Mauntie And Me

Every Saturday, Priya’s extended family came to visit, but her siblings always ran off with the older cousins as Priya was “too little”. But Priya did not mind because she spent time with Mauntie – short for “My Auntie” – her mother’s youngest sister. Mauntie and Priya were very close. But when Priya’s cousin Aditi arrives from a faraway place, Priya finds it very difficult to share Mauntie with Aditi. Jealousy seeps in and sharing Mauntie seems impossible – until Priya finds the answer to Mauntie’s riddle “What grows when you share it?”

“𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲” hits the shelves on 12 November 2024. I love the way Rajani LaRocca describes the relationship between Priya’s mum and Aditi’s dad (“Priya’s mother’s older brother, Srikanth Uncle”). The mention of Idli and “Bonda” adds a unique feel. I also love how “chutney” plays a part in the narrative given that tolerance of the spice level of chutney is often seen as a yardstick of being considered “not so little” or a rite of passage! Nadia Alam’s illustration adds to the warmth.

Thank you Candlewick Press for the ARC of this charming book! I am definitely pre-ordering a hard copy.