Nisha Knows Best

A warm and reassuring picture book about listening to your heart and advocating for yourself, even to the people you love most.

Nisha's aunties and uncles love to show love. They’re always swooping her up into big, squishy hugs or squeezing her cheeks. But Nisha is used to it—they’re family! So when Nisha's Ammamma and Appappa arrive from India, everyone is surprised when Nisha is suddenly shy.

Nisha loves her grandparents, and she's excited they're here. So why does giving them a hug feel so scary? And if she doesn’t embrace them, will their feelings be so hurt that they go back to India?

This tender family story acts as a reminder for kids and adults that there are many different ways to show love, and that when it comes to your body— and your boundaries—you always know best.“Macias depicts a boisterous yet empathetic South Asian family whose love for one another is palpable as they give their littlest space to deal with big feelings . . . Joshi’s illustrations, rendered in bright saturated primary colors, are filled with movement and energy, balancing joyful scenes of reunion with Nisha’s need for space and quiet. A thoughtful and tender primer on bodily autonomy.” —Kirkus

"Heartfelt and empowering…The vibrant illustrations mirror the warm love of the family; the expressive colors of Nisha’s paintings convey her feelings… A timely, tender celebration of emotional intelligence, cultural connection, and the importance of consent." –BooklistMaryann Jacob Macias is a picture book author, a graduate of the City College of New York, CUNY and the Solstice MFA Low-Residency Program at Pine Manor College.

Maithili Joshi is an illustrator and cover designer from India, now based in New York. Maithili began her career in children’s publishing after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2022. She illustrates picture books with various publishers while also designing middle-grade and young adult book covers.