Ritu Anand’s next children’s book, I am My Language, is an ode to all who have chosen to learn to read, write and speak their first language, something she is familiar with. In the book, a little girl named Surjeet wishes very hard that she could read her first language, Punjabi. She would like to prove it by reading at the Basant Festival. So, she asks her aunt to help her learn.

I Am My Language is a heartfelt celebration of heritage, identity, and the power of mother tongues. Inspired by true events, the story honors children and families who choose to read, write, and speak the language that shapes who they are. The story is based on experiences Anand had when she was young as she used to show her friends she knew how to read and write the language of her heart … until she actually did.

Beautifully illustrated by Maaz Farzaan, I Am My Language is published by PathBinder Publishing LLC.

Anand is an award-winning author of Kara’s Dreams (March 2022), a picture book about being resilient in the face of adversity. Her head and heart stay busy concocting stories. There is also a Spanish-language version of that book, called Los Sueños de Kara (November 2023). Both were published by PathBinder.