma is a founding member of Diverse Verse and I asked her 3 quick questions about music, poetry and her process.

  Padma Venkatraman: You were one of very few poets selected for inclusion in the March 2021 anthology of Poetry magazine, which is the leading poetry journal in the English language. Since then, you have written beautiful picture books. Do you see yourself as primarily a poet, or a storyteller, or do you define yourself differently in a creative sense?

  SUMA SUBRAMANIAM: It was an honor to be included in the Young People’s edition of Poetry Magazine with you. I do see myself as a poet first, Padma. My first chapbook of poems was published in 2008 by Finishing Line Press. All of my writing is influenced by poetry.

  During my MFA program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Author Martine Leavitt suggested reading at least one poem every day before I tackled a work-in-progress manuscript. I followed her advice and discovered that there was much to receive and give in poetry. We can draw words, weave them, break them, shape them into sounds, and make the words transcend reality. I use it as a natural expression of storytelling.

  Padma Venkatraman: Your beautiful picture book about M.S. Subbalakshmi has met with roaring success. What is your relationship to language, and specifically, Carnatic music? Do you think this consciously or subconsciously influences your lyricism when you write a picture book or a poem?

  SUMA SUBRAMANIAM: Thank you for the kind words about She Sang for India, dear Padma. My relationship with language and music is love. I grew up in South India and learned multiple languages in my childhood years. I also learned Indian classical music and was surrounded by subject matter experts in my family. “Bani” is a word that is often used in the vocabulary of Carnatic music. There is no equivalent word for it in English. In his book, A Southern Music: The Karnatic Story, Musican, Activist, and Author T.M. Krishna writes that “Bani is a school of music training and presentation that is developed through years of practice and refining. It is a school that has a voice of its own.” This conditioning for decades had a huge influence on my writing. Carnatic music just like poetry has conventions and traditions, also called “sampradaya”. I’ve been working for years on finding my own “bani” and “sampradaya” in writing for children. It’s this relationship with music that gives me clarity. It certainly influences me both consciously and subconsciously. Writing poetry in picture books has morphed into a medium of telling stories with a stronger, intimate connection with young readers.

  Padma Venkatraman: One of your upcoming picture books is based on a Tamil rhyme for children. Do you think your poetic rhythms are inspired by your love of the beautiful Tamil language?

  SUMA SUBRAMANIAM: Absolutely, Padma. Tamizh or Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. My hope is to make at least a minute portion of the literature reach today’s young readers. The rhythm and tone in my forthcoming picture books are inspired by works in Tamil as well as a few other Indian languages. For example, The Runaway Dosa (Little Bee Books, Fall 2023), illustrated by Parvati Pillai, is a mishmash of a popular rhyme called Dosai Amma Dosai and The Gingerbread Man. My Name is Long as a River (Penguin Workshop, Fall 2024), illustrated by Tara Anand, has poetry in the backmatter in various South Indian languages.

  Padma Venkatraman: What a coincidence! I also have a picture book about names, called STRONG AS A LOTUS, forthcoming from Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin! It will be fun to see our books side by side.

  Suma Subramaniam’s interests in writing for children are centered around STEM/STEAM related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she’s not recruiting by day or writing by night, she’s volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children's books. Suma is the author of Namaste Is A Greeting, She Sang For India, and other books for children and young adults. Her poems have been published in Poetry Magazine. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who watches baking shows. Learn more at https://sumasubramaniam.com.

• Nerdy Book Club - https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/a-journey-of-words-how-reading-made-me-a-writer-by-suma-subramaniam/

  A Journey Of Words: How Reading Made Me A Writer by Suma Subramaniam
  Posted by CBethM on December 5, 2024 in Author Posts | Leave a comment

  When I was little, my family did not travel far and wide for vacations. But my parents made every extra coin count when it came to buying books and affording the library membership. The long established British and Rotary club libraries in Bengaluru—my hometown in India—were too expensive. So my dad took me on his bicycle to the much more affordable State Central Library where I would read and write.

