Greatest Host of All Time

Written by Suma Subramaniam · Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

Part of the V. Malar series

Can Malar bridge cultural gaps with her cousins during Pongal?

4.1 Goodreads · 56 ratings

128 pages· 610L

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Malar eagerly anticipates the Pongal festival, but her excitement is tinged with anxiety as her cousins from Seattle arrive. Living on a farm in India, Malar wonders if they can find common ground amidst cultural differences. As Priya and Kamal express disinterest in farm life, tensions rise. Can Malar keep her promise to be a gracious host, or will the festival be overshadowed by misunderstandings? Through laughter and clashes, Malar discovers the potential for friendship, learning that family bonds can transcend differences. Join Malar on a heartwarming journey of tradition, family, and unexpected connections.

From the publisher

V. Malar can’t wait to celebrate the harvest festival Pongal with her cousins from Seattle. But will they have enough in common to make it enjoyable? An illustrated chapter book about extended family and holiday traditions, kicking off a charming new series. V. Malar loves living on a farm with her parents in a small town in India. And Malar’s absolute favorite time of year, the harvest festival known as Pongal, is finally here! This year’s festival will be different because her aunt, uncle, and cousins from Seattle will be visiting and celebrating with them. Feeling both excited and nervous, Malar promises to be a great host to her cousins. But when Priya and Kamal talk about all the things they have back home, or when they’re not interested in the animals on the farm, Malar finds it hard to keep her patience and be the gracious host she promised she’d be. The cousins clearly don’t start off on the right foot, but after a few clashes, there are some laughs, and Malar realizes that her cousins might just become friends after all. Family and celebrations big and small await in Suma Subramaniam’s sweet story, brought to life by Archana’s Sreenivasan’s friendly illustrations. A glossary of Indian terms and an author’s note about Pongal can be found in the back matter.

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