Seeking Shanti is a fictional picture book about climate disasters and the harm they cause to people. It is about a family in Shanti that is displaced due to floods. The book is inspired by the floods in Chennai a few years ago. The story seems simple but stresses the point that home is the most comfortable place. The font could be better, it was difficult to read the text in a few pages. Also, the flow of the story could be improved, there are many things happening, sailing in the river, tree in the river, night time, and going in a car.

This is a beautiful book with a beautiful storyline. The illustrations are gorgeous as well. The only thing I missed a little bit was how the community helps each other, as one of the illustrators told us in their story in the beginning of the book. I would like to have seen that more in the book.
I love the questions and activity tips that are in the back! They make it so much easier to have a deeper conversation about the storyline in this book for everyone. Some parents/educators might not need them, but for some it would help a lot.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This is a story about a family that has to escape a big storm that mostly destroys their home. As an American from the midwest, this is not something that I can really relate to. You don't try to outrun tornadoes, and if they destroy your house, you rebuild or buy or rent somewhere else, but typically nearby. "I don't know if it even makes sense to try and rebuild here" is not a thing anyone thinks after a tornado. So this book took me into an experience that I didn't have before. It's simplistic and lacking nuance because it's a children's book, but it did help me to recognize at least some of my privilege a little bit better.

The illustrations were gorgeous. Lots of cool colors which I'm personally drawn to, showing life and the dangers in Shanti. Considering the backlash against refugees that is so prominent in America from certain segments of society, I would absolutely be okay reading this story several times because I think it's important for people to understand different life experiences. Overall I give this book 4.85 out of 5 stars.

This book is so beautiful 😭

Because of floods, Kavya’s family had to move away. The story focuses on finding our family again through tough times and how help comes from nonprofit organisations and other sources.

The illustrations are mind blowing. It feels like I just watched a very good short anime reading this book.

Thank you, Paw Prints Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

This is a lovely, heart wrenching book that will serve as a helpful resource in introducing children to climate disasters and climate refugees. The illustrations are engaging and the story is interesting. It also features useful exercises at the end of the book to use to help children reflect on the subject.

Seeking Shanti by Jesse Byrd and Sandy Kaur is a beautifully illustrated picture book that tells the story of young Kavya and her family as they are forced to flee their home following a flood in Southeast Asia. In coming to grips with the devastation left behind, they must decide if they will stay in their home, or leave behind everything they know in search of a safer place to build a future.

This book offers children the opportunity to see the impact of climate change on families like their own, and to reflect on their own actions in a natural disaster. I appreciated the addition of talking points and suggested activities that are included at the end. Recommended

Many thanks to NetGalley and Baker & Taylor, Paw Prints Publishing for an ARC.

Shanti and her family are forced to leave their home in Southeast Asia because of horrible flooding. They then have a difficult decision to make - do they return home and rebuild or start over elsewhere. A good book about climate change and the problems that come with it.