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Taking Flight
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Kashmira Sheth
18 books101 followersKashmira Sheth grew up in Bhavangar, Gujarat, for eight years, when she was three she joined Montessori school. She lived with her grandparents, because her parents lived in Mumbai three hundred miles away from Bhavangar.
At eight years Sheth, left Bhavangar, for Mumbai.
She did her studying there until she was seventeen. She left Mumbai, to go to college, in Ames Iowa to do her BS at Iowa State University. Many people ask her why she chose Iowa. "I chose Iowa State, because my uncle worked there as a professor." is the answer.
She is the author of 7 books, two of them are picture books, called "My Dadima Wears a Sari." and "Monsoon Rains"
She has three books meant for teens.
The fist one is called "Blue Jasmine"; which is about a girl named Seema who moved from India to Iowa.
The second one is called; 'Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet'; this book is about a girl who is sixteen named Jeeta, her two sisters are married
and now its her turn. Trouble is she does not want an arranged marriage.
The last one and the most currents one is called, "Keeping Corner". This one is about a girl who is thirteen, named Leela, is widowed. She was married at age nine, and was about to be sent off to live with her husband. But her husband gets bitten by a venomous snake, and dies. Leela faces hardship, anger, and frustration. She is forced to shave her head, and never ever wear jewellery or colors. This takes place in the Gandhi era.
Sheth is publishing a book called "Boys Without Names." in 2010
Kashmira Sheth is now with her two daughters; Neha and Rupa, her husband in Madison Wisconsin.
At eight years Sheth, left Bhavangar, for Mumbai.
She did her studying there until she was seventeen. She left Mumbai, to go to college, in Ames Iowa to do her BS at Iowa State University. Many people ask her why she chose Iowa. "I chose Iowa State, because my uncle worked there as a professor." is the answer.
She is the author of 7 books, two of them are picture books, called "My Dadima Wears a Sari." and "Monsoon Rains"
She has three books meant for teens.
The fist one is called "Blue Jasmine"; which is about a girl named Seema who moved from India to Iowa.
The second one is called; 'Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet'; this book is about a girl who is sixteen named Jeeta, her two sisters are married
and now its her turn. Trouble is she does not want an arranged marriage.
The last one and the most currents one is called, "Keeping Corner". This one is about a girl who is thirteen, named Leela, is widowed. She was married at age nine, and was about to be sent off to live with her husband. But her husband gets bitten by a venomous snake, and dies. Leela faces hardship, anger, and frustration. She is forced to shave her head, and never ever wear jewellery or colors. This takes place in the Gandhi era.
Sheth is publishing a book called "Boys Without Names." in 2010
Kashmira Sheth is now with her two daughters; Neha and Rupa, her husband in Madison Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 12, 2026
Perfect text to incorporate into social studies classrooms to support leaning about push and pull factors.
July 8, 2026
This is a stunning book about refugee children and the transition to life in a new homeland. The story follows three different children as they are uprooted from unsafe situations and then begin to make friends and a life in a new place. An important and timely book that will inspire some good conversations.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was able to read an Advanced Copy and WOW! This is a remarkable book. It is a quiet, deeply compassionate picture book about displacement, resilience, and the long emotional arc of finding home.
Told in the second person, the text gently addresses the reader as a child who has fled conflict or danger. By weaving together experiences from Tibet, Syria, and Ukraine, Sheth avoids a single story and instead creates a shared emotional landscape—one shaped by leaving, waiting, and beginning again. The language is spare but lyrical, trusting young readers to feel rather than be instructed.
Carozzi’s illustrations are brilliant and beautiful: restrained and luminous, carrying much of the emotional weight. Faces, gestures, and small details—shoes, dolls, hands held or released—quietly reinforce the story’s humanity.
This is a book that meets children where they are: with honesty, tenderness, and reassurance. A timely and necessary read, but also a timeless one.
I taught young immigrants for 20 years and this book really touched my heart.
Told in the second person, the text gently addresses the reader as a child who has fled conflict or danger. By weaving together experiences from Tibet, Syria, and Ukraine, Sheth avoids a single story and instead creates a shared emotional landscape—one shaped by leaving, waiting, and beginning again. The language is spare but lyrical, trusting young readers to feel rather than be instructed.
Carozzi’s illustrations are brilliant and beautiful: restrained and luminous, carrying much of the emotional weight. Faces, gestures, and small details—shoes, dolls, hands held or released—quietly reinforce the story’s humanity.
This is a book that meets children where they are: with honesty, tenderness, and reassurance. A timely and necessary read, but also a timeless one.
I taught young immigrants for 20 years and this book really touched my heart.