  State Central Library in Bengaluru where Suma grew up
  I would sit on the companion seat mounted on the front of his bicycle. Watching bikes, motorcycles, autorickshaws, buses, and trucks zip past us, I felt the wind on my face all the way through the bustling streets of the city. It took us nearly an hour-and-a-half to get to the library almost every Sunday. Once there, I wandered into a magical book garden amidst the shelves in the library. When I was done exploring, I borrowed the books and put them into a yellow cloth bag. Appa tied the heavy bag to the companion backseat of the bicycle with a jute rope, and we rode home.

  With a book in my hand, I traveled the world. The stories took me to places I’d never been. They provided me a safe and comfortable seat in a world of words—the London of Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Charles Dickens; the Neverland of Peter Pan; the River Heights of Nancy Drew; the magical English coast of Famous Five; the fairytale worlds of Cinderella and Snow White; the Persia of Arabian Nights; the France, Italy, and Mediterranean Islands of The Count of Monte Cristo; the Missouri of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Then, there were the familiar Indian stories that reminded me that there’s no place like home—the Malgudi of R.K. Narayan’s books, and the folk tales from Amar Chitra Katha comics that my parents bought me at train and bus stations. They transported me to historical eras, and magical realms of the heavens, the earth, and the netherworld.

  Some books Suma read in her childhood
  When I sat on the red-oxide floor of my small apartment with a story, I left the realities of the world behind and read. In the background, I knew people were walking by, the vegetable vendor yelled proudly about his fresh produce and catch of the day, sparrows chirped out the window, and steam rose off the pressure cooker in the kitchen. A scooter honked. An autorickshaw rumbled. A cow mooed. The phone rang. Someone made an announcement in a loudspeaker. But I paid no attention to them.

  Reading kept me turning pages like an invitation to experience the world without leaving the warmth of my home and family. It let me wonder and imagine gods, goddesses, stars, animals, birds, magical creatures, and mystery. It gave me a window into people and places I’d never seen or visited before. It helped me find my way into the world.

  The habit stayed with me as I grew, although making time to read became more challenging with other distractions. When I became an adult, reading time came with other trade-offs. I saw five common career paths that trended in my family – engineer, doctor, lawyer, teacher, and banker. I didn’t know then that writing could be a viable career. Like everyone else in the family, I took up what was considered “practical” and earned degrees in computer science and management. It was only years later that I made a foray into writing.

  Fast-forward to many decades later now, as a children’s and young adult author, I read every day. I read about cultures other than my own. I read diverse books. I notice the nuances and details of communication in the work. I take note of the author’s descriptions of the character’s clothes, gestures, expressions, culture, and setting. I reflect on the choice of words, voice, imagery, the language, and the wordplay. I read to study the craft elements in writing.

  Suma’s Library Writing Space
  Writing helps me process life’s realities better. Stories make me recall and relive memories and moments from my childhood. Hanging on to a book keeps me going. I imagine seeing children like my younger self as protagonists and heroines discovering the power of their voice, doing big and little things to make the world a better place for everyone.

  As a writer, I have good days and bad days. I create joyful, uplifting stories and worlds that might fade and diminish if we don’t write about them. Some days, the ideas dry up on the page. Words fail to flow out of me. At such times, reading opens my mind and makes it possible for me to string words again.

  Suma’s published books so far
  Like writing, reading, too, is a solitary pursuit. It gives me permission to explore the inner sanctum of my imagination. The longing for my childhood home more than eight thousand miles away has morphed into a desire for a deeper experience of stories that resonate with me.

  I can travel back there when I create my own books—through the meaningful relationships in Namaste Is A Greeting and A Bindi Can Be…, the adventure with fantastical animals from Indian folklore in The Runaway Dosa, M.S. Subbulakshmi’s melodic voice of social justice in She Sang For India, Kaveri’s journey along the river she’s named after in My Name Is Long As A River, and the spunky Malar’s sustainable living in the fictional coastal village of Pori in V. Malar – Greatest Host Of All Time.

  I can’t read all the books in the world, but I can strive to read as many as I can. In the process, I might learn and create something beautiful of my own.

