Diverse Kids Books Reading List!
Check out this amazing list of 150 Diverse Kids Books by 100 authors!
A Parent & Teacher Resource to Diverse & Inclusive Children’s Books by Indie Authors
Whether you’re building a classroom library, refreshing your home collection, or simply searching for more inclusive stories, this catalog is a goldmine of under-the-radar gems that celebrate culture, identity, and belonging.
You’ll find books that spark empathy, curiosity, and joy across race, culture, ability, and family structures.
It’s also a powerful way to support indie authors who are changing the face of children’s literature, one story at a time.
Click here to download >> Diverse Kids Books Catalog
Thanks to Tom Tracy Books for leading this much-needed initiative!
Speaker: Ajanta @ National Dance Education Organization!
Bringing Stories to the Stage: Speaking at NDEO’s National Conference!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news: Ajanta has been invited to speak at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)’s National Conference this year in Detroit!
This opportunity is particularly meaningful because Ajanta will be presenting on a subject that lies at the heart of her work – The Power of Storytelling in Cultural Dance Education.
Dance is more than movement—it’s a language. And when we weave in cultural stories, spoken word, and visual arts, something magical happens: learning becomes deeper, empathy grows, and cultures come alive in the most joyful and inclusive ways.
In her session, Ajanta will explore how integrating storytelling into dance can transform the classroom and performance space into rich, interdisciplinary experiences that reflect our diverse world.
Ajanta is honored to join a community of educators and artists who are passionate about expanding what dance education can be. Here’s to advocating for more dynamic, accessible, and heart-centered learning through the arts!
#DanceEducation #StorytellingThroughDance #CulturalEducation #NDEO2025 #ConferenceSpeaker
Workshop for Teenage Moms, Rebellion or Resilience?
Taught a workshop for a school for teen moms. Do you know what stuck out? Their kindness. Not just toward me and their teachers but toward one another. There was a calmness in the room – none of the usual teen rebellion or self-consciousness. Just warmth and quiet strength.
After the session, they were full of questions. They wanted to know everything – my life in India, my journey as an entrepreneur, how I built my path. Many of them said, “This makes me want to learn more about the world!”
Life can’t possibly be easy for them, but I hope the world meets them with the same kindness they showed me and supports them with the opportunities they deserve as they find their way forward.
#teenmom #teenworkshop #DancesAndStories #bollygroove
90,000 Books Sold… and We’re Just Getting Started!
When we first started the Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series, we had one simple hope: to help families celebrate Indian culture in a joyful, relatable, and accessible way. What began as a personal mission has now grown into something much bigger, and today, we’re thrilled to share a major milestone:
90,000 books sold across 54 countries!
This number means more than just book sales. It means that 90,000 times, a child reached for a book that reflected the world they live in, or introduced them to a world they had never seen. It means that parents and educators everywhere are choosing to raise kids who are curious, compassionate, and culturally aware.
To every parent, teacher, librarian, aunt, uncle, and grandparent who has put a Maya & Neel book into a child’s hands: thank you. Your support fuels our mission to help raise multicultural kids; kids who don’t just tolerate differences, but embrace them.
We’re deeply grateful for this journey and excited for what’s ahead. From Diwali to Holi, from Weddings to Cricket, from Mumbai to Delhi, we’ll keep creating books that celebrate the joy, color, and complexity of India, and share them with the world.
Here’s to the next 90,000!
With love and gratitude,
Ajanta & Vivek
Co-authors, Maya & Neel’s India Adventure Series
Ajanta featured on House of Jaya
Thank you, House of Jaya, for featuring Ajanta! There are regular interviews, and then there are some that truly make you think! The questions were so reflective that it felt like writing in a journal.
Check out the writeup here!
About House of Jaya
Celebrate your dual identity with fashion that fuses South Asian elegance and contemporary American style. Each purchase supports aspiring students and women entrepreneurs, creating a more inclusive and empowered world.
Our high-quality, culturally rich designs empower you to express your heritage, while we give back to underserved communities, ensuring that style and purpose come together seamlessly.