Our Pod

Here at the Pod, we share thoughts and opinions about the growing need for diversity in
children’s literature. As we get rooted, we will feature stories about Mighty Girls and Gentle Warriors of Change. Please stay a while, and join the conversation.

#WHERESTORIESGROW

April 28, 2022
Lilac frame with black brand tag on the bottom left. In white centre, text on left reads: Riaan Research Initiative Rare Parents Fundraising for a cure. On the right 4 square photos of Riaan in black and white.

Riaan’s Research Initiative: Incubator of Hope and Possibility

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE: WARRIORS OF CHANGE Gurjot “Jo” Kaur’s advocacy as a civil rights lawyer was redirected to finding a cure for Cockayne syndrome when her […]
March 4, 2022
Lilac frame with black tag to the left. Tag has white text which gives website address and hashtag Where Stories Grow. In the white centre, an image to the left shows a photo of the book cover of A Lion's Mane placed standing up next to a lion plush toy on a windowsill.

World Book Day 2022

March 3, 2022 is World Book Day. Created by UNESCO on the 23rd April, 1995, World Book Day was designated as a day to celebrate books […]
March 3, 2022
Lilac frame with black tag in bottom left corner. Gold logo and white text on tag reads SEEDS of KNOWLEDGE. In white centre, image on left shows Nav Dhillon, founder of 1iCollective with each hand to each side of her face. She has black hair parted in the centre and adorned with a tikka. She wears antique gold bangles on her write wrist and a blush chunni is draped over her left shoulder. grey background.

Challenging the Stigma of Disability: Meet Nav Dhillon of 1iCollective

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE: WARRIORS OF CHANGE Over the last 11 years, our readers have contributed to Seva Canada‘s commitment to offering sight to the over one […]
February 3, 2022
Lilac frame with black tag in the bottom left with website details. Text in centre of frame reads: Featuring Mixed Media Artist + Illustrator: Parmeet Arora Bori. 3 images from the calendar are placed around the text.

Meet Parmeet Arora Bori: Mixed Media Artist + Illustrator

Our stories can be interpreted through all forms of art, which in turn become historical references to moments or movements in time. Art can be found […]
January 17, 2022
Title image with lilac frame and black tag on the bottom left with website details. In the white space an image on the left is an outline map of Panjab illustrated in watercolour hues of orange and purple. Text on map reads Jaagde Raho (Stay Woke) in Panjabi. Text on right reads: Meet the founder of Jaagde Raho: a social change maker

Jaagde Raho: Strengthening a Nation through Collective Intelligence

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE SERIES: SOLUTIONARIES   The issues faced by farmers did not end with the repeal of the 3 farm laws. As a larger Sikh […]
December 19, 2021
Title frame with purple frame and black tag on the bottom left of the frame. Tag shows logo and reads SEDDS OF KNOWLEDGE. In the white space, an image on the left shows branded soap and loofah products from SITTI. Text on right reads: Meet the founders of SITTI: a social enterprise.

SITTI: a social enterprise empowering the refugee community in Jerash Camp

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE SERIES: SOLUTIONARIES Over many years, we have witnessed the displacement of humans due to conflict, migration, insecurity and recurring natural disasters. More often, […]
September 21, 2021
Lilac frame with black tag on the bottom left. Tag includes website details for Saffron Press. In the centre there is an image on the left with the numbers 1907 in a square format in white on a yellow background. On the right, text reads: Featuring Project 1907: a grassroots group made up of Asian women on a white background.

Meet the Humans Behind Project 1907: Anti-Asian Racism

Whether in the aftermath of 9/11, or a global pandemic, Asian communities have continued to face countless acts of hate and violence. As a Canadian election […]
September 3, 2021
Lilac frame with black tag at the bottom left. Text in gold reads: Seeds of Knowledge. In the centre, there is white space with an image of Dr. Zetta Elliott on the left - a Black feminist writer - wearing a dark pink blouse and beaded necklace. To the right, text reads: Featuring the author of over 30 books for children, Zetta Elliott, PhD

Meet Dr. Zetta Elliott: writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels and stories for children

A few years ago, while living in Surrey, British Columbia, I came across the story of Barbara Howard – one of the fastest female sprinters in […]
June 7, 2021
Purple border with white space in centre. On left is a piece of art showing 204 pairs of golden footprints on 23 ct. gold on indigo dyed hemp paper. Text reads: The Power of Silence

The Power of Silence

More recently, I have felt that silence (on social media) has offered more dignity to human life than responding to the horrors taking place in our world. […]
March 29, 2021
Lilac border with black tag in bottom left that reads: Seeds of Knowledge. Saffron Press logo in gold. In white space above, photo of Kyo Maclear on the left with short black hair, wearing a blue top. Book cover of Spork beside her. On right, text reads: Featuring children's book author, novelist + essayist Kyo Maclear.

Meet Children’s Book Author, Novelist and Essayist: Kyo Maclear

Spork was one of the first picture books we shared with our little one. I had recently launched Saffron Press and was thrilled to find a […]
March 13, 2021
Lilac border with illustration by Gurleen Rai of herself on the left. A south-Asian young woman with two braids, wearing a yellow top with red collars and oversized eyeglasses. Text reads: Featuring storyteller and animator Gurleen Rai

Meet Gurleen Rai: A ‘Seed of Hope’ In Response to the Farmer Protests

News cycles can often leave us immune to the ongoing struggles and oppression of peoples around the world. It is not that we don’t care, but […]
January 26, 2021
Image Description: Title image with lilac frame. Title reads "The Largest Farmer Protests in Human History and India's Republic Day". Image below shows five of the 'seeds' as humans sat in despair on the ground. Image from The Garden of Peace.

The Largest Farmer Protests in Human History and India’s Republic Day

Since January 26th 1950, this date has been celebrated as India’s Republic Day, a day to honour the Constitution of India taking effect. It was written […]