V. Malar: Greatest Ranger of All Time

by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

(Candlewick, hardcover, 2026)

When Malar wins a weekend at an animal reserve, she really wants to see a tiger--but the bigger challenge might be adjusting to being away from home and getting along with the other campers!

V. Malar is headed to Camp Kurinji, a well-known tiger reserve in South India, and she couldn't be more excited--or nervous. She'll be participating in a program for students to learn more about nature conservation and the animals that call the reserve home. Malar wants to see a tiger more than anything, but it's also her first time away from home. Will the other kids want to be her friends? Will she miss Amma and Appa and the farm? It doesn't help that the camp isn't what she expected: the food is different, the hikes are exhausting, the other campers don't seem to like her, her special sunglasses from Appa go missing, and they have a few close run-ins with a monkey. But with a little patience and a lot of support from her camp counselor, Selvi madam, could Malar's tiger dreams--and her hope to make friends and become the Greatest Ranger of All Time--come true? In this second V. Malar adventure set in the rainforests of India, readers curious about the animals and plants in the story can find more in the back matter, along with a glossary, source notes, and author's note about India's tiger reserves.

Suma Subramaniam is a poet and children's book creator. She is the author of many books for children, including Namaste Is a Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, and the first book in the V. Malar series. She lives in Woodinville, Washington.

Archana Sreenivasan is the illustrator of several books for children, including the first book in the V. Malar series, and her work has been selected for the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. She is also the author-illustrator of a board book, and her work as appeared in magazines and comics and on book covers. She lives in Bangalore, India.

V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time

by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

(Candlewick, hardcover, 2024)

V. Malar can't wait to celebrate the harvest festival Pongal with her cousins from Seattle. But will they have enough in common to make it enjoyable? An illustrated chapter book about extended family and holiday traditions, kicking off a charming new series.

V. Malar loves living on a farm with her parents in a small town in India. And Malar's absolute favorite time of year, the harvest festival known as Pongal, is finally here! This year's festival will be different because her aunt, uncle, and cousins from Seattle will be visiting and celebrating with them. Feeling both excited and nervous, Malar promises to be a great host to her cousins. But when Priya and Kamal talk about all the things they have back home, or when they're not interested in the animals on the farm, Malar finds it hard to keep her patience and be the gracious host she promised she'd be. The cousins clearly don't start off on the right foot, but after a few clashes, there are some laughs, and Malar realizes that her cousins might just become friends after all. Family and celebrations big and small await in Suma Subramaniam's sweet story, brought to life by Archana's Sreenivasan's friendly illustrations. A glossary of Indian terms and an author's note about Pongal can be found in the back matter.

Suma Subramaniam is a recruiter for a software company by day and a children's author by night. She is the author of Namaste Is a Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, and several other books for children. She lives in Woodinville, Washington.

Archana Sreenivasanis a freelance illustrator whose work has been published in magazines, children's books, and comics. She finds the natural world and people-watching most inspiring and engaging. She is based in Bangalore, India.

My Name Is Long as a River

by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Tara Anand

(Penguin Workshop, hardcover, 2024)

In this sweeping picture book, an Indian girl discovers the power of her name as she travels along the river she was named after.

What's so special about your name?

Kaveri Thanjavur Jayalakshmi Ganesan doesn't think there is anything special about her very long name--in fact, she would prefer to be called "Kav." But Paati reminds Kaveri that her name was inspired by her family's heritage, where she was born, and the powerful river they journey across for the Pushkaram Festival. Along the way, Kaveri's eyes and heart are opened to the beauty and magic her name holds.

Through Suma Subramaniam's lyrical and tender writing and Tara Anand's radiant illustrations, My Name Is Long as a River offers messages of cultural pride, self-confidence, and empowerment.

Suma Subramaniam is the author of Namaste Is a Greeting, She Sang for India, The Runaway Dosa, A Bindi Can Be..., the V. Malar series, and other books for children and young adults. She has an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Suma lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who watches baking shows. Learn more at sumasubramaniam.com.

Tara Anandis an illustrator and visual artist from Bombay, India, based in New York City. She graduated from School of Visual Arts in 2022 and has since worked on editorial and children's book projects. She works primarily in gouache and loves to read in her spare time. Learn more at taraanandart.com.

Namaste Is a Greeting

by Suma Subramaniam, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

(Candlewick, hardcover, 2022)

Discover namaste's many meanings in a simple, lyrical text, paired with a charmingly detailed visual narrative about a little girl's kindness.

Namaste calms your heart when things aren't going right.
Namaste is saying "You matter."

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.

Suma Subramaniam earned her MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a certificate in popular fiction from the University of Washington. Suma Subramaniam lives in Washington State.

Sandhya Prabhat is an award-winning illustrator and animator whose books include I Am Brown by Ashok Banker, Ignore the Trolls by Jordan Gershowitz, Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight, and books in the Om Child series. Originally from Chennai, India, Sandhya Prabhat is now based in the Bay Area.