Shivi's Big Leap - by Kritika H Rao (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this bold and colorful picture book about tapping into your courage, a young boy has to channel the Hindu monkey god Hanuman to reach the top of a climbing wall.

Shivi can't wait to return to the activity center with his mom and dad. Today is the day - he's finally going to reach the top of the climbing wall.

But when he arrives, the climbing wall is much higher than he remembered. How will he ever reach the top?

When Shivi realizes he can channel his favorite Hindu god, Hanuman, to summon the courage to scale the wall, he starts to imagine exactly how Hanuman would reach his goal. Hanuman is brave - bold - fearless. Shivi can be all of those things too - right?

With bold and colorful illustrations and an Indian-American protagonist at its helm, Shivi's Big Leap is the perfect read for kids who have found themselves wondering, "Am I brave enough?"

Review Quotes

"The book's vibrant palette and energetic illustrations...perfectly complement the sweetly relatable story. Shivi's evolution is both endearing and believable." -Kirkus

"The swinging repetition of Rao's language is matched by Prabhat's vibrant digital illustrations, with bold, bright tones dominating most spreads...A joyful but compassionate reminder that fun can be had even when a challenge feels insurmountable." - BCCB

About the Author

Kritika H. Rao is a children's fiction author, who has lived in India, Australia, Canada, and The Sultanate of Oman. Whether writing for younger audiences or adults, Kritika's stories are influenced by her lived experiences, and explore themes of self vs. the world, identity, and the nature of consciousness. When she is not writing, she is probably making lists.

Sandhya Prabhat is an Independent Animator and Illustrator based in the Bay Area, California and is from Chennai, India. She holds an MFA Degree in Animation and Digital Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia, and a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Stella Maris College.