Uma Krishnaswami is the author of a dozen books for children, including picture books, Monsoon, Chachaji's Cup, The Closet Ghosts, and Bringing Asha Home, a middle grade novel, Naming Maya and easy readers, Yoga Class and Holi. Two more middle grade novels are forthcoming in 2011 from Lee & Low and Antheneum Books for Young Readers. Uma's poems and short stories from pre-school to YA have been published in Highlights for Children and magazines of the Cricket group. Her books have been picked for CCBC Choices, Parent's Choice, IRA Notable Books for a Global Society and other honors. Her picture book, Chachaji's Cup has been turned into a musical, Tea with Chachaji, to be performed in New York and San Francisco in 2010. Uma is a long-time member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC. In addition to her writing and speaking, she reviews children's books for CLCD, and is on the faculty of the Vermont College MFA Program in Writing for Children & Young Adults.
Selected Reviews of Uma Krishnaswami's Books
Remembering Grandpa
Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrated by Layne Johnson
When a grandparent dies, a young child can easily feel sad and confused, not just from the loss but from the distress of seeing the grief of adult family members. Remembering Grandpa takes on this complex topic with a story that may be helpful to children whose circumstances match those of the child in the story. Pulling her red wagon, little Daysha decides to bring her sad grandmother a collection of special things that she remembers making her grandfather happy. These objects are all from nature, such as the leaves that Daysha remembers hearing her grandfather say "you could make needles and paintbrushes from leaves like this and soap from the root." The conclusion is clearly meant to balance the importance of acknowledging grief, cherishing positive memories, and having the living go on with their lives. Layne Johnson's illustrations have a lush pink and purple tone that verges on cloying. However, depicting Daysha and her family as bunnies rather than giving them a specific ethnic identity or setting is likely to help universalize the story. 2007, Boyds Mills Press , $17.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children's Literature)
Chachaji's cup
Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrations by Soumya Sitaraman
In Chachaji's Cup, Neel loves helping his great-uncle prepare tea. Often while slurping tea from a faded china cup, the older man will tell of his boyhood in India. Only once does he share the story behind the teacup, which his family carried to a new home in 1947. During this time of the Partition, borders were drawn. Hindus resettled in India and Muslims in Pakistan. More than 12 million people were uprooted, according to the informative author's note in the back. This must-read by Uma Krishnaswami celebrates family across generations and acquaints young readers with an important and little-known time in world history. Krishnaswami leavens her text with gentle humor as the American-born Neel giggles with Chachaji over Hindi rental videos and tries to make amends when he accidentally breaks the precious cup. Soumya Sitaraman's vibrant paintings swirl across the pages, making Chachaji's past as real to Neel as the boy's own present. 2003, Children's Book Press, $16.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
Naming Maya
Uma Krishnaswami
The newest generation of children is being raised with one foot in America and one foot in a home country far away. Once again, two cultures mix and blend and collide. Maya has been growing up in New Jersey but has come to India for the summer while her mother sells the old family home. Any American child who has traveled to an ancestral home overseas, especially one where extended family members are still living, will identify with Maya's emotional journey, right from the opening conversation between Maya's mother and Mami, the longtime family housekeeper, "a blend of honey and chili powder fighting for room on the tongue." Maya is protected by Mami but finally becomes her protector, "my soul connected to hers with an invisible ribbon woven of stories and fragments of memory." Mami is the chili powder, but also the honey that ultimately brings Maya closer to her mother. Their relationship is a strained thread throughout the book because of her mother's divorce and their lack of communication about either the divorce or Maya's Indian heritage. Maya's beautifully written, heartwarming story will surely become a "two-gift" for young readers--you keep some, you give some away--whether they share Maya's experiences or simply empathize with them. A short glossary of Tamil and Hindi words is included. 2004, Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
The happiest tree : a yoga story
Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrations by Ruth Jeyavee
Courage comes from the ability to handle fear, as young Meena learns in The Happiest Tree. In this empowering picture book, Meena worries her clumsiness will jeopardize the class play. After all, she is supposed to play a tree--graceful and stalwart. But when she signs up for a children's yoga class, Meena learns to breathe slowly and deeply, to stretch "like a rubber band" and to coordinate her arms and legs in "smooth, slow movements." With greater control comes greater calm, enabling Meena to deal with a minor mishap during the play. Bright acrylic pictures by Ruth Jeyaveeran reinforce the upbeat tone of Uma Krishnaswami's text. The book includes diagrams of six yoga postures suitable for children, giving young readers a chance, like Meena, to realize that "I can change my body by how I feel inside. If I am quiet inside, my body will be still." 2005, Lee and Low, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
Lively presentations enhanced by rich audio-visuals. K-12 and beyond. Uma shares her writing journey with young people in a personal and meaningful way, making connections around childhood experiences and stories that reflect the commonness of being human in a changing world. Her presentations, like her books, are both uniquely specific and yet universally relevant.
Sample presentations:
- Thinking in Pictures : Picture books and where their stories came from
- Sounds and Stories from India : Mix of traditional stories and contemporary images
- Stretching Your Body and Your Words : Yoga stretches and list poems constructed together
- Many Windows : Collaborative writing workshop
- Teaching the Craft : For teachers, librarians, adult writers
Fees are negotiable, with discounts offered for multiple day bookings. Travel and lodging to be covered by sponsoring event.
To learn more about Uma and her publications please visit www.umakrishnaswami.com.
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