Home, Home

PreS-Gr 2–Different is how Ajesh feels in the classroom at school. Now with two whole months of summer vacation and the respite of a cozy bedroom, Ajesh is thrilled at the prospect of relaxing in a place that truly feels like home, especially when Mummy makes warm spicy chaiya tea. But then Daddy announces that the family is going back “home” for a summer; extended family all seem to know them, but Ajesh doesn’t know anyone, which brings back that different feeling all over again. The modest but emotional story plays in full-page pastel matte illustrations that have been completed in acrylic paint and graphite with digital painting techniques. Pictures enhance the story, which for all its simplicity, is woven across two different continents. Ajesh’s experiences in learning that home is where family is will provide relatability despite cultural differences. The South Asian words (such as the words for grandmother and grandfather) are clear from the context; all characters are Indian.