Summer is on the approach. Teachers are thankful for the upcoming break, and parents are wondering what to do when the kids are home full-time. Besides the vacations and outings, consider adding daily book reads to the routine. It helps to keep the skills that were learned during the school year engaged in your child’s brain. Keep your child ahead of the game by keeping up their reading skills this summer. Follow my blog or look over past posts to get some great reading suggestions.

Speaking of suggestions, here’s my first book suggestion to help keep your young ones in that reading frame of mind. “Paromita: The Value In a Name” is a darling, picture book telling the story of a young girl finding confidence and cultural connection with the disrespect done to her name in school. It is a personal connection to the theme of bullying by the author, Paromita De. I had the chance to talk with her about what influenced her as an author, some reading memories, and what she has planned next.

• What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Paromita De: My favorite memory is simply the feeling of getting lost in a story. I loved the magic of opening a book and suddenly being in a whole new world right from my bedroom.

• Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Paromita De: Jhumpa Lahiri is a writer I deeply admire, and her work is a constant reminder of what I aspire to achieve. Her ability to find deep meaning in ordinary, quiet moments taught me that a story does not need to be loud to be powerful.

• Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Paromita De: Some days, I love going to local coffee shops with my laptop and notebook. The environment helps me focus. Other days, I stay cozy at home. I make my own chai, light a candle, and play music to create a peaceful space.

• What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Paromita De: I want to write books that celebrate Indian culture, weaving in the same deep focus on family and identity that I admire in Jhumpa Lahiri’s work. Alongside those, I am excited to create a children’s book series about Paromita’s wisdoms and adventures, helping young readers build confidence and pride.

• What is writing to you in one sentence?

Paromita De: Writing is my source of joy, healing, and true self-expression.

Blurb: “Paromita: The Value In a Name” by Paromita De

Some kids worry about homework. Paromita worries about her name. When her teacher twists her name into something that sounds like a sputtering car engine, the whole class laughs, and Paromita’s confidence hits the floor. “Paromita” follows a young Indian girl who once loved her beautiful name and the kathak dances she learned from her grandma. But at school, her name becomes a target. Between “Parooometer” and “Parrot,” she decides that life might be easier if everyone just called her “Pat.” Spoiler alert: it isn’t.

What follows is a story about pride, identity, and a seven-yard sari. Paromita finds her voice again at the school talent show, where she performs her kathak dance and tells everyone exactly what her name means, where it comes from, and why mispronouncing it is more than a simple mistake. By the next day, her classmates see her differently, and she learns that being herself is far stronger than trying to fit in.

For more information about the author and her books, please visit her website at: www.paromitadebooks.com

“Paromita: The Value In a Name” is available at: Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com.