A new bilingual children’s book, Gathiya Girl, is making waves this autumn with its vibrant mix of storytelling, cooking, and culture – bringing Gujarati heritage to life for the next generation.
Written by educator and bilingual learning advocate Divya Mistry-Patel (Dee), Gathiya Girl is more than just a storybook; it’s an experience designed to connect children with their roots through food, language, and family.
At its heart, Gathiya Girl is a love letter to identity. Blending storytelling with recipes and phonetic language learning, the book highlights the beauty of Gujarati culture and cuisine – showing that identity can be as sweet and comforting as a homemade snack.
Teaming up with Bradford’s award-winning Prashad restaurant, Dee has created a warm, authentic showcase of community, togetherness, and the flavours of childhood. The collaboration celebrates how small acts of kindness, and a shared plate of gathiya, can ripple through generations.
“The moment Kaushy from Prashad attended the launch was so special,” Dee shared.
“It reminded me how powerful those childhood flavours are, and how deep the roots of our Gujarati community run.”
Held in Bradford, the book launch wasn’t just an event – it was a celebration of language and legacy. Families of all ages came together in inter-generational teams, writing, reading, and translating words in Gujarati and English.
Children watched their grandparents write in their mother tongue, while the younger ones proudly demonstrated their phonics. “When generations worked together, magic happened,” Dee reflected. “Everyone left feeling connected and proud.”
What makes Gathiya Girl so special
- Each page of Gathiya Girl has been carefully designed to:
- Encourage learning of the Gujarati alphabet and script
- Include comprehension prompts for families to discuss together
- Feature authentic Gujarati recipes
- Provide an audiobook link for children to follow along
- Build confidence, identity, and a lifelong love for language and food
- The book is written in phonetic English, Gujarati, and full English translation, making it accessible for bilingual readers of all levels.
And the creativity doesn’t stop at the pages – Dee has also released two catchy bilingual songs, “Gathiya Girl” and “Oh Mari Gathiya Girl”, now streaming on Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
“It’s a vibe!” Dee laughs. “Music helps children take pride in their mother tongue – and have fun doing it.”
As the founder of Academic Achievements Ltd, Dee is on a mission to make bilingual learning mainstream.
“Out of 2,721 children’s books published recently, only 35 had South Asian main characters,” she notes. “But how many feature South Asian languages? If we don’t act now, the next generation could lose touch with their roots.”
Through Gathiya Girl, Dee is proving that children’s literature can be joyful, inclusive, and deeply cultural. “Our stories deserve space on every bookshelf,” she says. “Language is love – and Gathiya Girl is here to keep that love alive.”
Gathiya Girl by Divya Mistry-Patel is out now on Amazon. Find the songs “Gathiya Girl” and “Oh Mari Gathiya Girl” on Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
