Shruti Rao’s books for children
As an Indian immigrant mom to first-generation Indian American boys growing up in Seattle, I’m always delighted to chance upon books representing our desi children. This is a trend that’s growing thanks to noteworthy contributions by authors like Shruthi Rao and Aisha Saeed.
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Kadooboo! A Silly South Indian Folktale
Former IT professional, Shruthi Rao has authored over a dozen children’s books. Her most recent one is Kadooboo! A Silly South Indian Folktale. The folktale this book brings to life is one that Rao heard from her grandmother about a man hurrying home to tell his wife about a delicious treat he ate, called the kadooboo. Along the way, he trips and falls, and in the confusion mixes up the name of the sweet to doobookoo. Intrigued by this simple and entertaining story, Rao’s penchant for children’s writing transformed it into a funny, endearingly silly, child-friendly version. It is a comical narrative about a little boy, Kabir, whose encounters on his way home influence the mix-ups of the name. Undoubtedly, Darshika Varma’s vivid and humorous illustrations bring life into the story.
Shruti Rao: Children’s fiction and non-fiction
Rao’s writings, both fiction and non-fiction, are varied. Malhar In The Middle, for instance, is about a child tabla player who wants to occupy center stage, and Susie Will Not Speak, is about a little girl who’s conscious of her lisp. In her non-fiction work, Rao brings forth her background and interest in STEM topics. Spaceship To The Universe; How We Know What We Know; Ten Indian Women Who Were the First To Do What They Did; and Twenty Indians Who Changed The World are some of her non-fiction books. The latter two books are stories about ground-breaking but lesser-known “firsts” accomplished by Indian men and women.
Themes drawn from everyday life
As an experiential writer, Rao sees potential book ideas in her day-to-day life, drawing inspiration from travel, conversations, and even television shows. Her writing philosophy is clear in her impressive collection of children’s books. In her words, “I like and appreciate it when a book is easy to read, no matter how complicated the subject is and how complex the characters, concept, or plot. It’s hard work to produce writing that flows effortlessly. But it’s priceless, both for the reader and the writer.”
