Peerbagh

🌟 Honoring the legacy of our beloved founder, Vatsala Kakroo, we are thrilled to unveil Bento, the first global South-Asian children’s magazine! 🎉 Packed with stunning illustrations, Bento is a quarterly magazine brimming with history, culture, books, and storytelling—plus fun activities for both kids and their grown-ups! 🐘🦄✨ Our debut issue, themed “Where the Wild Things Are,” takes you on a thrilling journey through wildlife and conservation. 🌿 From elephants in Afghanistan 🐘 to snow leopards in the Himalayas 🐾, unicorns of the Indus Valley 🦄, and exciting animal trivia—there’s so much to explore! Contributing writers and illustrators for the issue include Brij Nath Betab, Varun Grover, Aftab Shaikh, Santhini Govindan, Professor Shah Mahmoud Hanifi, Janan Abir, Tishya Malya, Neeta Desai, Chandrima Chatterjee, and more. Bento has a special section for student reporters from the United States, Canada, India, and Pakistan.📚✏️ Ideal for ages 8-12, Bento sparks curiosity and creativity in every issue. You can preorder now at: peerbagh.com/bookstore [south Asian nonprofit children’s storytelling ] #southasian #childrensbooks #writingcommunity #diversifybookstagram

“The moments of transitions in which something changes, constitute the backbone of all of us. Whether they are a salvation or a loss, they are moments we tend to remember. They give a structure to our existence. Almost all the rest is oblivion.” ― Jhumpa Lahiri, In Other Words #throwback #2024 #yearinreview #yearend #southasian #memories #yearinpictures #books #jhumpalahiri #storytelling

✨ The Shape of Home is here—our second issue, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you! ✨ This issue dives deep into the idea of belonging, exploring themes like third spaces, placemaking, and the little things that make us feel at home. 🏡💭 📖 Stories by: Deepa Agarwal, Santhini Govindan, Marzeih Abbas, Professor Suvir Kaul, J. Ramanand, Reem Farooqi, Dr. Aparna Nagda, Upasna Kakroo, Sangeetha Narayanan, Dushyant Wadivkar, Godhuli C. Gupta, Wang Yong Limbu, Suman Negi, Vipin Kampasi, and our incredible student reporter team! 🎨 Artwork by: Neeta Desai, Chandrima Chatterjee, Shubhshree Mathur, Shreya Roy Chowdhury, Ira Nagar, Onkar Mahamuni, Aishwarya Deopujari, Mrunmayee Beke, and more artists! 🌟 Become a member today and join the journey: https://buff.ly/3HvX8X3 #southasian #childrensbooks #illustrations #belonging #secondissue

✨ GIVEAWAY ALERT! ✨ This holiday season, we’re spreading the love of stories! 📚🎁 Peerbagh is giving away a surprise South Asian book and a story workshop for kids in the US and India! 🌎❤️ Here’s how to enter: 1️⃣ Follow @Peerbagh.Stories 2️⃣ Tag a friend who loves books in the comments (1 tag = 1 entry). 3️⃣ Share this post to your story for an extra entry (don’t forget to tag us!). 🎄 Winners will be announced on Dec 23rd – just in time to unwrap these special gifts! 📖 Let’s celebrate storytelling and the joy of reading together. Ready to fill those stockings with books? 🎅🏽✨ #Giveaway #SouthAsianBooks #BooksForKids #PeerbaghReads #RepresentationMatters #HolidayGiveaway #FreeBooks

🎙️ Episode 5: Hindustani In this final episode of Zubaani's mini-series this season, we’re joined by Urdu educator and influencer Tamania Naqi aka Urdumom for a thoughtful conversation in Hindustani and English. 🌏✨ 💬 We explore how to contextualize language and stories for today’s children, especially those growing up in the diaspora. Tamania shares her experiences raising multilingual kids, highlighting how it boosts creativity and cognitive development. 🧠🌟 📜 We also discuss the lingering effects of colonialism on South Asians, which has often prioritized English over regional and local languages—and the importance of reclaiming and celebrating our linguistic heritage. 🎧 Tune in for insights on fostering multilingualism, preserving culture, and empowering the next generation through language and storytelling. (yes, Shah Rukh Khan is also mentioned) This program is made possible through the Elevate Grant from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and Texas Humanities. 🌟 #Zubaani #Hindustani #MultilingualParenting #Urdu #CulturalIdentity #SouthAsianDiaspora #RepresentationMatters