  Suma Subramaniam is the author of several children’s books based on STEM and STEAM topics as well as India and Indian heritage including the most recent V. MALAR- GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Candlewick Press, 2024). She earned her MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not writing, she’s volunteering and blogging about children’s books. Suma lives in Washington State with her husband and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Find her online at sumasubramaniam.com.

Namaste Is a Greeting. By Suma Subramaniam. Illus. by Sandhya Prabhat. Oct. 2022. 32p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9781536217834). K-Gr. 2.

Many Americans are familiar with the word namaste as a gesture of closure at the end of a yoga practice. It is, in fact, a greeting known and used by millions of people in India and the diaspora. Namaste, as the title asserts, is a greeting in the Hindi language that is offered along with the gesture of placing the palms together and bowing the head slightly. In this beautifully illustrated book, we learn of the many ways namaste can be sung, uttered, whispered, or thought. The text is sparse, offering ways of thinking about the concept of namaste in different situations: as a word of comfort, or one that comes along with the giving of a gift. Meanwhile, the illustrations tell a subtle side story of selflessness and kind ness. Ultimately, the book's message about namaste is one of recognizing everyone's humanity. Creative teachers might use this as a mentor text to encourage writing or storytelling about other culturally grounded greetings. --Amina Chaudhri

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Chaudhri, Amina. "Namaste Is a Greeting." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 2, 15 Sept. 2022, p. 59. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A720255891/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3dede9d3. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma NAMASTE IS A GREETING Candlewick (Children's None) $17.99 10, 11 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1783-4

What does it mean to say namaste?

This picture book attempts to explain this traditional, formal greeting used in South and Southeast Asia to welcome people and bid them farewell--in particular, as a way to show respect to elders. A child with dark hair, dark eyes, deep-brown skin, and a bindi on their forehead goes to a market with their caregiver and buys a potted plant to give their lonely, lighter-skinned neighbor. Vibrant, textured illustrations depict a blossoming friendship between the little one and the neighbor, while a series of statements describe what namaste means to the child. However, the disjointed text makes the concept difficult for young readers to grasp. Some statements describe namaste in its most literal sense ("Namaste is 'I bow to you.' " "Namaste is joining your palms together"), while others are more nebulous ("A yoga pose. A practice." "Namaste calms your heart when things aren't going right"). The lack of backmatter deprives readers of the cultural context and significance of this greeting as well as knowledge of the countries and cultures where it is used. Moreover, the book doesn't convey the deep respect that this greeting communicates. The absence of culturally specific details and the framing of namaste as a concept that could apply to almost any situation ultimately obscure its meaning and use.(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Visually appealing but doesn't capture the spirit of namaste. (Picture book. 4-6)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Subramaniam, Suma: NAMASTE IS A GREETING." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A726309171/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=12db3597. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

SUBRAMANIAM, Suma. Namaste Is a Greeting. illus. by Sandhya Prabhat. 32p. Candlewick. Oct. 2022. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781536217834.

K-Gr 3—A young girl spends the day walking her neighborhood, greeting people with "Namaste" while explaining its various meanings. "Namaste is loving the world," and "Namaste is saying you matter." After returning home, she accidentally breaks the pot her new flower is in and uses "Namaste" to express her emotions about it. The story ends with her giving the repotted flower to a neighbor, because "Namaste is the divine in me honoring the divine in you." The acrylic drawings of her home and neighborhood are rich in detail, from the sidewalk to the textures of the curtains in the windows. The neighborhood is full of people of varied nationalities and abilities. On a few pages the text is the primary focus, with the girl shown as smaller when she feels sad. The journey through her day and to the awareness that her neighbor is lonely, and her subsequent gesture of friendship, show the larger concept behind the titular phrase.

VERDICT: A great purchase with a simple path to showing children how a word can be a way of living, a greeting, and a blessing, all at once.—Tamara Saarinen

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Library Journals, LLC
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Saarinen, Tamara. "Namaste Is a Greeting." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 68, no. 9, 30 Sept. 2022, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A723152082/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=616845d7. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

SUBRAMANIAM, Suma. She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change. illus. by Shreya Gupta. 40p. Farrar. Nov. 2022. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780374388744.

