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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.

BOOK REVIEW: Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps

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.

Book Review: Malala’s Magic Pencil

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

United by COVID

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.

Book Review: Watercress

..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.

End-in-sight

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.

Anna, my favorite color is You

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

Book Review: We Are Water Protectors

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

Book Review: Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather Author: Sita Singh www.singhsita.com Illustrator: Stephanie Coleman stephaniefizercoleman.com Publisher: Philomel Books What a beautiful book in every way! I was lucky to be able to attend the author’s book reading when this book was released. I had to purchase a copy for myself as soon as the reading was done. Young Mo, a peacock without the usual bright colors found in other peacocks, is dejected that he looks different. Even though the rest of his group boosts his spirits reminding him that birds of a feather stick together, he can’t help… Read More »Book Review: Birds of a Feather

My entry for #50preciouswords

I recenlty saw Vivian Kirkfields contest to tell a tale in 50 words. FIFTY WRODS!! Of course, I had to try! I took off for a run thinking about it and saw a hummingbird on a tree. So I started out with that image. Soon the hummingbird image got replaced by a more macabre one. I had recently read about a Blue Tit bird that had been eaten alive by a Venus Flytrap plant. Yeah, I went to dark places! So that became the inspiration for my 50 word story. Here it is. And here’s… Read More »My entry for #50preciouswords

Sarla asks a question: Entry for Valentiny 2021

When Sarla moved to her new home, she had questions about so many things – autumn,  snowflakes,  canyons,  earthquakes. She thought she would find the answers at school. But when she tried to ask,  the questions got all muddled, and jumbled,  and twisted into a tight ball inside her. So Sarla sat at an empty lunch table  and sketched. She sketched parrots from her old home, the rickshaw she took to school, The crowds at the mela, Nani’s shawl. Until – Hideyo stopped by. Hideyo was the ‘new-kid’ before Sarla.  He showed Sarla his sketches… Read More »Sarla asks a question: Entry for Valentiny 2021