We are One
Pinky Mukhi, Param Patel, Devika Joglekar
Paperback
(Independently published, Sept. 5, 2017)
A little boy thinks he is very different from his friends, but through an exciting, emotional journey, he discovers the beautiful secret of oneness. Visit We Are One on Facebook: facebook.com/Story.Book.We.are.oneReview:"Mintu is embarrassed that his family speaks Gujarati and not English at home and serves Indian food like paratha, which is different from what his classmates eat. When two friends visit, Mintu realizes that differences are good. The purposeful and well-intentioned story of friends with different heritage and skin and hair colors to discuss diversity with young children." --The Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California"The traditions and customs that we each celebrate are a part of what makes us unique individuals. This is the poignant message in the book We Are One. Children will be entertained by the characters in this thoughtful and well-written story. The author carefully crafts the important message to love who you are and appreciate those things that make each person special. This book is a great read both in the classroom and at home. We Are One is sure to spark meaningful dialogue with younger children." - --Kelly Corteway, Elementary Principal"This beautifully illustrated book is a great resource for preschools to teach children diversity and acceptance of our differences. We Are One is a delightful and charming story book not only for children but also for parents, as it places a great emphasis on love that unites us, and gives value to the recognition of different cultures as well as teaching our children our own traditions and customs." - --Karina Garcia-Barbera, PhD, Preschool DirectorAbout the Author:Param was a curious six-year-old boy at the time of writing this book. He lives in the US and is being raised with Indian culture and values at home. He is very observant and finds his food, language, and culture different than those of his friends at school. He had been asking his mom questions about the differences from an early age, and this book is inspired by his questions.Pinky, his mom, while explaining the differences as well as similarities Param finds at school, felt the need to write this book. Having lived in India, Europe, and the US and having friends from diverse cultures, she has felt that love unites people despite differences. She feels the need to have more books for children on diversity as well as promoting integration of different cultures with love and friendship. She loves to work with children, teaching them Gujarati language as well as engaging them with stories, arts, and crafts related to the festivals celebrated by different cultures. She loves to explore nature and new places with Param and her husband, Shital.