My Cousins, My World by Sharara Attai and Michelle Pereira

Title: My Cousins, My World

Author: Sharara Attai and Michelle Pereira

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 29^th April 2025

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $24.99

Synopsis: A lyrical, vibrant picture book celebrating the rich and unbreakable bonds we share with our cousins.

I have more cousins than I can count on my fingers and toes.

Quiet cousins and loud cousins.
Dark cousins and fair cousins.
Young cousins and old cousins.

I have cousins who are near.
And some who are far.

But even those who are far feel near.
Because memories of them surround me, wrapping me up like a warm blanket.

From wild campouts to boisterous family gatherings, the adventures and experiences that bind cousins together are rich and lifelong. They are our first friends, and our forever friends.

A joyful celebration of family from debut author Sharara Attai, gloriously illustrated by CBCA award-winning illustrator Michelle Pereira.

~*~

For many people, their first friends in life are their cousins. Some people only have a few cousins, whilst some have lots of cousins. Cousins can live very close, or live very far away. They look different, they can look like you. They can be older or younger, and have lots of different personalities – it’s what makes them special and unique, and an important part of our lives. Sharara Attai’s story explores the wonderful diverse world of cousins and their impact on our lives, and the grand adventures that they go on that creates lasting memories for everyone in the family.

This is a simple story that revolves around family, seen through the eyes of a young girl with lots of cousins who all look different, speak different languages, and live in different places. But they all share family, a culture, a belief system and love – and that is what makes them family. Their shared experiences are special, and bring the story to life. And in this story, we also get to learn about the different culture the family comes from. Readers get to learn a bit about the festivals and holidays the cousins celebrate and acknowledge, as an example of what can bring a family together.

Families are important in books, because each one shows a different family or different ways of being a family. Allowing children to see that everyone’s family works in a unique way is important. It’s another aspect of diversity to celebrate and understand, especially as the world is constantly changing and people are trying to create division amongst everyone these days. This is a special book about family and love, and what brings people together. And it is a story that anyone with cousins can relate to in some way, and brings these relationships to life for everyone to share in.