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Uma Krishnaswami
P.O. Box 5561 Farmington, NM 87499-5561 uma@umakrishnaswami.com 
I was born in India, when the country was only nine years old. I wrote my very first story in green crayon on a wall. Of course, it got painted over, so I have no idea what it was about. I never thought I'd be a writer. It didn't seem like a reasonable goal. More on my early years.
What do a 1952 Remington typewriter and a lizard have in common? Read Uma's Literacy Autobiography to find out.I was a child writer who didn't know she could be one. Now I write stories set in India and the United States and on the journey from here to there and back. I also work with children and adults on writing process. More on writing programs and work with teachers.
For additional review excerpts, awards and related information on my books, please visit http://www.umakrishnaswami.com/books.html.
It's Rakhi, the Hindu holiday special to brothers and sisters, and Arun wishes he had a sister with whom to celebrate. Soon it looks as if his wish will come true, as his parents plan to adopt a baby girl from India. It's a long wait, though, and Arun must find his own way to build a bond with the sister he doesn't even know yet. 
The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha2006, August House 1996, Linnet Books. 1997 Scientific American Young Readers Award. Seventeen stories of the fat, jolly elephant headed god of Hindu mythology, newly released in paperback edition from August House, a leading publisher of resources for storytellers. "Opens perceptual doors to a great and still vital Eastern tradition-a gift indeed." 
The Closet Ghostsillustrated by Shiraaz Bhabha 2006, Children's Book Press Moving to a new place is hard enough, without finding a bunch of nasty, mean ghosts in your closet. Faced with the pesky ghosts, Anu calls on Hanuman the Hindu god with the monkey form, to help her out. When he shows up at the window, she rejoices--until it becomes clear the ghosts aren't going anywhere. "A unique tale that is worthy of a wide audience." 
The Happiest Treeillustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran 2005, Lee & Low Books A CCBC Choices book Meena is a tree in the class play, but trees need to stand still, and Meena just can't. When she joins a yoga class she learns there's more to trees than roots and branches. "Krishnaswami occasionally dabs the text with Hindi words and expressions, adding a delightful Indian flavor. An excellent addition to any collection." 
Naming Maya2004, Farrar Straus & Giroux 2004 IRA Notable Book for a Global Society 2007 Garden State Award nominee A story about family relationships and the power of place, in the context of an Indian-American girl's visit to India with her mother. Addresses questions of identity, and the meaning of home. "Both setting and protagonist are entirely memorable, and difficult to leave behind." "It's no surprise that the author teaches writing workshops for children; this novel makes it clear that she doesn't just like young people, she respects them." 
Monsoonillustrated by Jamel Akib 2003, Farrar Straus & Giroux 2004 Paterson Prize committee special recognition 2003 Parents' Choice recommended A young girl in a north Indian city waits for the first cloudbursts of the rainy season. "Krishnaswami's poetic text rides faithfully on the child's sensibilities....This powerful book depicts a universal occurrence, while relating the expectations, customs, and needs of a particular locale." "Richly colored illustrations and lyrical text...An expressive story about seasons, extremes, and waiting." illustrated by Soumya Sitaraman 2003, Children's Book Press 2004 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People 2003 Skipping Stones Award A boy learns about his family's history through an old teacup, and in the process comes to value his relationship with an elderly relative. "This touching story would make a fine addition to units focusing on immigration to America and the human factor in political upheaval."
Holi Photographs and simple text introduce readers to a Hindu springtime festival of color.
"...a welcome choice as it serves both to broaden existing holiday collections and to introduce this religion to young America readers."
Hello Flower A young boy watches a seed grow into a flowering plant. Emergent reader. Also available in Spanish, Hola Flor
Yoga Class An Indian-American girl learns to mimic the forms of many animals in Yoga Class, and yet remains herself. Emergent reader. Also available in Spanish, La Clase de Yoga
Shower of Gold: Girls and Women in the Stories of India Traditional retold stories from Hindu and Buddhist traditions of India.
"Retold with immediacy and verve." Seventeen stories of the fat, jolly elephant headed god of Hindu mythology. "Opens perceptual doors to a great and still vital Eastern tradition-a gift indeed." ~ Kirkus Reviews
Stories of the Flood Great flood tales from around the world.
"The content is sophisticated, yet the treatment of the tales makes them accessible to a wide audience." Short Stories in Anthologies
"Going to Kashi," in Soul Searching An Indian-American teenager finds herself drawn into awkward contact with a homeless woman and through it comes to understand her own identity and place.
"The Gift," in Period Pieces A story of three generations in one family, linked across time and continents by a gift from a troubled time. More on my books and school programs, and additional resources
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