V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time - by Suma Subramaniam

About the Book

"V. Malar loves living on a farm with her parents in a small town in India. And Malar's absolute favorite time of year, the harvest festival known as Pongal, is finally here! This year's festival will be different because her aunt, uncle, and cousins from Seattle will be visiting and celebrating with them. Feeling both excited and nervous, Malar promises to be a great host to her cousins. But when Priya and Kamal talk about all the things they have back home, or when they're not interested in the animals on the farm, Malar finds it hard to keep her patience and be the gracious host she promised she'd be. The cousins clearly don't start off on the right foot, but after a few clashes, there are some laughs, and Malar realizes that her cousins might just become friends after all"--

Book Synopsis

V. Malar can't wait to celebrate the harvest festival Pongal with her cousins from Seattle. But will they have enough in common to make it enjoyable? An illustrated chapter book about extended family and holiday traditions, kicking off a charming new series.

V. Malar loves living on a farm with her parents in a small town in India. And Malar's absolute favorite time of year, the harvest festival known as Pongal, is finally here! This year's festival will be different because her aunt, uncle, and cousins from Seattle will be visiting and celebrating with them. Feeling both excited and nervous, Malar promises to be a great host to her cousins. But when Priya and Kamal talk about all the things they have back home, or when they're not interested in the animals on the farm, Malar finds it hard to keep her patience and be the gracious host she promised she'd be. The cousins clearly don't start off on the right foot, but after a few clashes, there are some laughs, and Malar realizes that her cousins might just become friends after all. Family and celebrations big and small await in Suma Subramaniam's sweet story, brought to life by Archana's Sreenivasan's friendly illustrations. A glossary of Indian terms and an author's note about Pongal can be found in the back matter.

Review Quotes

Culture clash propels this spirited series starter. . . . Flipping the outsider script by centering the Indian host immediately establishes empathy for Malar, whose enthusiasm for family, farm animals, and village life suffuses this infectious narrative. Animated b&w illustrations by Sreenivasan depict Malar, Priya, and Kamal with verve and individuality, adding giddy energy to a story that encourages gracious hospitality and open-mindedness.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A heartening tale of cultural clashes, family drama, and, ultimately, forged bonds.
--Kirkus Reviews

Openhearted Malar shines in this cross-cultural story of family and friendship. The global message of getting along and reaching across divides could not be more timely.
--Megan McDonald, author of the best-selling Judy Moody series

V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time tenderly celebrates the power of ritual and tradition to bring family together. It's a vivid read that sparkles with a sweet and relatable protagonist.
--Maya Prasad, author of Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms

A beautiful story of family and friendship and an authentic peek into the celebration of Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival. Archana Sreenivasan's illustrations are evocative and pair gorgeously with Suma Subramaniam's detailed and rich descriptions. A must-read for all children who have cousins and extended families across the world.
--Chitra Soundar, author of the Sona Sharma series

V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time is an endearing story about patience and friendship. Family, farm animals, food, and a colorful festival make for a delightful backdrop while we cheer on Malar, against all odds, to become the best host ever. The artwork is joyous and a perfect match!
--Joe Cepeda, recipient of a Pura Belpré Honor and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor

Subramaniam's warm layers of story are so evocative, akin to a poem of place, people, and family. The story of V. Malar celebrates who we are and what we can be together. I was moved by the art of forgiveness, the rewards of self-study, and the brightness that young Malar brings to all she does. I can't wait to see what she gets up to next. V. Malar really is the greatest.
--Vita Murrow, author of Power to the Princess

A fast-paced, energetic novel.
--Booklist

About the Author

Suma Subramaniam is a recruiter for a software company by day and a children's author by night. She is the author of Namaste Is a Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, and several other books for children. She lives in Woodinville, Washington.

Archana Sreenivasan is a freelance illustrator whose work has been published in magazines, children's books, and comics. She finds the natural world and people-watching most inspiring and engaging. She is based in Bangalore, India.