A modern South Asian princess, sparkling writing, lots of humor, and just the right amount of conflict come together for a clever and enchanting friendship story.

Rani lives in a luxurious palace full of busy adults, but she's lonely. Being the only princess in the kingdom is boring, tedious, dull. She has no one to play with-except her baby brother, who doesn't count!

So one morning, Rani decides to leave for the beach in search of adventure. She's sure it will be the opposite of her life in the palace: wonderful, marvelous, fun! But in the world outside the palace walls, Rani isn't a princess anymore, she's just a kid who's not so great at building sandcastles. And what she finds there is something she didn't even know she was looking for: a friend.

Set in a vibrant South Asian-inspired world, this story of a strong-willed princess from two award-winning picture book creators is full of wordplay, heart, and humor.

About the Author
Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She is the author, with Laura Shovan, of A Place at the Table, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book. Her book Meet Yasmin!, the first book in an early reader series about a Pakistani-American girl, received starred reviews, and she is also author of the adult fiction book Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan. She lives with her husband and children in Houston, Texas, where she is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry, and prose. Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator who has worked on over twenty picture books. She is also a character designer for animation and her past clients include Google, Netflix, and Disney Jr. Anoosha has a passion for creating charming characters with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Visit her at www.anooshasyed.com

Reviews
"What begins as a competition ends up as a collaboration [in this] tale of finding companionship in unexpected ways." - Kirkus Reviews "In this empowering picture book . . . adjective trios ("valiant,/brave,/courageous!") enliven uncomplicated plotting [while] Syed's animation-style digital illustrations add a dose of comedy." - Publishers Weekly (A Place at the Table) "This warm middle-grade novel explores the lives of first-generation immigrants and the definition of what it really means to be an American." - Teen Vogue (A Place at the Table) "There's a lightness and brightness to the story borne out by the girls' spunky quest." - New York Times Book Review (A Place at the Table) "Faruqi's . . . nuanced tale about the thrill of budding friendship is relatable." - Publishers Weekly (Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero) "Gripping, well-paced, and poignant, this is an essential purchase for all libraries and a must-read book of our times." - School Library Journal (starred review) (Meet Yasmin) "Readers will be charmed by this one-of-a-kind character and won't tire of her small but significant dilemmas. Faruqi nails the child's perspective. . . . Utterly satisfying." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) (I Am Perfectly Designed) "Exude[s] a breezy spirit of inclusivity." - Publishers Weekly (Bilal Cooks Daal) "A quietly radical, eminently delightful book." - Kirkus Reviews



Book Information
ISBN 9780358536772
Author Saadia Faruqi
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint Clarion Books
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Weight(grams) 435g