K-Gr 3--Kunja Subbulakshmi sings with her grandmother, mother, and sister as they play the violin, tambura, and veena. Her brother plays a mridangam. Her instrument is her voice, and this takes place at home, for in early-1900s India, she is not allowed to sing in public. So Subbulakshmi breaks some rules to perform at small festivals. Then she makes an album. It takes time and persistence for her to break down barriers, until the day when an illustrious academy that had rejected her finally allows her to perform. History is truly made when Ghandi asks that she sing for India's freedom. This true story will fascinate and charm children who will wonder that the simple act of a girl singing is not permitted. The author does not gloss over the hardships. The illustrations with colorful backdrops and historical details show scene after scene of Subbulakshmi in a closed-eye, beatific state of singing; these are very moving at first though do become repetitive. In a very few pages the book covers India's tumultuous and sorrowful path to independence, a bittersweet depiction that may launch discussion of the costs of freedom. Back matter includes information about Carnatic music, a glossary, time line, and bibliography. VERDICT A wonderful biography for every' collection.--Kimberly Olson Fakih

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Fakih, Kimberly Olson. "SUBRAMANIAM, Suma. She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 10, Oct. 2022, p. 98. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A720065769/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=50e65f1b. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma SHE SANG FOR INDIA Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Children's None) $18.99 11, 8 ISBN: 978-0-374-38874-4

A lyrical commemoration of the power and legacy of a renowned South Indian activist and performer.

Readers who know little about M.S. Subbulakshmi's Carnatic music or traditional Indian instruments will come away none the wiser, but the general storyline of a gifted singer who goes from "small-town devadasi girl" to international fame by performing and persisting until barriers of gender prejudice fall away is easy enough to follow and applaud. Aside from identifying Subbulakshmi as the first woman and youngest person ever to perform at the Madras Music Academy and ending with her 1966 performance before the United Nations, Subranamiam largely skips past seven decades of biographical and career highlights (never mentioning her film work, for instance, except in the backmatter). What stands out instead are tributes to her spirit and the spiritual power of her singing in support of India's independence movement and through the heartbreaks of the new country's religious division and Gandhi's assassination. Capped by a beautiful portrait composed of flowers and musical instruments, Gupta's harmonious illustrations follow Subbulakshmi from intimate childhood family concerts to larger stages. The closing notes and definitions are cursory at best, but along with an eloquent summation at the end, the author tucks in snatches of lyrics in Tamil, Hindi, and Sanskrit (as script, transliterations, and English translations) throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A loving invitation to read, and hear, more. (timeline, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)

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"Subramaniam, Suma: SHE SANG FOR INDIA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711906667/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=80787256. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

She Sang for India: How M. S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change. By Suma Subramaniam. Illus. by Shreya Gupta. 2022.40p. Farrar, $18.99 (9780374388744). Gr. 1-3. 782.0092.

This straightforward biography chronicles the life of a woman who is well known throughout India and its diaspora. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi--aka young Kunja--is raised in a musical home and trained from an early age in the Carnatic tradition of South India. Her family, recognizing her prodigious talent, encourages her to sing publicly at a young age, but sexist values stand in her way, and young Kunja's whole journey is marked by similar obstacles. Her mother is her most ardent supporter and finds opportunities for Kunja to perform in public and make a gramophone record at age 10. The doors to further training at the music academies remain closed to Kunja for a few years, despite her public popularity. Nevertheless, as the title states, Subbulakshmi becomes a national treasure, especially for her role in uplifting the morale of the people during terrible years around Partition in 1947. She Sang for India can be paired thematically with Chris Barton's What Do You Do with a Voice like That? (2018) to show readers how two girls used their voices to serve their communities. --Amina Chaudhri

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Chaudhri, Amina. "She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 7-8, 1 Dec. 2022, p. 120. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A731042724/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b0d50b26. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma THE RUNAWAY DOSA Little Bee Books (Children's None) $18.99 9, 5 ISBN: 9781499813975

Two siblings' attempt to catch their escapee breakfast leads to a magical journey.

