Listen to Alyson O’Brien and Sandhya Parappukkaran talk about The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name.

Play Video

Amma's Sari

Shortlisted – NSW Premiers Literary Award – Patricia Wrightson prize for children’s literature.

Click here to read more.

Long listed – Children’s Book Council of Australia – Notable Book.

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

Winner – 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia New Illustrator Award. Congratulations Michelle Pereira!

Reviewed in the New York Times by Andrea Wang! 

Reviewed at Kirkus reviews!!

New Book

Amma's Sari

Shortlisted – NSW Premiers Literary Award – Patricia Wrightson prize for children’s literature.

Click here to read more.

Long listed – Children’s Book Council of Australia – Notable Book.

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

Winner – 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia New Illustrator Award. Congratulations Michelle Pereira!

Reviewed in the New York Times by Andrea Wang! 

Reviewed at Kirkus reviews!!

Listen to Alyson O'Brien and Sandhya Parappukkaran talk about The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name.

Play Video

Stay For Dinner                      

Stay for Dinner is a powerful story that celebrates culture and connection through food, from the creators of The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name, winner of the 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Award for New Illustrator.

Fun Facts about

Sandhya Parappukkaran

  • I love mangoes – green ones! Dipped in salt and chilli powder.
  • My first language – Malayalam. This word is a pallindrome!
  • Sandhya is a two syllable word (Sun-dhya) meaning ‘dusk’. Parappukkaran is pronounced Para-pu:-kkaa:-ren. The stress is on the kk and the second last ‘a’ is a long vowel sound. 
  • Possibly the first Malayali-Australian to be a finalist for the Queensland Literary Award!! 
  • I visit the library once a week.
  • Galahs are my favourite bird. You can see them around Brisbane.

Click here (this will take you to my Instagram page @sandhya_librarybagbooks) for a video explaining how to pronounce my name – Sandhya Parappukkaran 

Sandhya Parappukkaran’s session was focused on brainstorming ideas for writing topics. The students left the session truly inspired, begging to continue with their ideas when we returned to class. We have since been able to use these techniques in the classroom.

This was an excellent session where the students learnt great skills, including incorporating their own cultures or special memories into their writing.

Year 4, Harlaxton State School, Toowoomba

"The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library" - Albert Einstein.