FARAWAY FAMILY

Making friends with faraway relatives you've never met can be a little daunting at first, but this family finds a unique way to connect.

It's a joyous occasion when you get to visit family in another country after a long time apart. But sometimes it takes a while to connect. That's what happens to the little girl in this bookwhen she first sees her faraway family, they feel like strangers. To make matters worse, the power goes out at bedtime, and that means no more night-light. Then a flashlight beam appearsit's her grandmother, who invites her into a lively game of shadow play. And soon the two of them are having a grand adventure, and the girl's faraway family starts feeling more like friends.

Award-winning author Padma Venkatraman's picture book debut shows the joy of connecting through imaginative play, and Nicole Wong's evocative illustrations bring the story to brilliant life.

Padma Venkatraman (PadmaVenkatraman.com) was born in India and became an American after living in five countries and working as an oceanographer. She wrote the novels Safe Harbor, Born Behind Bars (South Asia Book Award, Junior Library Guild Selection), The Bridge Home (Walter Award, Golden Kite Award, Global Read Aloud Selection), A Time to Dance (IBBY Selection, ALA Notable), Island's End (CCBC Choice, Kirkus Best Book for Teens), and Climbing the Stairs (ALA Amelia Bloomer List, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People). Faraway Family is her first picture book. She lives in Rhode Island.

Nicole Wong (Nicole-Wong.com) has illustrated numerous picture books, including Love Stays Strong (by Paula Schneider). She was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration, and is now a full-time illustrator of children's books. She continues to live in Fall River with her husband, daughter, mean kitty, and happy, high-energy dogs.