As a hungry little girl reaches for the last dosa, a thin rice and lentil crepe, it suddenly transforms into a cheeky runaway trying to escape its fate. As she and her brother follow the dosa, they find themselves transported to an enchanted wonderland full of magical creatures from Hindu mythology. The vulture Jatayu, colorful lizard Nrga, and monkey Riksha, among others, call out to the children and help them in their search. However, the siblings are unable to catch the tricky dosa, which then meets its inevitable end. When the children return home hungry, their mother reassures them that more dosas are on the way. Inspired by "The Gingerbread Man" and the popular Tamil rhyme "Dosai! Amma, Dosai," the story is a whimsical magical trip. The illustrations rely on intricate patterns with traditional Indian touches in the clothing, utensils, and family's warm shades of brown. However, the transition as the children enter the magical world feels abrupt, and the rhymes sound clunky. Though this story lacks the repetition and momentum of "The Gingerbread Man," for many readers, it will open the door to a world of fantastical beasts. The book includes the original rhyme in Tamil and English as well as a Tamil glossary. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An unconventional twist on a well-known tale. (author's note, origin stories of the creatures mentioned, a note about dosas, dosa recipe) (Picture book. 4-8)

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"Subramaniam, Suma: THE RUNAWAY DOSA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A754972068/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a0d267f4. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma MY NAME IS LONG AS A RIVER Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $19.99 5, 28 ISBN: 9780593522936

Kaveri Thanjavur Jayalakshmi Ganesan isn't fond of her long name and prefers to go by Kav.

The young protagonist learns about the origins of her names while she, her parents, and her grandmother, whom she calls Paati, journey to celebrate Kaveri Pushkaram, a festival that honors the Kaveri River. Before they leave Paati's home, the child notices green riverbanks and lush waterfalls. Paati tells her she was named for the river--and for her great-great-grandmother. Next, they buy train tickets for Thanjavur, their ancestral home in Tamil Nadu, India, and one of Kaveri's namesakes. Paati reminds the child how on their last visit, she got her some bommai, or clay dolls. Kaveri's mother notes that the child shares both her parents' names. Both mother and daughter are named Jayalakshmi, after the goddess who protects the river. Finally, the name Ganesan comes from her father's name, Ganesha. At the journey's end, where the river meets the ocean, Kaveri finally realizes that her name embodies her birthplace and her heritage. Though earlier, Kaveri mentions that some people "trip over my name," long names aren't uncommon in India, suggesting that the child lives elsewhere. While Kaveri's pride is evident by book's end, readers don't get much insight into her emotional state or thoughts; at times, the story feels like a list of cultural touchstones. Still, the artwork is vivid, with striking use of color and depictions of clothing, jewelry, foods, rituals, and distinctive temple architecture.

A heartfelt celebration of cultural heritage. (glossary, author's note, getting names right, about the Kaveri River, map of South India, poems and sayings about the river) (Picture book. 4-8)

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"Subramaniam, Suma: MY NAME IS LONG AS A RIVER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463058/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f036de8c. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma A BINDI CAN BE... Kids Can (Children's None) $21.99 5, 7 ISBN: 9781525308031

A young child explores the significance of wearing a bindi, a colored dot that many South Asians wear on their foreheads.

Excited to make bindi powder, the child and Paati (Grandmother) gather natural ingredients. While blending turmeric, kuá¹kumam stone, sandalwood powder, and ghee into a clay pot, the child is enthralled as the mixture magically transforms from sunshine yellow to a deep red. The young narrator playfully experiments with different bindi shapes. The child wears it as a flower, a star, and even a crescent moon. It adorns the youngster's forehead on celebrations such as Diwali, Navaratri, and Vaisakhi. The child says that wearing the bindi "centers me" on restless days; it "fills me with the energy of the sun" and "lets me see the world as one." The cartoonlike bright, vibrant illustrations in earthy browns, yellows, and maroons create a cheerful backdrop for the story. The text feels a little superficial, however; readers unfamiliar with the bindi and its significance may be left wondering why the bindi is so important to the protagonist, though the author's note offers more information, including many names for "bindi" across India.

