“Ameya’s Two Worlds” Picture Book
Note: Thank you to author Aditi Wardhan Singh for providing a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
In multicultural children’s books, the theme is often about balancing two cultures. For example, a character who is Asian American may struggle with not fitting in at lunchtime because her food is different from her peers.
Ameya’s Two Worlds, a new picture book written by Aditi Wardhan Singh and illustrated by Noor Alshalabi, flips the script. Instead of struggling to fit into American culture, the main character, who lives in America, tries to fit in with her heritage culture when she travels to India.
In Ameya’s Two Worlds, Ameya is an Indian American girl who is excited about attending her cousin Vaishali’s wedding in India. She is also concerned about communicating with her relatives in the Hindi language. Although she understands Hindi, she is used to speaking English at home.
When her cousins play a game called Kho Kho and explain the rules in Hindi, Ameya asks them to speak in English. Her cousin Dev questions if she is really Indian.
Ameya struggles with her identity and questions if Dev is right. “Was speaking in an Indian language what made a person Indian?” With the support of her mother, Ameya realizes that a person can be many things.
Ameya participates in the wedding traditions, and it strengthens ties to her culture. She learns she can be whoever she wants to be and can define herself. Ameya embraces her two worlds which are quite different, but she loves them all.
Expressive illustrations with nods to Indian culture reinforce this multicultural story. Back matter includes information on Indian wedding traditions as well as an Activity Time page. The author’s website, RaisingWorldChildren.com, offers a free download of screen-free multicultural activities.
Ameya’s Two Worlds is ideal for introducing children to other cultures with a theme that they’ll be able to relate to. After all, most people are multi-dimensional, and finding a balance between different parts of their lives is part of the human experience.
Where to Buy Ameya’s Two Worlds
Find Ameya’s Two Worlds on Amazon (hardcover, paperback, Kindle).
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How to Enter the Ameya’s Two Worlds Giveaway [CLOSED]
One lucky winner will win a copy of Ameya’s Two Worlds by Aditi Wardhan Singh. Please enter via the entry form below. The giveaway is open to readers aged 18+ years old with a U.S. mailing address (no P.O. Boxes please). Good luck!
About the Author
Aditi Wardhan Singh is an award-winning, best-selling author of Within, Strong Roots Have No Fear, Raising the Global Mindset, How Our Skin Sparkles, Small or Tall, We Sparkle After All, Sparkles of Joy, Sparkles of Joy Activity Book, and Ameya’s Two Worlds. She is an authoritative voice on cultural sensitivity and empowerment. Featured in numerous global publications and broadcast networks, she is the founder of the RWC magazine. Her publication encourages other voices like hers to come forth. In doing so, she creates unique resources for parents everywhere so children can be global thought leaders. In her spare time, she enjoys choreographing recitals, volunteering, and having dance parties with her two charming kids. She also writes for various well-known publications such as Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Richmond Family Magazine.
