RIS Alum Nawal Kalra Returns to Inspire Young Readers During Book Week 2025
As part of Book Week 2025 celebrations, RIS welcomed back one of its own—Nawal Kalra (Class of 2003)—for a special visit with elementary students. Now a children’s book author, Nawal spent the morning reading aloud, sparking imaginations, and reconnecting with a place that, as she put it, still “felt so much like home.”
Nawal attended RIS from 1993 to 2003, beginning in second grade during the school’s first year on the Minburi campus. “The Elizabeth Library was such a special place to me during my time at RIS,” she reflected. “I loved spending my break times there, curled up on the carpet, going through book after book.”
Her lifelong love of reading and writing was reaffirmed years later in a heartwarming way. “A few years ago, I received an email from the husband of my fifth grade teacher at RIS—a lovely Ms. Robin Hudson who was taken ill at the time. He sent me pictures of letters that I had written to her on bright yellow, Goofy-printed stationery. In them was my fifth-grade graduate self expressing most ardently that I wanted to be a writer.” Ms. Hudson had kept those letters for over 20 years.
Though Nawal explored different passions—including lifestyle writing, marketing, and even a stint at pastry school—it was the combination of motherhood and a creative collaboration that brought her back to storytelling. “As exhausting as they were, reading aloud to my then very little boys was truly a joy,” she said. “My husband and I found ourselves making up stories all the time.”
The turning point came when her close friend and illustrator, Jeevna Bajaj, encouraged her to write something they could work on together. “Her paintings—filled with her love for animals and vibrant colors—truly inspired. I sat down to write, and the stories flowed. I found my writing voice—it bounced, it rhymed, it was a little silly, but there it was!”
Nawal’s books, which include rhyming picture stories about sloths, bears, dragons, and a whole zoo of characters, are filled with playful rhythms and thoughtful themes. “Each of my books has a little lesson—about emotions, our place in the world, or mindfulness. The messages are in there, but I really just want kids to have fun with them,” she said. “These stories are meant to be read aloud by parents to their kids… until the parents have the rhymes fluent enough to rap (and oh yes, I can).”
Her personal favorite? The Dragon Went Hmmmmmmmm. “It’s the story of two little monkeys trying to get an unusually calm dragon to blow up in anger,” she explained. “Mother monkey—or myself—makes an appearance looking stellar in a polka-dot apron, pulling out her fur! It’s a little tidbit I love to share when I visit schools. This book was my little attempt to teach them mindfulness—but also, it’s a whole lot of fun.”
To current RIS students dreaming of creative careers, Nawal offers the same advice her beloved teacher gave her: “Keep writing about anything and everything! Read anything and everything.” She adds, “If it’s writing you love, immerse yourself in books. If it’s art or music, in that. Make it something you truly enjoy… so that even if you wander along the way, you find your way to what you really love.”
Her journey—from an RIS student curled up in the library to a published author inspiring young minds—echoes the heart of the RIS mission: nurturing a lifelong love of learning, creative expression, and personal growth.
Reflecting on the visit, Head Librarian Ms. Laura Losch shared:
“We were thrilled to welcome children’s book author Nawal Kalra to RIS for a special visit! Ms. Kalra, author of The Dragon Went Hmmmmmmmm and more, captivated our elementary students with her engaging storytelling and warm presence. She shared the imaginative tale of a calm and curious dragon, sparking laughter and thoughtful ‘hmmmmms’ from the audience. Through fun interactions and a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process, Ms. Kalra inspired our young readers and writers to embrace creativity and think differently. It was a truly memorable experience.”
You can follow Nawal’s work and upcoming visits through the links below:
🌐 nawalkalrabooks.com
📸 @books__brushes on Instagram
📘 Nawal Kalra Books on Facebook
🎨 Illustrations by Jeevna Bajaj
