GENRE: **Diverse, Character Driven, STEM/STEAM
WORDS: 480
Query:
Dear PBParty Judges, Agents, and Editors,
Thank you for the opportunity to share my 480 word picture book for ages 4–7, MAYA AND THE MISSING GARLANDS.
The flower garlands have vanished at cousin Anika’s wedding, and the varmala ceremony can’t begin without them! With the clock ticking, mystery-loving Maya sleuths past swishing gold saris, mouthwatering laddoos, and thundering dhols to crack the case in time.
MAYA AND THE MISSING GARLANDS blends classic sleuthing fun with the joyful chaos of an Indian wedding celebration. It will appeal to fans of Lulu in the Spotlight and the Mira, Royal Detective TV series, and has series potential.
I wrote this story because my daughter is fascinated by the colour, the noise, and the rituals of Indian weddings. I wanted to give children like her a protagonist who doesn’t just attend those celebrations but gets to be the hero in them.
I am a person of colour who writes culturally rooted picture books that feel specific in detail and universal in feeling. I grew up in India and have since lived in New Zealand, the UK, and Australia. I am a committee member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) and a SCBWI member. My work has been Highly Commended at the Golden Egg Academy Awards, Books That Help, recognised by a 12×12 Challenge GOLD Scholarship, and been shortlisted for the WriteMentor Picture Book Awards, We Need Diverse Books, PB Rising Stars, and the Searchlight Awards. I have also self-published three picture books and delivered storytelling sessions in schools, libraries, and museums across the UK and Australia.
I have additional picture book manuscripts available upon request.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Excerpt:
“Weddings are magical!” Maya squealed. It was cousin Anika’s wedding.
DHAM DHAM! drummed the dhols. [drums]
AHA OHO! clapped the crowd.
BEEP BEEP! honked the wedding bus.
“Bring the garlands!” called the priest. “Time to exchange the varmala.” [flower garlands]
Maya turned to the tray, but…
“Where are the garlands?” Aunty’s eyes widened.
Uncle scratched his head. “I put them somewhere safe this morning..but I can’t remember where!”
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
My daughter is fascinated by the joyful chaos of Indian weddings – the colour, the noise, and the rituals. She loves watching it all unfold like a movie every time we visit India for a wedding. I wanted to give children like her a protagonist who doesn’t just attend those celebrations but gets to be the hero in them. The varmala ceremony is one of the first ceremonies at an Indian wedding, and it felt like the perfect engine for a mystery where something precious goes missing, and someone small enough slips through the crowd and finds it.
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