This is Who I Am with Rashmi Sirdeshpande

On Sunday, 17 May, the Brighton Dome Studio Theatre is hosting a session with Rashmi Sirdeshpande to talk about her latest work. The event starts at 11:00 and focuses on her picture book, This is Who I Am, which is a poetic look at multicultural identity and shared heritage. The book specifically explores the lives of children with roots in different parts of the world, like India and the UK, and it was named by The Guardian as one of the best children’s books of 2025. It is a story that helps younger readers understand their own history and encourages them to feel proud of the various elements that make up their background.

The session is aimed at children aged six and up, providing an activity for families in the city centre. Rashmi Sirdeshpande, a former lawyer who started writing stories through the Penguin Random House WriteNow programme, will be talking about the themes in her book and how our different backgrounds make us who we are. The format includes a presentation followed by a book signing where attendees can meet the author. This event also coincides with the release of the paperback edition of the book in 2026, so it is a timely opportunity to engage with the story and the author's creative process.

You will find the Studio Theatre on Church Street, and tickets for the morning are £10.00. The session is set up to move from the presentation into a personal signing session, allowing for a bit more interaction. Rashmi is known in the literary world for her focus on inclusion and making sure all children can see themselves reflected in the books they read. The morning is structured around the topics of diversity and representation, giving families a way to explore these themes through Rashmi’s own experiences and her professional trajectory in storytelling. It is a chance to spend a Sunday morning engaging with these topics within a local community setting.