A tender, beautifully illustrated story about a girl in America and her grandmother in India, whose love stretches between languages and cultures ¿ and across the world.
When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. They form a bond ¿ looking at books together, making designs with coloured sand, shopping at the market, playing games, eating chapatis and sipping warm milk with saffron to bring sweet dreams. When it¿s time to part, Jyoti doesn¿t want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don¿t say goodbye, they say ¿I¿ll go and come back.¿ Sure enough, the two reunite the next summer when Pati visits Jyoti in America, and it¿s Jyoti¿s turn to make her grandmother feel welcome. Can they create some special memories that will last until the next time they see each other?

Rajani LaRocca was born in Bangalore, India, and immigrated to the United States when she was a baby. She is an award-winning children's book author of many magical books including the Newbery Honor Book Red, White, and Whole, the middle-grade fantasy adventure Sona and the Golden Beasts, and the picture books I'll Go and Come Back, illustrated by Sara Palacios, Masala Chai, Fast and Slow, illustrated by Neha Rawat, and Mauntie and Me, illustrated by Nadia Alam. Rajani LaRocca lives in Massachusetts with her family. Find her online at rajanilarocca.com, or on Instagram and X as @rajanilarocca.