Sarasota author’s book to be featured in Times Square display

Sarasota author Ritu Anand’s children’s book “Kara’s Dreams” will be highlighted on Times Square marquees Dec. 20 in New York.

That’s because her debut children's book won Distinguished Favorite in the Independent Press Picture Books category of the 2023 New York City Big Book Award contest, Anand explained.

The 10-second spots for the book will be shown throughout the day, said Anand. They'll practically coincide with another milestone for “Kara’s Dreams.” The Dec. 16 release of a Spanish translation, “Los Sueños de Kara.”

It’s a special release, because Anand’s niece, Anjali Anand, translated the book. Anjali is a high school senior in New York and travels regularly to Peru with her family to help children who are bedridden, said Ritu.

“She grew up speaking Spanish. She thought that it would be wonderful to give them the gift of reading a book in Spanish,” said Ritu. 

Ritu and her husband moved from Long Island to Sarasota in 2016. She has been writing “from childhood,” and has taught creative writing as a volunteer at Visible Men’s Academy in Bradenton.

Courtesy images

With illustrations by Veen Redwood, “Kara’s Dreams” tells the story of a young tree named Kara, who has seen others around her defeated by life's obstacles. With mentoring from a wise friend, Kara realizes that she has everything within her to reach her dreams.

It was inspired in part by Punjabi scripture and by her hikes in North Carolina, said Ritu.

The book also serves as a reminder, she said, that “every creature no matter what size — plants and animals included — (is here) to rejoice and play together on the planet.”

Ritu’s next book, “‘I Am My Language,” is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2024.