June 9, 2026
Richle’s Picks: TAKING FLIGHT by Kashmira Sheth and Nicolò Carozzi, ill., Penguin Random House/Dial, April 2026, 33p., ISBN: 979-8-217-00388-4
“The Trump administration is now subjecting refugees and immigrants living in the United States and their communities to the same kind of abuses many refugees once fled. Guided by xenophobia and racism, the Trump administration is targeting all immigrants, regardless of their legal status, deep community connections, or criminal record. This is not just an attack on immigrants; it is an attack on American communities and ideals that makes everyone less safe.”
– International Refugee Assistance Project
“Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.”
– Woody Guthrie (1956)
“You might have come from a highland home, where clouds dance with snowy peaks, and shed tears as you hug your grandmother, gathering her warmth in your fists.
You might have said goodbye to teammates from your cozy village, surrounded by cotton fields as you drifted across the ocean, far from the place you belonged.
Maybe you left your beloved city with sparkling, domed-roof churches. And when you grabbed your doll and fled, it was to the loud BOOMs of war, and a flock of pigeons taking flight.
No matter where you started, leaving was hard–so was the journey, And when you finally reached safety, you were hungry, thirsty, worn-out. Ready for rest.”
TAKING FLIGHT is well-worth adding to elementary collections on account of the book’s exceptional artwork. Nicolò Carozzi’s digitally-enhanced graphite-on-paper images are among my absolute favorite illustrations so far this year. The artist is particularly adept at depicting human expressions and emotions. The perfect example involves a striking spread showing, through a new kid’s eyes, what one encounters upon entering a classroom of strangers for the first time: All the strangers are staring back at the intimidated newcomer.
Mr. Carozzi, being “a Veronese architect, teacher, and illustrator,” is not eligible for consideration by the American Library Association’s Caldecott Award committee. Nevertheless, these illustrations are award-quality work.
Definitely, unquestionably, purchase TAKING FLIGHT for its important immigration story. Three young immigrants of varying hues each travel here with their respective families from the mountains of Tibet, the cotton fields of Syria, and a city in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, the United States has a national heritage of demonizing and mistreating groups of immigrants. My maternal grandparents suffered such prejudice upon their late-19th-century arrivals from Sicily. Similar stories have been, and still are, being handed down by immigrants and descendants of those who have previously come from all corners of the globe, seeking a little piece of the American Dream..
After each of the story’s three immigrant children spends time in a refugee camp, these young people must begin their new lives in America.
“You don’t understand a word any of these strange people are saying as they whoosh by. You feel lost without the familiar touches, tastes, sights, sounds, and smells of the past and wonder how you will survive here.”
How do they survive, adjust, and get over the strangeness and prejudice? It’s repeatedly thanks to generous, kind, and empathetic schoolmates, who are already here, who befriend the newcomers, taking them into their cliques, and making them feel at home. Because kids are kids are kids, no matter what color, language, or religion they’ve been born into.
Whether or not TAKING FLIGHT wins awards is secondary to the fact that each time some young student reads or is read this beautiful and valuable immigration story, there is a better chance that some innocent newcomer is going to be treated more kindly and have a far greater chance to learn and prosper to the benefit of us all. Thus, I urge you to get, read, and share this excellent picture book.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“The Trump administration is now subjecting refugees and immigrants living in the United States and their communities to the same kind of abuses many refugees once fled. Guided by xenophobia and racism, the Trump administration is targeting all immigrants, regardless of their legal status, deep community connections, or criminal record. This is not just an attack on immigrants; it is an attack on American communities and ideals that makes everyone less safe.”
– International Refugee Assistance Project
“Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.”
– Woody Guthrie (1956)
“You might have come from a highland home, where clouds dance with snowy peaks, and shed tears as you hug your grandmother, gathering her warmth in your fists.
You might have said goodbye to teammates from your cozy village, surrounded by cotton fields as you drifted across the ocean, far from the place you belonged.
Maybe you left your beloved city with sparkling, domed-roof churches. And when you grabbed your doll and fled, it was to the loud BOOMs of war, and a flock of pigeons taking flight.
No matter where you started, leaving was hard–so was the journey, And when you finally reached safety, you were hungry, thirsty, worn-out. Ready for rest.”
TAKING FLIGHT is well-worth adding to elementary collections on account of the book’s exceptional artwork. Nicolò Carozzi’s digitally-enhanced graphite-on-paper images are among my absolute favorite illustrations so far this year. The artist is particularly adept at depicting human expressions and emotions. The perfect example involves a striking spread showing, through a new kid’s eyes, what one encounters upon entering a classroom of strangers for the first time: All the strangers are staring back at the intimidated newcomer.
Mr. Carozzi, being “a Veronese architect, teacher, and illustrator,” is not eligible for consideration by the American Library Association’s Caldecott Award committee. Nevertheless, these illustrations are award-quality work.
