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Silpa Kona is a Moonbeam Gold Medal–winning South Asian children’s author who writes funny, adventurous stories that help young readers feel brave, curious, and seen. With a PhD in engineering and a deep love of asking big questions, she now channels that same curiosity into picture books that celebrate courage, representation, and the joy of exploring the outdoors.
Silpa lives in Oregon, where she spends her days hiking with her family, gathering story ideas under tall trees, and championing books where every child can find a piece of themselves.
Reviewed by Laura Imaz for Readers' Favorite
You’ll be going straight to Dragon’s Whiff Campground in the fun pages of A Dragon in My Campground to see if there’s really a mythical beast hiding just off the trail. Meru is totally sure there is a dragon out there because he keeps finding clues everywhere: weird smells, glowing goo, and bubbling sights. So, he grabs an umbrella, relies on a massive imagination, and sets off to face whatever is waiting, even though his older sister Sia thinks the whole thing is just ridiculous. Through this sweet outdoor adventure, author Silpa Kona and illustrator Diah Chakraborty show that while shadows can look terrifying, a kid's curiosity and grit can turn every little puddle into pure wonder.
A Dragon in My Campground is a total must-read for young adventurers. This picture book is funny and heartfelt, capturing the exact magic of how kids imagine things while giving a great lesson on finding courage when you're feeling totally unsure of yourself. It's the second book in the Moonbeam Gold Medal–winning Monster Watchers series, and the author does an amazing job of balancing relatable sibling bickering with the real excitement of a nature hunt. I absolutely loved the campground survival guide and the extra nature facts hidden in the back matter; it's just the perfect interactive bonus to get kids excited to go outside and explore the real world. For little explorers who are ready to face the monsters in their own shadows, this book is an excellent mix of facts and fun that will genuinely inspire them to build their own bravery.
