“If everybody agrees with the government, democracy is working.” This was my opening question to my older students in the library this past week. I wondered how to open out our collection of books in which people, including children, have used their voices to question, to disagree, to dissent. Dissent is the bedrock of democracy. I wondered if, through our discussion and our book collection, children could begin to understand this. Our library period is a space where we can read, think and...

There is a beat that is always there in this book, waiting for its cue in the background…one that strikes loudest at the most unexpected moment. The people of the Sundarbans, like communities living in other areas rich in biodiversity, revel in their proximity to the flora and fauna around them, while developing traditions and practices that protect them from the dangers arising from human–nature conflict. The Hooghly, almost Jekyll-and-Hyde-like, shapes their lives. It gives them food,...

We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” - Jim Neil Smith Every year, as I put up my Christmas tree, I’m reminded of just how true this is. My ornaments aren’t just decorations; they are stories. Each one has been chosen or gifted with care, thought, and intention. Together, they reflect moments from our lives: our travels, the people we love, celebrations, interests, and memories that...