Definitely, unquestionably, purchase TAKING FLIGHT for its important immigration story. Three young immigrants of varying hues each travel here with their respective families from the mountains of Tibet, the cotton fields of Syria, and a city in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, the United States has a national heritage of demonizing and mistreating groups of immigrants. My maternal grandparents suffered such prejudice upon their late-19th-century arrivals from Sicily. Similar stories have been, and still are, being handed down by immigrants and descendants of those who have previously come from all corners of the globe, seeking a little piece of the American Dream..
After each of the story’s three immigrant children spends time in a refugee camp, these young people must begin their new lives in America.
“You don’t understand a word any of these strange people are saying as they whoosh by. You feel lost without the familiar touches, tastes, sights, sounds, and smells of the past and wonder how you will survive here.”
How do they survive, adjust, and get over the strangeness and prejudice? It’s repeatedly thanks to generous, kind, and empathetic schoolmates, who are already here, who befriend the newcomers, taking them into their cliques, and making them feel at home. Because kids are kids are kids, no matter what color, language, or religion they’ve been born into.
Whether or not TAKING FLIGHT wins awards is secondary to the fact that each time some young student reads or is read this beautiful and valuable immigration story, there is a better chance that some innocent newcomer is going to be treated more kindly and have a far greater chance to learn and prosper to the benefit of us all. Thus, I urge you to get, read, and share this excellent picture book.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
May 1, 2026
I love this book. It's the book we need right now to learn empathy for those who have to travel here, and become immigrants. A beautifully done description of three kids who immigrate here for different reasons, with different circumstances, by different means. When they arrive they feel scared and alone, but slowly they meet other kids who become their friends, through shared interests and personalities. I was in awe of how simple the story was, but how much it conveyed. It really shows how just a small act of kindness can spread, and grow into a friendship and a sense of belonging. If you want to talk with her younger kids about empathy, immigration, why people move to this country, and how we can treat them when they arrive...read this book. And I haven't even brought up how wonderfully detailed the images are, and how each kid who is moving here is drawn and shown with a different personality, and we really get to know where they came from and who they are through the images as well. Caldecott nominee in my book!
June 14, 2026
People end up becoming refugees for various reasons, some are fleeing from war, some from famine or some because of political persecution. Leaving your home is always hard and this important book gives us a view of how hard that can be from the perspective of three different children. Kashmira Sheth's text and Nicolo Carozzi's beautiful illustrations capture the bewilderment and fear felt by children who for reasons they can't comprehend have to say goodbye to everything they've known and face new lives in unknown places filled with unfamiliar people, customs, tastes, sights and smells. This is not a preachy book, but instead one that opens the door to empathy and compassion for those who have been displaced for various reasons. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. This is a book that grown-ups and kids will both appreciate. Its lyrical, beautiful language opens up a new world for readers, who might be unfamiliar with the struggles kids face in other countries. I loved how the book used second person to immerse the reader; kids will find themselves relating to and empathizing with the children in the book, even if they can't necessarily identify with their unique experiences. Artwork is expressive and adds even more dimension to the world of the story.
This important, timely story of refugees and immigration is perfect for right now. We all belong here.
This important, timely story of refugees and immigration is perfect for right now. We all belong here.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The quiet picture book follow three children leaving their countries for various reasons. The focus is not on why they left or what's going on with the world, rather we see their journey in small, similar moments and emotions showing connectiveness. The art subtly draws attention to each of the of the children as they travel to what will be their new homes. Use of color and the repetition of scarves unifies the three stories.
A book to give us a solemn glimpse into a child's difficult, unexpected journey. Healing can begin with newfound friendships.
A book to give us a solemn glimpse into a child's difficult, unexpected journey. Healing can begin with newfound friendships.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kashmira Sheth has written a breathtaking book about a timely topic that is not only beautifully written and illustrated, but absolutely an important addition to every bookshelf. With exquisite illustrations depicting the shock of relocation and displacement and lyrical prose describing the pain and confusion of three young refugees, Taking Flight highlights the fear and pain of an all too common occurrence as well as the beauty and joy possible in starting over. Highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This heartfelt story, tracking the refugee and/or immigration journeys of three children, builds to an emotional ending that makes you want to help, hug, and support the recent arrivals in your community. The 2nd-person narrative works wonders to put the reader into someone else’s shoes. So many gorgeous lines in the text ring true, conveying a depth of meaning and humanity through their beauty. Any child who has ever wanted to belong should be able to read this book, feel its truth, and choose to act with kindness toward a newcomer.
May 30, 2026
A story of several children, all moving from one place to another, some displaced by war, they might be refugees but they are all worn-out and ready for rest.
