CICAU READING CORNER
FEATURED AUTHORS' BOOKSHELF
Celebrating Diverse Voices, Cultures & Stories
Books by authors who have partnered with CICAU to inspire cultural appreciation and understanding.
At CICAU, we are proud to collaborate with talented authors who bring diverse cultures, traditions, identities, and experiences to life through storytelling. Our Authors' Bookshelf celebrates the books and creative voices of authors who have partnered with us through our Author Reading & Writing Workshops to inspire curiosity, foster understanding, and connect children and families through literature.
Explore this growing collection of stories that reflect the richness of our world and the power of books to bring us together.

Papa's Butter Chicken
By Monica Saigal
Recommended Ages 4–8
A heartwarming story celebrating family, food, and cultural heritage. Through a beloved family recipe, this book explores how cooking together can create lasting memories and strengthen connections across generations.
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Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken
By Monica Bhide
Recommended CICAU Audience: Middle School & Up (with educator guidance)
Set in contemporary India, this novel follows Eshaan, a young man whose passion for cooking inspires him to help others. Through themes of compassion, perseverance, identity, and cultural traditions, the story explores how food can connect communities and create meaningful change.

Ramen for Everyone
By Pat Tanumihardja
Recommended Ages: 4–8
A delightful story about a young boy named Hiro who dreams of making a delicious bowl of ramen just like his dad. Through patience, creativity, and a little experimentation, Hiro discovers that making something special takes practice and heart. This charming picture book celebrates Japanese food traditions, family connections, and the joy of learning something new.

Dumplings for Lili
By Melissa Iwai
Recommended Ages: 4–8
A joyful celebration of food, family, and cultural traditions! When Lili helps her grandmother prepare Chinese dumplings, she embarks on an adventure through her apartment building, meeting neighbors who make dumplings from cultures around the world. Through sharing ingredients, friendship, and kindness, Lili discovers how food brings people and communities together.

The Magic in Changing Your Stars
By Leah Henderson
Recommended Ages: 8–12
When eleven-year-old Ailey Benjamin Walker struggles with self-doubt, an unexpected journey into the past takes him to 1930s Harlem. There, he discovers the extraordinary stories of his family and the courage of those who came before him. Blending history, adventure, and a touch of magic, this heartfelt novel celebrates African American heritage, family connections, and the power of believing in yourself.

Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love
Edited by Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond
Recommended Ages: 12–18
A vibrant collection of thirteen interconnected stories exploring food, family, friendship, and cultural identity through the voices of Asian American authors. Set in a neighborhood filled with diverse culinary traditions, these stories celebrate how food connects generations, preserves cherished memories, and brings communities together.

The Great Destroyers
By Caroline Tung Richmond
Recommended Ages: 12–18
Set in an alternate version of 1960s America, this action-packed novel follows Jo Linden, a talented young pilot who enters a high-stakes competition involving enormous mechanical robots. As she navigates fierce rivalries, political tensions, and questions of loyalty, Jo challenges expectations and fights to shape her own future. A thrilling story exploring courage, identity, determination, and the power of breaking barriers.

On the Block: Stories of Home
Edited by Ellen Oh
Recommended Ages: 8–12
A heartwarming collection of interconnected stories by celebrated children's authors, all centered around the residents of a diverse apartment building. Through friendship, family, cultural traditions, and everyday experiences, these stories explore what it means to belong and how neighbors from different backgrounds create a community together.

