The Ultimate Love Letter to the King of Fruits: We’re Talking Mango Memories with Sita Singh
Oh man. This one hit me hard. You probably know how many picture books I read in a given year. Whole heaps of the things. I find that when one book is capable of piercing my seen-it-all mental armor, that’s one thing, but when it makes an emotionally resonant connection with my greatest childhood fear (getting left out of things) then I know I’ll be incapable of ever forgetting it. And when the group you’re getting left out of is your own family? Just carve my heart out with a spoon, why don’t you?
Sita Singh’s latest picture book, Mango Memories (out everywhere as of right now) does precisely that. It manages to tap into that universal fear that everyone in your family has something that they share and you, young child, are getting left out of it. Here’s a plot description for a bit of spice:
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“Every summer, the branches of a little girl’s favorite tree droops heavy with mangoes. And this year, she is finally old enough to help her family harvest them.
Her brother shares a memory about his first time mango picking: his father holding him steady as he reached high above for the fruit. But when the girl climbs the tree, she becomes too dizzy. Then her grandma shares a mango memory: learning, many years ago, to toss a stone that knocked the fruit from the branches. But when the girl throws her stone, she keeps missing.
How can this little heroine create her own mango memory if she can’t even pick a mango?”
I hear you, kid. Clearly I’ve some of my own personal issues to work through here, and what better way than to talk to Sita Singh herself?
Betsy Bird: Sita! Thank you so much for joining me today! I’ve read a fair number of mango-related picture books in the last few years and I have to say this one is far and away the most charming. Where on earth did the idea for the book come from?

Sita Singh: Thank you Betsy, for having me and for the kind words! It is an absolute honor to chat with you about Mango Memories.
Before I tell you about where the idea came from, I have to share the fact that mangoes aren’t just a fruit for South Asians; they’re an obsession, quite similar to Bollywood and cricket, and the sentiment rings true for me as well. A few years back, my dad and I planted mango trees in my backyard, and they blossomed for the first time during the pandemic. Suddenly, our long, stressful days were centered around mangoes. How could we protect them from the iguanas? When would they ripen? How should we store them? How many should we give away? We harvested, shared, and savored the homegrown mangoes. More importantly, my husband and I shared mango-centric stories from our childhood with our kids. In those cherished tales, we found hope, joy, and comfort. This inspired me to share those stories with a larger audience, and that’s how Mango Memories came to be.
BB: Aw, I love that. Something else I love? The fact that one element that appeared in this book that I didn’t necessarily expect was the sharp-shooting Dadima with her amazing aim. I just absolutely adore that element of the story. Where did it come from?

Sita: Thanks, Betsy! It warms my heart to know that you enjoyed that element. I had so much fun crafting Dadima’s character. In all the mango-centric stories I’ve heard from family and friends back in India, the narrative often revolved around boys and men climbing trees or using slingshots to reach plump, juicy mangoes. Dadima’s character came about from a conscious effort to challenge this stereotype. Our heroine’s grandmother clearly comes from a family where girls are just as daring and adventurous, and Dadima aims to instill the same boldness in future generations. I adore how effortlessly women are sharp-shooting in sari and salwar-kameez!
BB: Absolutely. And the art in this book is coming from Nabi H. Ali. Did you know Nabi’s art before this book? How do you think it turned out in the end?
Sita: When Nabi’s name came up during our search for an illustrator, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was not only familiar with his work, I was a big fan and felt incredibly fortunate when Nabi agreed to come onboard. His illustrations are simply breathtaking! Nabi has breathed life into the characters, the setting, and the story in a truly stunning manner. He has created magic and nostalgia on each spread. I can almost taste the delicious fruit and feel the warmth of mango-centric memories. I genuinely love the illustrations—I mean, really, really love them!
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BB: So in this book our heroine is desperate to have a mango memory of her own. Each family member seems to have a different one. On that note, I have to ask. Do YOU have a mango memory of your own?

Sita: I do have a few mango memories, but my most cherished one is shopping for mangoes in the bustling fruit market of the old city of Ahmedabad, my hometown. As a child, stepping into the vast tent with rows of stalls, especially during mango season, was a treat for the senses. Our favorite vendor-uncle would set aside boxes of finest mangoes and have us sample all the different varieties. Returning home with those prized boxes felt like returning with a treasure trove of delights. For the child in me, this weekly routine of mango shopping was an unforgettable experience.
BB: You include four mango-related facts at the end of the book. My challenge to then: Can you name two more?
Sita: Sure! Here are three more.
- The oldest mango tree is believed to be around 300 years old.
- Did you know that mangoes belong to the same family as cashews and pistachios?
- In the United States, mangoes can only grow in Florida, California, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Interestingly, the first attempt to introduce mangoes to the country was made in 1833, coincidentally in my home state of Florida.

BB: I’m still stuck on that cashew and pistachio fact, honestly. Okay, finally, what do you have coming out next?
Sita: My next picture book is Indigo Hands. It is about a young Indian girl who accompanies her grandfather to his indigo studio and dyes cloth the color of the evening sky. The story is a celebration of culture, family, and tradition. It is also an ode to the advocates of indigo around the world.
Boy, that was fun! I’d like to thank Sita for taking the time to answer my questions today. Mango Memories is on shelves everywhere now, so go on out and take a look at it. Trust me, you can practically smell the mangoes inside it when you do.
Filed under: Interviews

About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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