It’s that time of the year. Fall is in the air and it’s time for the #FallWritingFrenzy contest! In India where I grew up, fall is also a time of festivities. The celebrations start and just keep going at this time. Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Navratri, Dushera, Diwali…it’s one big festival. The image that spoke to me this time was a picture of Durga Puja being celebrated.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTkbcmgAdk0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi this week, as the world seems wrapped in worries, here is a little dance poem to remind us stay innocent, invoke our inner strength and always keep going. We owe it to our future. Let’s celebrate New Beginnings. 📕NEW BEGINNINGS📕When the world is burning,drowning,ailing,tired,and all around there is despair,how can a mother give hope?But when the child asks“Amma, shall we celebrate?”The mother thinks,takes a breathand says “Yes, child”Let’s celebrate“Let us all celebrate new beginnings.”– by Sandhya Acharya
Where Three Oceans Meet Author: Rajani LaRocca Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers What an absolutely delightful read. Sejal is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Kanyakumari, on the tip of India, where three oceans meet. Though the book is about Sejal, Sejal’s mother, and her grandma, Pati, traveling, the author magically takes the reader too on this exciting trip. I felt like I was with Sejal packing her things for the trip, taking a car, a train, a boat, meeting friends and places, and eating delicious foods. And then… Read More »Book Review: Where Three Oceans Meet
See the poem in motion here https://www.instagram.com/reel/CSmlEEeAISA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link When I left my home for a new country, I carried with me – Three bags full; Of rice, lentils, utensils, oil for my hair, a tailored suit that I never wore. But as time went by and I changed from a girl to a woman, a professional, a wife, a mother, I realized, I had left so much behind; The warmth of my father’s blessings, the sweet smell of jasmine when I embraced my mom, the chug chug chug of my daily commute, the endless summers, and… Read More »Three Bags Full
Our household, like many others, has been through numerous pandemic pursuits – hikes, swims, mid-day boogies, gardening, baking, board games, and every combination thereof. But one day, the books lying askew, the pom-poms strewn everywhere, the mud-soaked feathers and sticks lying on the carpet, the relentless meal planning, the fights for more screen time got to me –
I burst.
This is a beautiful book and perfect for young children learning about how metamorphosis works. I love that it has a message of taking pride in our uniqueness along with teaching an important STEM topic.
In this story, Srividhya Venkat effortlessly weaves together a strong storyline, likable characters, and an important message- that Dance is for everyone. Yali books always puts out books that don’t just entertain but make you pause and think. This one is no exception. Illustrations by Kavitha Ramdhandran are vivid, and detailed and capture the spirit of dance.
Author: Malala Yousafzai Illustrator: Kerascoet Publisher: Little Brown And Company The book begins with a question every child has probably asked himself, “Do you believe in magic?”. The little girl in the book, Malala, is just like any other child, innocent, free wondering what she would do with a magic pencil – draw dresses, a building, a ball? Slowly she begins to question things around her, beyond her family. How things that were accessible to her like education was not so easily available to others. She now wonders how it would be to use a… Read More »Book Review: Malala’s Magic Pencil
The status of the pandemic varies greatly depending on where you are, but Sandhya Acharya says the world is united by COVID more than ever.
This book, like, Ramadan, teaches kids and us all an important lesson in empathy.
..a masterfully crafted story that is gentle but powerful. As immigrants, first or second generation, we all struggle with nostalgia, the pressure to fit in, and the search for our unique identity. This book gives expression to all those feelings and turns the whole experience into something magical. It’s a therapy session in a picture book. Your kids will love it and so will you.
My kids went back to in-person school today. It’s just for two hours this week but still, the elation is real. It’s been a long year. A year of no field trips, no racing each other around the tracks, no monkey bar throw downs, no impromptu bey-blade battles, and no lunch-time shenanigans. It’s not all back to normal, but still, the end is in sight.
UPDATE: So overwhelmed to win this contest. Thank you Ciara O’Neal and Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez’s for this wonderful opportunity! https://ciaraoneal.weebly.com/spring-fling-kidlit-contest I am participating in Ciara O’Neal and Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez’s SpringFlingKidlit contest with this #ownvoices entry – “Anna, my favorite color is You”. I created my own gif for it. But first, an Introduction: Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, there is color everywhere. It’s springtime! And that also means it’s Holi time. Holi is the festival of colors celebrated in India, a spring time festival. On this day we celebrate by quite literally throwing… Read More »Anna, my favorite color is You
We are Water Protectors Author: Carole Linstrom Illustrator: Michaela Goade Publisher : Roaring Brook Press This book is an excellent example of how a picture book is not just a story to be read once by your child. It is a thing to keep and treasure, reread the words, again and again, look at the pictures, and be transported, learn, educate, transform and grow. It is not just for children, but a treasure for adults too. A little girl learns about her heritage and her people’s role as water protectors. She learns how her ancestors… Read More »Book Review: We Are Water Protectors
Such a beautiful book with a much needed focus. Beginning with the title, every page is a poem with beautiful metaphors. The illustrations are sensational and add to the magic.