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Opinion

Book Review: Seeker of Truth

  Author: Srividhya Venkat Illustrator: Danica da Silva Pereira Publisher: Little Bee Books Such an inspiring and empowering book. Not only for the amazing story of Kailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Peace Prize awardee but also for the message for children – Big changes need small steps. Little by little, drop by drop. Young Kailash sees many things that he would like to change, it seems overwhelming at first, but once he starts, he cannot stop. And what a change he brings about in society! This is a great classroom read.  

Kite Strings, #SpringFlingKidlit 2022

It’s time for Kaitlyn Sanchez and Ciara O’Neal’s #springflingkidlit contest. I love working with prompts; they always push me to create something different. This time, for the spring theme, I imagined the kite festival played in some parts of India to celebrate spring. It is called Makar Sankranti in some parts, or Uttarayan in others. While the characters I created plunged headlong into the kite flying festivities, I couldn’t ignore the issues caused by reckless kite flying. Over the years, kite flying contests became so competitive, that contestants began lining their strings with glass and… Read More »Kite Strings, #SpringFlingKidlit 2022

All About WONDER

WONDER is a beautiful thing. My son recently told me about a magical place in his school. “It has logs, some vines, a tarp covering, and space to run between!” he gushed. It didn’t sound like much, I thought. It could be anywhere. But then I looked at him and in his eyes, I saw something magical – Wonder. Immediately, I remembered something. A distant memory from my past. A time when my school friends and I played “Fairies” in a space filled with trees, dirt, and pebbles – my own magical place. I told my… Read More »All About WONDER

Operation Mars 2020

It’s time for #50Precious Words! It’s always a fun challenge to write a full story arc in just 50 words. Thanks Vivian Kirkfield for the opportunity! Last year, I was inspired reading about Operation Mars 2020 in which a rover named Perseverance was sent to Mars. The team had to contend with the chaos of COVID but it didn’t deter them from achieving their goal. What made it even more special for me were the images of an Indian-American woman called Swati Mohan becoming associated with this important event. Swati was the Guidance and Controls… Read More »Operation Mars 2020

The Legend Of Lake M

Originally published in KQED Perspectives, Dec 23 2021 One cold, dark morning, the clouds seemed heavy, the sky ready to burst, and the air full of suspense. At school drop-off, I heard mounting whispers in the backseat of my car. Something big was about to happen. The legend of Lake M was about to appear. Every year, at least once, when days look like this — wet and ready for a downpour, my kids’ school has come to expect the phenomenon of Lake M. As the kids stay indoors for classes, rain falls without a break. And… Read More »The Legend Of Lake M

Book Review: Bella’s Recipe For Success by Ana Siqueira

Bella’s Recipe For Success Author: Ana Siqueira Illustrator: Geraldine-Rodriguez Publisher: Beaming Books A perfect book to read while you are baking treats for the holidays. Bella looks at her talented siblings and wonders what she might be good at. She tries her hand at baking. But her initial attempts don’t work out so well. Bella doesn’t give up and taking a cue from her hard-working brother, she continues to practice – until her polvorones with dulce de leche turn out just right. But just as she is about to have them….you will have to read… Read More »Book Review: Bella’s Recipe For Success by Ana Siqueira

FallWritingFrenzy2021

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.

Poems: New Beginnings

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

Three Bags Full

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

The Note

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.