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

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 […]
January 21, 2021
Image shows a purple frame which includes 3 book cover images and the title reads 13 Children's Books to Talk About Antisemitism.

13 Children’s Books To Talk About Antisemitism

Today marks a day of promise. A day of renewed hope and the possibility for change. Yet, January 6th, 2021 is another date embedded in our […]
December 17, 2020
Image shows filmmaker Rehmat Rayatt and an image of a farmer in a field. Text asks where did the rice on your plate come from?

Interview with Rehmat Rayatt: The Story Behind the Toxification of Panjab

In recent months, we have witnessed an active uprising in Delhi with the largest peaceful protests ever held by farmers, attracting solidarity from farmers all across […]
December 16, 2020
Image reads: Featuring Picture Book Illustrator Alea Marley. Image of illustrator and an illustration of Harpreet with a rainbow of colours following him in swirls.

Interview with Alea Marley – Picture Book Illustrator

Our Seeds of Knowledge Series hopes to amplify the voice of creators in children’s publishing and also, offer guidance to aspiring writers and illustrators. This kind of […]
November 14, 2020
Text: Liberation for All - Happy Bandi Chhor Divas! & Happy Diwali! Image shows a group of young children exhaling with arms raised in celebration.

Liberation For All: Happy Bandi Chhor Divas and Happy Diwali!

Yesterday, I was reminded by my good friend Raj, of a post I had written about Bandi Chhor Divas two years ago. The post (which I’ll […]
July 9, 2020

Interview with Supriya Kelkar – Children’s Author + Screenwriter

Our Seeds of Knowledge Series hopes to share the voice of creators in children’s publishing and also, offer guidance to aspiring writers and illustrators. This kind of […]
June 1, 2020

13 Children’s Books To Talk About Anti-Black Racism

This is not just another book list. Anti-Black racism has been an inequity issue for many years and systemic barriers have affected Black youth acutely. There […]
June 1, 2020

Unpacking Race and Injustice from Coast to Coast

When we emigrated to Canada from England, I taught at a private Montessori school in Toronto for a couple of years. I remember a family approaching […]
May 7, 2020

Interview with Tajinder Kalia – Children’s Author

Our Seeds of Knowledge Series hopes to share the voice of creators in children’s publishing and also, offer guidance to aspiring writers and illustrators. This kind of […]
May 4, 2020

Interview with Misha Blaise – Children’s Author + Illustrator

Our Seeds of Knowledge Series hopes to share the voice of creators in children’s publishing and also, offer guidance to aspiring writers and illustrators. This kind of […]
March 24, 2020

Interview with Meenal Patel – Children’s Author + Illustrator

Our Seeds of Knowledge Series hopes to share the voice of creators in children’s publishing and also, offer guidance to aspiring writers and illustrators. This kind of […]
March 19, 2020

Writing to Heal in Uncertain Times

Our realities have shifted in uncertain ways in the last few weeks. So much of what we may have taken for granted – food and job […]