The winsome illustrations can't quite make up for the tepid text. (glossary)(Picture book. 4-8)

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"Subramaniam, Suma: A BINDI CAN BE..." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A802864971/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=91dda282. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Greatest Host of All Time (V. Malar #1)

Suma Subramaniam, illus. by Archana Sreenivasan. Candlewick, $17.99 (128p) ISBN 978-1-5362-2911-0; $6.99 paper ISBN 978-1-5362-4027-6

Culture clash propels this spirited series starter by Subramaniam (My Name Is Long as a River). In the tiny coastal Indian village of Pori, 10-year-old Malar is excited that her Seattle relatives are visiting her family's farm during Pongal, the harvest festival. Amma says to treat the guests "like gods, no matter what." This comes as a challenge, however, as Malar struggles to understand and communicate with her cousins Priya, 11, and Kamal, six, who both express open disdain for farm life. When Priya unpacks multiple pairs of jeans, Malar is stunned--no one can afford denim in Pori. She also wears "really short shorts," a contrast to Malar's traditional long skirt. Undeterred, Malar attempts to be a great host, and shared observance of the multiday festival soon brings everyone together. Flipping the outsider script by centering the Indian host immediately establishes empathy for Malar, whose enthusiasm for family, farm animals, and village life suffuses this infectious narrative. Animated b&w illustrations by Sreenivasan (My Saree) depict Malar, Priya, and Kamal with verve and individuality, adding giddy energy to a story that encourages gracious hospitality and openmindedness. A glossary and author's note conclude. Ages 7-10. (Nov.)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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"Greatest Host of All Time (V. Malar #1)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 33, 2 Sept. 2024, p. 64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812513344/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c5b7293e. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Subramaniam, Suma V. MALAR Candlewick (Children's None) $17.99 11, 5 ISBN: 9781536229110

Malar can't wait for her visiting American cousins to arrive.

It's almost Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, and this year, 10-year-old Malar is especially excited. Her cousins Priya, 11, and Kamal, 6, are traveling all the way from their home in Seattle to Pori, the coastal Indian village where Malar and her family live. Although Malar is determined to be a "super-host," her cousins don't make it easy. Kamal ruins the lotus kolam design that Malar draws outside their house, and Priya condescendingly calls Malar's house "tiny" before proclaiming that she's counting the days until she can return to "civilization." On top of all this, Malar has trouble understanding Kamal's and Priya's accents and feels left out of their secret-swapping. It's only after Priya admits to Malar that she is homesick that Malar begins to empathize with her cousins. As the trio celebrate Pongal with henna, bonfires, and sweets, this understanding grows until the cousins are closer than ever. Malar's honest, insightful narratorial voice deftly guides readers through rural Indian life, Pongal traditions, and the experience of hosting Western visitors in the global South. While the cousins' reconciliation feels a bit abrupt, overall, the layered characters and authentic conflict will resonate with a wide range of readers. Final art not seen.

A heartening tale of cultural clashes, family drama, and, ultimately, forged bonds.(Fiction. 7-10)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Subramaniam, Suma: V. MALAR." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A810315180/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=de9b5bc2. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Chaudhri, Amina. "Namaste Is a Greeting." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 2, 15 Sept. 2022, p. 59. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A720255891/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3dede9d3. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: NAMASTE IS A GREETING." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A726309171/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=12db3597. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. Saarinen, Tamara. "Namaste Is a Greeting." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 68, no. 9, 30 Sept. 2022, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A723152082/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=616845d7. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. Fakih, Kimberly Olson. "SUBRAMANIAM, Suma. She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 10, Oct. 2022, p. 98. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A720065769/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=50e65f1b. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: SHE SANG FOR INDIA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711906667/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=80787256. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. Chaudhri, Amina. "She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 7-8, 1 Dec. 2022, p. 120. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A731042724/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b0d50b26. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: THE RUNAWAY DOSA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A754972068/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a0d267f4. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: MY NAME IS LONG AS A RIVER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797463058/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f036de8c. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: A BINDI CAN BE..." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A802864971/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=91dda282. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Greatest Host of All Time (V. Malar #1)." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 33, 2 Sept. 2024, p. 64. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A812513344/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c5b7293e. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025. "Subramaniam, Suma: V. MALAR." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A810315180/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=de9b5bc2. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

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