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Faraway Family

Author Padma Venkatraman
Illustrated by Nicole Wong
Hardcover
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Nancy Paulsen Books
11"W x 8-1/2"H | 20 oz | 24 per carton
On sale Aug 25, 2026 | 32 Pages | 9780593698860
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
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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 book—when 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 appears—it’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.
© Bharat
Padma Venkatraman (padmavenkatraman.com) was born in India and became an American after living in five countries and working as an oceanographer. She also wrote The Bridge Home (Walter Award, Golden Kite Award, Global Read-Aloud), A Time to Dance (IBBY selection, ALA Notable), Island's End (CCBC Choice, South Asia Book Award), and Climbing the Stairs (ALA/Amelia Bloomer List, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People). She lives in Rhode Island. View titles by Padma Venkatraman
© Courtesy of the illustrator
Nicole Wong was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, to two artist parents, so never thought of becoming anything except an illustrator.  She drew constantly as a girl—including on the walls behind furniture, where her mom would find drawings years later. She received her first freelance illustration job when she was twelve, then graduated from RISD with a BFA in illustration at twenty-two. Now, she's happily 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. She can be found online at Nicole-Wong.com. View titles by Nicole Wong

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About

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 book—when 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 appears—it’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.

Author

© Bharat
Padma Venkatraman (padmavenkatraman.com) was born in India and became an American after living in five countries and working as an oceanographer. She also wrote The Bridge Home (Walter Award, Golden Kite Award, Global Read-Aloud), A Time to Dance (IBBY selection, ALA Notable), Island's End (CCBC Choice, South Asia Book Award), and Climbing the Stairs (ALA/Amelia Bloomer List, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People). She lives in Rhode Island. View titles by Padma Venkatraman
© Courtesy of the illustrator
Nicole Wong was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, to two artist parents, so never thought of becoming anything except an illustrator.  She drew constantly as a girl—including on the walls behind furniture, where her mom would find drawings years later. She received her first freelance illustration job when she was twelve, then graduated from RISD with a BFA in illustration at twenty-two. Now, she's happily 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. She can be found online at Nicole-Wong.com. View titles by Nicole Wong

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