New Joys! New Books!

Delighted to see the draft layout of my newest book on Endangered Rain Forests for grades 3 to 5, published by Capstone Press. It has been a wonderful experience re-living my research days and bringing it back to let the kids experience it.

Writing for children is a humbling experience. When I write for academic publishing, I use lot more words than necessary. Really, much of academic writing is also packaging. There is no room for humility in scholarship. That is hard sell and sets the trajectory of your career.

However, when I write for children, I am constantly asking myself - can the reader understand this? Why is this important? If the child did not know this, will the knowledge be incomplete? And my best critique is my son. My editor is much gentler than my son is! I appreciate these critical voices that enrich my writing. This constant engagement reminds me to write close to the interests of my readers and grab their attention. I am competing for their attention as a writer and I strive hard to make it worthwhile. 

I love the concept of this book. It moves away from the gloom-doom scenario and presents the causes in the manner of an investigation. I hope the students and teachers will join in debating how our habits, even if we are far removed from the rain forests, are affecting them miles and continents away.

Thank you all for joining me on this journey! I could not have done this without your support!

A walk saves...

There are times I wish I lived in a small village (not to mistake it with the shrunken, global village) filled with green, street full of friends, family, kith and kin for neighbors. I would not have to think twice about anything, except I don't like anywhere remotely near such a place. These concerns are secondary for me...

My primary reason in wanting to live in a village is for the walkability. I would walk everywhere. I could still be late, but I would be lighter in body and mind. At the most, I could race to meet my friends at the other end of the village. I miss walking.

Walking everyday supports the environment, one foot step at a time by...

• Saving gas we use for fuel
• Drastically decreasing our carbon footprint
• Conserve gas with walking habit
• Drastically reduce transportation costs
• Improve physical health and wellbeing

Now you can measure the walkscore of your neighborhood...http://www.walkscore.com/ 

 I wish you all wonderful walking week ahead!

Read more about sustainable ways to transport in # Green Transport.

Thank you!

New Book!

My new book on Sustainable Transportation, for teenagers, will be released soon!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement! :-)

 

Daily miracles!

 

      Now that summer is folding into fall, and leaves dance in riot of color, I notice the pronouncing play of the miracle. Life, I realize is the presence and absence of this magic ingredient. The miracle and magic of water never ceases to fascinate me. May be everyone will be enamored by it- if they pause long enough from their daily grind.

The entire climate system is tied to this miracle. The clouds, snow, rainfall, rainbow… its all latent and present in every drop of water. Floating snow flakes perform a heavenly synchronized dance, always fascinating and perfect. Everything, everything about the snow is a silent miracle…Earth seems to be just a giant bubble.

Not so the monsoon. It is served with gusty windy, crackles of thunder, chaotic swaying of the trees and plants, like ghosts dancing. The dust balls that dissolve in rivulets of brown water and the brown that gradually dissolves into the rapid whites…the foaming cliffs…the celebrations around monsoon…

Dry deserts with hidden waters…fossil waters…the Antarctic ice sheets…the floes of ice teeming with life underneath… The mist, the fog, the rain, the sleet, the hail, the snow…and the water in my cup…I love it all.

The miracle of water, chemists say, is the unity bond of hydrogen and oxygen…togetherness at all times. In blood and body, in tears and delight…, everybody from the layman to the rocket scientists think about water...It encircles our globe as ocean and connecting us in ways unknown…

 Everyday I remember this miracle as I drink my first cup of water in the morning and offer the verse from Devi Mahatyam

II Ya Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Vishnumayethi Sabdhitha

Namastasyai    Namastasyai    Namastasyai Namo Namaha II

What is your miracle of the day?