Told in second person, you are the child, experiencing the journey, the new city, the strange school and making friends. Usually I don't like that, but it worked with this, putting the reader in the shoes of the immigrant child. I loved that the final illustration is 3 pairs of children's shoes. The children are from different cultures, some specific and some not.
Told in second person, you are the child, experiencing the journey, the new city, the strange school and making friends. Usually I don't like that, but it worked with this, putting the reader in the shoes of the immigrant child. I loved that the final illustration is 3 pairs of children's shoes. The children are from different cultures, some specific and some not.
August 17, 2026
Taking Flight brings to light a story for our times, the plight of school age refugees, leaving one place for another and their experience. Following three different children, K Sheth weaves a story that delicately explains possible trauma a child might face when leaving their homeland and moving. Supported with illustrations that are both whimsical and muted, young readers will better understand the story through these beautiful drawings.
Taking Flight would be an excellent addition to any classroom or school library.
Recommended for ages 5 to 9 by the SEPA Book Reviewers
Taking Flight would be an excellent addition to any classroom or school library.
Recommended for ages 5 to 9 by the SEPA Book Reviewers
Review of advance copy received from Author
A timely picture book that looks at the experience of being a refugee from the perspective of three children, each on a unique journey to a new home but with many experiences in common, ranging from the sadness of leaving the familiar behind to the joy of making a new friend. The lyrical text pairs with exquisite illustrations for a powerful impact. I am so happy this book is in the world and look forward to purchasing it and sharing it with children.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lovely, lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations combine in this overwhelmingly beautiful and poignant picture book. Told in second person, readers are pulled into the story to share experiences with characters as they leave their home countries for new ones. The realistic example of inclusivity in the illustrations adds another powerful layer.
Favorite quote from the text?
“When you build and share,
smile and laugh, the two of you
aren’t so alone anymore.”
Favorite quote from the text?
“When you build and share,
smile and laugh, the two of you
aren’t so alone anymore.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sheth’s sensitive, elegant prose follows the long plight of emigrating children and their families as they leave behind friends, family, and beloved homelands for safety in faraway, new homes. Through the simple graciousness of classmates, cultural differences are acknowledged, shared, respected, and blended as new friendships grow. Carozzi’s soft illustrations carry this beautiful story into readers’ hearts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This beautiful story of refugee experiences will resonate with many readers of many backgrounds. The lyrical language, second person storytelling, and gentle and inclusive illustrations will give refugee children many ways to see themselves in this book, and will help non-refugee children imagine what it might be like to leave a home country and start a new life somewhere else. A great book for encouraging and practicing empathy and understanding.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, the story follows refugee children as they leave their homes and journey to a new land where all is different and strange until, with a little effort and kindness from others, they find acceptance. Beautifully told and beautifully illustrated, this is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book made me emotional, especially at the end. The illustrations are gorgeous and dynamic, and I love how the three interconnected storylines are so seamlessly woven together. It’s an important, timely story for readers of all ages and backgrounds. And with a recommendation from Jacqueline Woodson—need I say more?
January 15, 2026
A beautiful heartwarming book that everyone needs to read. Lyrical words touch the soul and inspire acceptance and hope. And the art is amazing. Recommended for teachers, parents, and librarians. Order it NOW.
Read
January 16, 2026A powerful way to introduce this experience to young people! The reader follows three children as they leave home. Beautifully written and illustrated. An important addition to any home or school library.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a beautiful picture book. It tells the story of children immigrating to the United States in a poetic, honest, and ultimately hopeful way. These are the books we need right now to help us have compassion and kindness toward each other. The illustrations are brilliant.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a beautiful, encouraging, needed picture book. It follows three refugee families as they navigate moving to the United States. This book gently teaches compassion and provides hope. Just beautiful.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'll be buying this book as a gift for many classroom teachers. The illustrations are stunning, and it depicts what it feels like to travel to a new country and be in a new unfamiliar place. This book would be especially great for international schools, but it belongs in all classrooms.
April 29, 2026
Such a stunning way to support refugee children and the readers who can learn to welcome refugees into their schools. This one is definitely going to be an award winner! It's timely and honest and sensitive and so important. Honest and magnificent.
Review of advance copy received from Author
TAKING FLIGHT is a beautifully written and important story that follows three different child refugees that (with their families) must leave everything behind for a new life in a new place.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
"Taking Flight" is a powerful story that is so important in today's world! It is a literary and visual masterpiece with moving illustrations. "Taking Flight" belongs in every library! A must read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a beautiful heart-felt and timely story of hardship and love.
Review of advance copy
Theo
May 14, 2026
This moving book is a lyrical and sensitive look at the refuge experience. The powerful story will resonate with any child who has ever yearned to belong.
May 20, 2026
A beautifully illustrated picture book featuring three immigrant families. Simple, hopeful, and perfect for opening discussion with children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews