2026 South Asia Book Award Presents: Midnight Motorbike
Dr. Saba Khan Vlach & Maureen Shay Tajsar & Ishita Jain
Part of the 2026 SABA Meet the Authors Series
The South Asia Book Award (SABA) Meet the Author Webinar Series invites educators, librarians, students, and readers to engage with the creators of three exceptional books that illuminate the experiences, histories, and cultures of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora. Taking place during December 2026 and January 2027, this virtual series offers participants the opportunity to hear directly from acclaimed authors and illustrators as they discuss their creative processes, inspirations, and the themes that shape their work.
This webinar featuring Midnight Motorbike will be moderated by Dr. Saba Khan Vlach, Professor at the University of Iowa and a member of the South Asia Book Award Committee. Dr. Khan Vlach will lead a conversation with author Maureen Shay Tajsar and illustrator Ishita Jain about the creation of this lyrical story celebrating family, place, and the sensory richness of a moonlit journey through South India.
Attendees will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win a copy of each award-winning book!
In this lush mother-daughter nighttime adventure through the jungles of southern India, debut author Maureen Shay Tajsar enchants the reader with all five senses, offering smells of spicy tea and warm hay, tastes of warm potato dosa, and wind washing over sandaled feet. Debut illustrator Ishita Jain immerses the reader in the deepest blue, the darkest night, and the coziest love, in a book that feels at once like a hug and an adventure.
There’s no better way to be lulled to sleep than tucked against Amma on her motorbike, and a Midnight Motorbike read-aloud is the next best thing. Drawing on the childhood memories of both author and illustrator, this sumptuous treasure is sure to be a new family favorite.
This webinar is offered jointly through the South Asia Book Award Meet the Author Series for 2026 and the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium’s International Children’s Literature Series: Teaching Global Visual Storytelling.