Jyoti Rajan Gopal is an award-winning picture book author, mom and forever kindergarten teacher. Her books have received starred reviews in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, School and Library Journal, Book List, and Book Page and are on the Bank Street, NYPL and SLJ Best Books lists. She is the recipient of the ALA 2024 Stonewall Honor Award and a finalist for the 2023 Neev Literature Award.
Jyoti writes stories - fiction and nonfiction - of identity, community and belonging, themes that speak to her heart, that reflect her multiple identities.
Growing up, she lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and China. She now lives in New York with her husband, in a quirky old Victorian, where they raised their two daughters.
When not writing or teaching, she loves to read - a lot! - work in her garden, dance and explore the many New York State Park trails.
