Written by: F. Zia

Illustrated by: Ken Min

For ages: 4-8 years

Language: English, Hindi.

Topics Covered: Family, POC-Centric Narratives, Indian Culture & Traditions.

Summary: Aneel’s grandparents have come all the way from India for a visit!  They do lots of fun things like burn incense and practice standing on their heads for yoga.  Dada-ji, his grandfather, tells the best stories of when he was young.  Dada-ji tells Aneel he gets superpowers from roti and Aneel must learn to make them to find out if Dada-ji still has superpowers!  Aneel can’t find anyone to help him make hot, hot roti so he decides to try himself.  It turns out Aneel’s superpower is making perfect roti, and Dada-ji feels strong enough to go on an adventure like when he was young.  Since there are no water buffalos to wrestle, or cobras to tie in knots, Dada-ji and Aneel must make due with swinging on swings and gathering apples for a pie.  The book ends with the pair stargazing in lotus position, looking at the stars.

About the Author & the Illustrator:

Farhana Zia is an elementary school teacher who grew up in Hyderabad, India. Her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. Her first picture book, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Massachusetts.

Ken Min grew up on the works of Margret & H.A. Rey, William Joyce, and DC Comics. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and studied illustration at Art Center, College of Design. He has storyboarded for various commercials and animated TV shows such as The PJs, Futurama and Fairly Odd Parents. His illustration work has been recognized numerous times by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). In 2012, the first picture book he illustrated, Hot, Hot Roti For Dada-Ji, received the Picture Book Honor Award for Literature from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). These days, you will find Ken illustrating, storyboarding, writing, and dreaming up stories for children.