Just One Question for Zenia Wadhwani — THE NEEDLE AND THE KNIFE

On a trip to the market, Nanu gets a cup of chai. But before he can take a drink, his granddaughter stops him just in time!

Zenia Wadhwani’s joyful new picture book, Fly in the Chai (Tundra, 2026), entices readers with the vibrant sights, sounds, and scents of the bustling marketplace before hitting them with a hilarious and epic battle between Nanu and the sassy fly that’s landed in his chai and isn’t going anywhere!

Zenia is a lover of books, an advocate for literacy and a promoter of emerging writers, but it took the pandemic and a looming milestone birthday to unleash her first children's story. Zenia's stories are often inspired by her daughter and a desire to see greater diversity in children's books.

Zenia holds a BA from the University of Toronto, a BSW from York University, an MSW from McGill University and almost got her PhD, but not quite. She has spent her career working for non-profits, government and corporations, but always with a focus on community, equity and inclusion.

Zenia lives in Toronto, Canada with her family.

Q/ Do you have a favourite spread from The Fly in the Chai? What makes it especially special?

A/ To be honest, Chaaya Prabhat did such a brilliant job with the book that it’s hard to choose just one spread, but the one I’ve included below is pretty special for a few reasons. First, it includes a handful of the 17 official languages of India, a demonstration of the diversity within the country and a sense of community in one market. Second, this spread also has a few Easter eggs in that the last names of the characters are the last names of close family friends of mine. Lastly, the details of the fruits, vegetables and Indian sweets give a real flavour of what a market in India is like. Bonus: the colours are so warm and inviting. I love this spread as a warm invitation to the rest of the book!