“I wanted to share how special our event was with Srividhya. She is a beautiful example of what our community needs with regards to diversity, compassion and a lover of stories. I hope that we can continue to work together.”—Mrs. Cerio, Librarian.
SRIVIDHYA VENKAT is the award-winning author of several picture books, including Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor (2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award and 2025 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award finalist), Girls on Wheels (2024 RISE: A Feminist Project Booklist), and Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (2022 South Asia Book Award). Her next picture book, Priya’s Not-So-Perfect Brand-New Outfit, will be published in January 2027.
Srividhya has worked in corporate accounting, office administration, and early childhood education. Becoming a parent and kindergarten teacher propelled her on to writing for children. While she likes to write stories that bring out the nuances of her upbringing in India, she is also inspired by her experiences of living in three different countries –India, Singapore, and the United States.
Srividhya is an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). When not reading or writing, she loves to listen to music, tinker with new recipes, and explore the world outside her window. She now lives in the Chicago area with her family.
Bookshelf
About the Visit
Srividhya has conducted author sessions at children’s literature festivals (such as the award-winning Bookaroo) as well as at libraries and schools in India, the United States and Singapore.
As a former kindergarten teacher, she loves interacting with students at both in-person and virtual school visits. As a proponent of the oral storytelling tradition, she also enjoys putting on her storyteller’s hat to share folktales and inspiring stories, often featuring rhymes, songs, and other interactive elements.
Below are some of her program offerings, which can be tailored for your audience.
CRAFT-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
How I Became an Author (Grades 1-3; 30 minutes)
Srividyha will share her writing journey, followed by Q&A and read-aloud of one of her books.
The Picture Book Creation Process (Grades 2-5; 45 minutes)
The author will do a deep dive into the making of one of her picture books followed by Q&A, and read-aloud, if time permits.
Elements of a Story (Grades 2-5; 45 minutes)
An interactive presentation about the key elements of a story, followed by Q&A, and read-aloud, if time permits.
Using Research to Inspire Writing (Grades 4-5; 45 minutes)
An exploration of using research to inspire storytelling and writing, Q&A, and read-aloud, if time permits.
Oral Storytelling of Folktales (All Ages; 45 minutes)
An interactive storytelling session featuring folktales from across the globe (with the option to focus on predetermined themes/topics).
TITLE-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
The Magic of Hand-Me-Downs (Grades K-3; 30 minutes)
Srividhya will unravel the magic of hand-me-downs from her life, and explain how the memories associated with an object represent past “adventures.” She will also talk about how perfection is a myth, and highlight that using pre-loved items makes us planet heroes. This session includes a reading of her Priya’s Not-So-Perfect Brand-New Outfit (available January 2027).
“Little by Little, Drop by Drop” (Grades K-2; 30 minutes)
Using illustrations from Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor and her oral storytelling experience, Srividhya will begin by narrating the folktale about the tiny hummingbird that tried to help “little by little, drop by drop”. This story inspired a young boy named Kailash who helped others in many ways. She will also illustrate to students that every person has the power to help, and discuss ways they can make a difference, just like the tiny hummingbird.
The Power of One: How Small Actions Can Bring Big Changes (Grades 3-7; 45-60 minutes)
Srividhya will begin with the folktale about the tiny hummingbird, steering students to the ‘power of one’, and how our smallest actions can make a big difference. She will discuss what it takes to be a changemaker (highlighting the three Cs of Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion) and the innovative ways they can help others. She will also share useful insights into the craft of writing a biography, citing her experiences with Seeker of Truth.
Testimonials
“A big thank you to author Srividhya Venkat for spending the afternoon talking with our second and third graders on Tuesday! Srividhya shared her journey to becoming an author, her sources of inspiration, read one of her latest books, Girls on Wheels, and took time to answer *a lot* of questions. Thank you, Srividhya – our students were thrilled to meet you!”—Lauren Dolan, Cossitt Avenue School PTC
“Srividhya took time to thoughtfully answer the children’s questions. Additionally, the students explored the elements of story writing and created their own characters and story outlines, making the experience both inspiring and educational.”—Ms. Manasi, Montessori teacher for Grades 1-3
“Thank you for participating in this year’s Author Day celebration. Our students were excited about your visit and really enjoyed your presentation. We hope that you will consider visiting us and presenting once again in the near future.”—Mrs. Lopez, High School Librarian