Usually, when we think about AAPI Heritage Month, we think East Asia – Japan, China, Korea – but India is part of Asia as well, and I have noticed an uptick in Indian and Pakistani stories over the past few years. Everything on this list is taken from the most recent cycle. I thought this month would be a good time to highlight those stories. Enjoy!
Brown Is Beautiful
by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Noor Sofi
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
2022 Fiction Picture Book Nominee
Diwali in My New Home
by Shachi Kaushik, illustrated by Aishwarya Tandon
Beaming Books
2022 Fiction Picture Book Nominee
Dancing Deepa
by Suchi Sairam, illustrated by Vidya Vasudevan
Kala Vandanam Press
2022 Fiction Picture Book Nominee
Namaste is a Greeting
by Suma Subramaniam, Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Candlewick Press
2022 Fiction Picture Book Submission
Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun
by Hena Khan, illustrated by Wastana Haikal
Salaam Reads
2022 Early Chapter Fiction Picture Book Nominee
Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse
by Sangu Mandanna
Viking Books for Young Readers
2022 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee
Nura and the Immortal Palace
by M. T. Khan
Jimmy Patterson Books
2022 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee
Nura and the Immortal Palace
by M. T. Khan
Jimmy Patterson Books
2022 Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee
Huda F Are You?
by Huda Fahmy
Dial Books
2022 YA Graphic Novel Finalist
Thirst
by Varsha Bajaj
Nancy Paulsen Books
2022 Middle Grade Fiction Finalist
Thirst
by Varsha Bajaj
Nancy Paulsen Books
2022 Middle Grade Fiction Finalist
Golden Girl
by Reem Faruqi
HarperCollins
2022 Novels in Verse Nominee
Golden Girl
by Reem Faruqi
HarperCollins
2022 Novels in Verse Nominee
Hollow Fires
by Samira Ahmed
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
2022 Young Adult Fiction Nominee
TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
by Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Viking Books for Young Readers
2022 Young Adult Fiction Nominee
My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
by Sajni Patel
Harry N Abrams
2022 Young Adult Fiction Nominee
Meet Me in Mumbai
by Sabina Khan
Push
2022 Young Adult Fiction Submission
The Ivory Key
by Akshaya Raman
Clarion Books
2022 Young Adult Speculative Fiction Submission