Our final #StorytellingWorkshop of the year is HERE! 🎉 Join us for a magical Bento StoryLab at the Doon Library (Children's Wing) in Dehradun. We'll learn a Himalayan folk tale centered around a winter festival 🌨️🏔️ and make some stories together! 📅 Date: Dec 22, 2024 ⏰ Time: 12-1pm 📍 Location: Doon Library, Children's Wing ✨ Bilingual fun in Hindi + English (something for everyone!) ✨ Hands-on storymaking activities This event is brought to you in partnership with Millennium India Education Foundation and the Doon Library Children's Wing. RSVP for the free event at: https://buff.ly/3ROKVBu We will have prizes for kids too (Santa is in town!) 🎶✨

🌏 Born Confused? In this episode of Zubaani, we explore the unique experiences of diaspora families balancing life between the South Asian subcontinent and their immigrant culture. 🌍✨ 🧠 Researchers highlight a common tension: the community-oriented values of South Asian cultures often clash with the individualistic tendencies of the West, leading to generational differences in how elders and youth engage with their host culture. 🎙️ We’re joined by author and influencer Jyoti Chand, aka Mamajotes, who shares her story of growing up in an Indo-Burmese family. With multiple languages and a beautifully blended cultural setup, Jyoti reflects on her journey as one of the only Indian kids in her school and offers practical tips for parents navigating this dual identity. 🎧 Listen now to hear Jyoti’s inspiring insights! This program is made possible through the Elevate Grant from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and Texas Humanities. 🌟 #Zubaani #StraddlingTwoWorlds #SouthAsianDiaspora #ParentingTips #CulturalIdentity #RepresentationMatters

As the year winds down, Bento gets this question a LOT: “Can I do these activities with my kids?” The answer? Absolutely! 🙌 With the holidays around the corner and school breaks coming up, it’s the perfect time to create space for some screen-free fun. Bento activities are designed to spark creativity, connection, and joy—perfect for kids and grown-ups (swipe to pic 4 for an example!). Here’s to fewer tantrums (from kids or adults!) and more laughter this holiday season. You’ve got this—and Bento is here to help! 🧡 #HolidaysWithKids #ScreenFreeFun #FamilyTime

✨ Your Child's Story Could Be in Bento Magazine! ✨ Isn’t that amazing? Bento travels to 45 cities worldwide, inspiring kids everywhere who love stories. 📢 Our last story submission contest of the year is OPEN! Kids can write, draw, or both—whatever sparks their imagination. Check the prompt on the graphic and let the creativity flow! 📅 Deadline: December 15th 💌 FREE submission for Bento members! 👉 Ages 6-14 are welcome to submit. Don’t wait—encourage your young storytellers to submit TODAY: https://buff.ly/3uE31xW Let’s celebrate their creativity together! #ChildrensWriting #RaisingReaders #StoryContest

🔥 Episode 3: Passing the Torch In this episode of Zubaani, we dive into the tools and resources parents can use to spark storytelling and nurture creative imagination in kids. 🌟 🎙️ We’re joined by educator and children's book author Natasha Padhiar, who shares: - How children learn by imitating family members and how storytelling at home builds a love for stories and reading. 📚 - The importance of diverse stories for South-Asian diaspora families—balancing tales from heritage and host cultures for deeper learning. 🌍✨ - Natasha also challenges tokenism in diverse storytelling and reminds us to celebrate everyday experiences, which are just as valuable for children. 💡 We explore how to approach cultural storytelling with meaningful intentions—stepping away from performative work. 🎧 Tune in for practical tips, thoughtful reflections, and ways to create an authentic storytelling tradition for your family. This program is made possible through the Elevate Grant from the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department and Texas Humanities. 🌟 #PassingTheTorch #Zubaani #FamilyStorytelling #CulturalHeritage #SouthAsianDiaspora #RepresentationMatters