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Faraway Family
  • Published: 23 September 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593698860
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $49.99

Faraway Family

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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.
  • Published: 23 September 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593698860
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $49.99
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About the authors

Padma Venkatraman

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.
portrait photo of Padma Venkatraman

Nicole Wong

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.
portrait photo of Nicole Wong

Praise for Faraway Family


PRAISE FOR PADMA VENKATRAMAN'S SAFE HARBOR:
          * “Beautifully captures the theme of finding love by letting go. . . . A poignant exploration of emotional resilience and the bittersweet nature of change. . . . Engaging and relevant. . . . A must-read for those who appreciate lyrical storytelling with emotional depth.” —SLJ STAR
          “Centering adult women of color in STEM spaces . . . [adds] an empowering undertone.” —PW
          “Simple and relatable . . . mixes themes of coming-of-age, immigration, and conservation into a sweet story accessible to younger elementary readers.” —Booklist
        “Geetha’s emotions ring true, as do the little moments that remind Geetha that she’s an outsider. The story comes to vivid life. . . . A tender coming-of-age tale with special resonance for nature lovers.” —Kirkus
          “This compact, emotional story brims with metaphors about the ocean and sea life, which echo its themes of home and the scary process of learning to let go of people, things, and beliefs. . . . A strong marine conservationist message that may inspire readers to learn more and take action.” —Horn Book