Inspired by the bedtime rituals of childhood, Goodnight Ganesha is a beautiful, rhyming ode to bedtime and a gorgeously illustrated goodnight story that celebrates the nighttime rituals of two young Hindu children visiting their grandparents in India.
Debuting Nadia Salomon’s powerful, lyrical new voice and illustrator Poonam Mistry’s tapestry-style artwork , Goodnight Ganesha is the perfect bedtime story for young children, thrilling both parents and kids alike with its rich illustrations and enchanting rhymes. The book is a great way for Hindu parents to communicate their cultural traditions to their children and for children of all other religions to celebrate nightly rituals—a commonality across religions and cultures. The backmatter includes an author’s note, and a glossary of terms for readers unfamiliar with some of the words.
Nadia Salomon is a children’s author writing on themes of South Asian and Caribbean culture, STEM, nonfiction, and humor. Nadia is an award-winning journalist who has freelanced with The Boston Globe. She is the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Service Award and the 2019 SCBWI WOOP Honor Award for work of outstanding progress. This is her debut book.
Mistry is known for incorporating a love of nature with her Indian roots, and explores the relationships between patterns, shapes, and colors. Her books have twice been short-listed for CILIP’s Kate Greenaway Medal–the UK’s version of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. She is also the award-nominated illustrator of You’re Safe With Me, You’re Snug With Me, You’re Strong With Me, and How the Stars Came to Be. She brings the story to life with gorgeous art incorporating her South Indian roots, Indian folklore, and influences from Kalamkari textile patterns.
You can follow Nadia on Twitter @Nadia_Salomon and Poonam Mistry on Instagram @poonammistryart.
Goodnight Ganesha, published by Philomel Books, goes on-sale from August 31, 2021
If you liked this read, you might also enjoy Cultural Stories to Playroom, a Sundays with Seema panel on discussing climate change with children.
