FAMILY OF FRIENDS

A young girl of Indian heritage eagerly awaits a relative’s arrival.

Isha excitedly tells Mrs. Garcia, who lives next door, all about Nani, her grandmother. Christened the “queen of fun,” Nani lives across the ocean and loves to dance. Isha video chats with Nani as they both make grand plans for Isha’s upcoming birthday party. The next week is a flurry of activity as Isha hands out invitations, picks out a dress, and decorates Nani’s room with a welcome banner. Unfortunately, Nani falls ill and must postpone her trip. Upset, Isha rips down the banner and mopes about, but her neighbors and friends rally around to cheer her up. Sensing her disappointment, Mrs. Garcia asks Isha to help her bake cookies for her granddaughter in New York and for Isha, who she says “is like another granddaughter to me.” Her comforting words help Isha reflect on her friends, who feel like family, and she enjoys a joyous get-together with her chosen family. Bajaj’s heartwarming story, with its clever coinage of the term grandfriend to describe Mrs. Garcia, encapsulates relationships that grow from a close-knit community. Lobo’s endearing illustrations create a sense of coziness and celebration. Isha’s surrounded by an intergenerational, multicultural mix of loved ones.

A charming rendering of life’s ups and downs and those who buoy us along the way.