Berkeley Heights Doctor Pens Kids Book Highlighting Diversity, Acceptance

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — Given today’s political climate with discussions of immigration, racism and bigotry, Summit Medical Group physician Soma Mandal felt it was important not only for her own daughter but other kids to publish her first children’s book addressing these topics.

Mandal has published work in the medical field before but “Sonya Sahni and the First Grade: It’s International Day!” is her first children’s book. It was released in July.

“The book is about a little Indian girl born in the United States who immigrated from India,” Mandal said. “Basically she is struggling to identify with who she is and both sides of her culture. Both east and west.

"She wants to dress more American but her parents insist she embrace her Indian side. So the parents and teachers come together to have an International Day to demonstrate different cultures represented in the school. Here she begins to realize she is not the only one who is different and that is OK.”

Mandal had a similar experience growing up as her parents moved from India to the United States. in 1970. Mandal was born in the United States and remembers bringing Indian food in for lunch in the first grade and encountering issues with other classmates saying it was “weird.”

Now that her four-year-old daughter is entering school, Mandal felt this book was important for her to read to help her and other kids.

“It’s a heated environment right now,” Mandal said. “There is a lot of confusion for kids who are growing up right now. They are seeing a lot of different things and it can be very confusing.”

“I am hoping my book will be a great way to start a conversation between a parent and child and teacher and child about what’s OK to ask and how to accept others,” Mandal said.

To promote her book, Mandal will be holding a book signing during the Summit Medical Group’s Diversity Series on Nov. 16 from 5 to 8 p.m.

In January, Mandal will also be doing a whole series addressing diversity and acceptance for the kindergarten through sixth graders at Mt. Horeb School in Warren and the and Diamond Hill Montessori School in Berkeley Heights.

To learn more about the book or to buy a copy visit Amazon HERE or Facebook.

(Images via Soma Mandal)

Photo 1 - Soma Mandal

Photo 2 - Cover of “Sonya Sahni and the First Grade: It’s International Day!”

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