About

Our Story

We’re Madhu and Neal, a Tamil-Punjabi American couple passionate about sharing our diverse cultural roots with the next generation. Over the years, we’ve come to appreciate both the common threads we share as South Asian Americans and the richness of our distinct heritage languages and traditions. In 2024, we founded Bol and Sol Books as a way to grow together as a multicultural, multilingual family, and to support other families on similar journeys.

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Our Name

"Bol" and "Sol" both mean "speak" in our respective Punjabi and Tamil languages.

Books are powerful tools in early childhood. Decades of research show that early exposure to books supports brain development, strengthens language and literacy skills, and prepares children for lifelong learning.

Our Mission and Values

Our mission is to create books and resources for young children that are educational and enjoyable for all ages, celebrate the rich diversity of South Asian languages and cultures, and cultivate positive, balanced multilingual and multicultural learning opportunities for families. Our work is:

  • Evidence-Based

    We ground our work in research and follow developmentally appropriate practices.

  • Community-Driven

    We engage with our community and incorporate their feedback to best serve their needs.

  • Quality-Focused

    We create with care and intention, upholding the highest standards without compromise.

Our Team

Founder

Madhu Govind Kapoor

Madhu is a first-generation Tamil American, education researcher and consultant. Her work focuses on innovative, playful tools and experiences for young children. She holds a PhD in Child Study and Human Development, specializing in early childhood STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning.

Founding Partner

Neal Kapoor

Neal is a second-generation Punjabi American and Madhu’s partner—both in life and in creating Bol and Sol Books. While his day job is taking care of patients as an orthopaedic surgeon, he shares Madhu’s passion for cultural education and supporting young learners. (And if it were up to him, his official title would be “Chief Fun Officer.”)

Marketing Director

Waleed Shaban

Waleed is a communications professional for a national network of elementary schools. Raised in Middle Tennessee by a family whose roots span from Oman and Kuwait to Mumbai and Karachi, he uses storytelling to celebrate heritage and identity.

Our Collaborators

  • Riva Dhamala, Illustrator

    Riva is a first-generation Nepali American multimedia artist with a background in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive & Brain Sciences, and Studio Art. She’s committed to creating more spaces for all of the diverse, distinct stories that exist beyond a single South Asian narrative.

  • Nethra Venkatesan, Intern

    Nethra is a high school student in Georgia and an aspiring doctor. She speaks both Tamil and Telugu and enjoys celebrating cultural holidays and festivals. Nethra contributes to the Bol and Sol Books team by conducting market research and supporting outreach efforts.