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

February 24, 2020

Self-Publishing Diverse Children’s Books: Lessons Learned [Part 3]

A four part series providing lessons learned along the journey of independently publishing my children’s books.   Having run a small press over the last ten […]
February 19, 2020

Self-Publishing Diverse Children’s Books: Lessons Learned [Part 2]

A four part series providing lessons learned along the journey of independently publishing my children’s books.   Do Lived Experiences Even Matter? A decade ago, when […]
February 17, 2020

Self-Publishing Diverse Children’s Books: Lessons Learned [Part 1]

A four part series providing lessons learned along the journey of independently publishing my children’s books.   As a classroom teacher of colour, it had been […]
November 7, 2018

Human Connection – Bandi Chhor Divas

This has been a year of advocate voices rising. It’s been a time of people recognizing that change can only happen through action. We have been […]
August 2, 2018

Facing Hate and Discrimination While Wearing a Dastaar

Before venturing out on the very first printing of A Lion’s Mane, I had reached out to Waris Singh Ahluwalia. I did not anticipate a response […]
August 1, 2018

The Indie Community Advocating for Diverse Children’s Books

Years ago, when far fewer conversations were taking place around the need for diverse books, I took the necessary leap to launch a small independent children’s […]
June 13, 2018

A Cartoonist Transforms into Diverse Superhero

When you are constantly labeled as the other, then education becomes one way to transform the situation. Believe me, it’s exhausting being part of a community […]
June 11, 2018

What Does Summer Mean for Little Ones Living in Poverty?

[“Dreams of Hope flutter, sway, tickle your ears, Little One. Catch some and hold them dear, Little One.” Image from Dreams of Hope: a Bedtime Lullaby […]
April 14, 2018

The Root of Our Truth

The most common narrative that is shared about Vaisakhi Day is a 300 year-old first-hand account from a person who was known as a spy. He […]
April 9, 2018

8 Ways to Include Vaisakhi in Classrooms

Culturally relevant (or responsive) education is about looking for ways to engage students in meaningful conversations and critical thinking by drawing on their own expertise. It […]
April 5, 2018

Could Heritage Months Scaffold Anti-bias Education?

We’ve been in the process of renovating our home and so, trips to tile shops and bathroom showrooms have kept us occupied. Just last weekend, we […]
December 31, 2017

Filling the Diversity Gap in Canadian Children’s Lit in 2018

When I reflect on what was happening in the world while I was writing the initial drafts of The Garden of Peace,I remember the rising hopes […]