GENRE: **Indian-American, Diverse, SEL
WORDS: 390
Query:
Dear Agents and Editors:
Part love letter and part anthem from a seven-year-old girl to her little brother, this story narrates the experience of being a sibling to someone who is non-verbal and has other disabilities. She explores her own complex emotions and invites the world to look beyond her brother’s disabilities, to celebrate the brilliant person he is.
DIFFERENT IS…, a 390-word lyrical picture book for ages 4-8, celebrates the genuine love and acceptance that bind siblings together, no matter how different they are. In the vein of Tami Charles’s ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER and Nancy Bo Flood’s I WILL DANCE, this story honors the differences that make us who we are and encourages children to embrace their own story and help make a world where everyone else can embrace theirs, too.
My own family’s journey of raising my son who was born with disabilities has inspired this story; he teaches me every day that our differences are worth celebrating. As a BIPOC creator, I want children of diverse and marginalized backgrounds to know that their stories matter. That they matter.
I was previously represented by Jaida Temperly of New Leaf Literary; Jaida left the industry shortly after I signed with her, so I am querying again for representation. An alumna of Pitch Wars and The Writer’s Path at Southern Methodist University, I recently finished a mentorship with Bethany Hegedus from The Writing Barn and am an active member of the Courage to Create community, SCBWI, and the Historical Novel Society.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Excerpt:
[Sister addressing her little brother who’s in a wheelchair and is non-verbal.]
My heart goes soft as a petal,
yet fierce as fire,
wanting to keep you from all things dark and hurtful.
Wanting to speak up, clear as a temple’s bell:
Different is not bad.
Different is not weird.
Different is dazzling!
Like Amma does.
I try; I do.
But…
Many days, my heart wobbles
like a diya caught in a gust of wind.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
A few years ago, one of my young daughter’s friends had asked, “Why do you love your little brother? He doesn’t even talk or play with you.” She was referring to my son who was born with disabilities. As a mom that question distressed me on many levels, but even then, I recognized that my daughter’s friend was not being unkind. She was being curious. Honest. Because, as a society, we don’t do a good job of modeling for our children that being different is natural and beautiful. Out of the insight of that moment and the desire to remedy the gap came this book.
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