The Mountains of Mumbai

When Doma goes to visit her dear friend in Mumbai, India’s largest metropolitan city, she yearns for the mountains of Ladakh. She’s bewildered when Veda offers to show her the mountains of Mumbai. Though they might be different in color and shape than the ones Doma is used to seeing, she assures her that they’re tall indeed. As the girls navigate their way through the booming city, they approach a skyscraper of magnificent height. Together, they scale the spiral staircase inside all the way to the very top and walk out onto the rooftop. Doma is mesmerized by the visual and how the breeze blows cool air against her soft skin, just as it does from the mountains of Ladakh.

The Mountains of Mumbai is a unique picture book full of beautiful colors and a poignant message — that beauty can be found anywhere if only one dares to search for it and allow for alternate and imaginative perspectives. It captures friendship at its best and shows young children a glimpse of daily life in this fascinating city. Though many featured in the story have little resemblance to those with Indian heritage, the overall quality of the watercolor illustrations is amazing. Additional facts about Mumbai are included at the end of the story, making it a perfect pick for early elementary school teachers in the United States and elsewhere.