Public Service Announcement #19
picture book news + we are cheesemakers Saffron Press interview + events with kids and educators
Picture Book News
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a book to announce, and this one is a special, treasured project in a thousand ways. It is a great honor of my life to have it come to fruition. I feel humility and disbelief.
OUR FEET WERE NOT ON THE EARTH: Breakidz in Gaza is co-written with Ahmed Alghariz, illustrated by Noor Alshalabi (Candlewick 2027). What an honor and joy to bring this story of breaking as a source of comfort, pride, art, agency, and community to life. Ahmed and the whole Camps Breakerz crew have provided healing, hope, and smiles to kids undergoing trauma for twenty years and generations of b-boys and b-girls.
Jo is our main character who you’ll see in the image above from 2022 learning moves with Ahmed (Shark)!
PSA: Sometimes what you don’t see coming is destiny
How it came to be: many many months ago, Ahmed (Shark) and I were in touch because I was sharing videos of the CampsBreakerz kids. He messaged asking me to write a story about CampsBreakerz. Assuming he meant an article, I replied that sadly I wasn’t a journalist and not the right fit. He said: Not an article, a children’s book! That’s what Ahmed wanted me to write! I was stunned. Unsure. But after thinking about it a few days I simply said: yes.
Everything about this process has felt like it’s been touched by ease, grace, a kind of destiny. The draft that poured out of me before we’d even met. Our series of hours-long meetings and interviews. Getting to know and admire Ahmed. At every step, he and I were on a similar page. For example, when our agent asked to expand a mention of Dabke, I added a reference to a wedding, asking Ahmed what he thought. He told me our main character’s father was not only a Dabke dancer, but performed at weddings!
It’s all been like that. A kind of flow.
There have been and will be more challenges. But that’s the thing about destiny, it’s worth it.
I never thought something in my life would surprise me and become integral to my being and meaning. But that’s what happened. And keeps happening. So please know that your destiny may be something you neither plan for nor see coming at all.
In collaborating with Ahmed, I’ve gained a friend, a project partner, and a community of people who love the children of CampsBreakerz, who want their story told, and who want them and all Palestinian children to truly live in peace, safety, and freedom. To dance (and learn and grow and smile and live) without threat of bombs or the reality of occupation.
OUR FEET WERE NOT ON THE EARTH is a small part of that belief, hope, love, goal.
Interview with Navjot Kaur of Saffron Press
WE ARE CHEESEMAKERS, AN INCREDIBLE PICTURE BOOK from Saffron Press!
Words by Navjot Kaur; art by Parmeet Arora Bori.
Pre-orders for spring!
I was delighted to interview Navjot. She’s not only a dear friend, talented writer, and devoted custodian of story, but everything she does is with intention, love, and the utmost rigor and resolve. Her work at Saffron Press the last 14 years is an example of true devotion to gorgeous books that center culture and children—creating “citizens of change.”
Our interview:
Will you please tell us about the origin of this fascinating, beautiful, absolutely standout story?
Navjot Kaur: Years ago, I watched a documentary made by film students for a festival in LA. It told the story of a family who had migrated to Italy from Panjab. The father worked in a local dairy farm making Parmigiano - the hours were long and the work, not easy. It was not a cheese I had ever associated with Panjabis before watching this film and for years since, I'd thought about writing a story about cheesemaking...
As a vegetarian, I LOVE cheese! Paneer has always been a staple in our home – our mum makes it from scratch, and would crumble it into the most magnificent melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness that I have tried to replicate.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a cheese that I discovered much later and enjoy very much. Recently, I’m exploring vegan cheeses and including more variety in our meals at home.
A behind-the-scenes peek: We are working on a meaningful campaign launching soon with an amazing chef who will share insight about little known cheeses found on his travels and some innovative recipes!
“This is the real work of equity – ensuring an industry for future creators which creates space for all of us to succeed – and that begins with being informed about, supporting and amplifying independent publishing.”
—Navjot Kaur
It would be a dream to grow this press and amplify new authors and creators, but there are financial and systemic barriers to growth in this industry. I am content for now, with the humble knowledge that every single title produced through Saffron Press has disrupted what was once considered unachievable by a small (micro), independent (federally and provincially unfunded) press…
We have seen Palestinians become journalists filming live from the ground, tirelessly and in constant imminent danger, so that the world can see what is actually happening oceans away. The grief witnessed has been felt in our souls. This is a time to recognize grassroots work, human stories amplified by community voices, not traditional news powerhouses.
“Cheesemaking is a story shared through our universal love for soil and what it means to each of us, for gathering and eating with those we love. Stories such as these do not always start or even end happily but they are stories we share to remember the fragility of the land and legacies lost due to systems of power.”
—Navjot Kaur
How does the process of cheesemaking relate to migration, land, and soil?
Soil is critical to survival, not only from the simplistic idea of nutrients and minerals being transferred into the foods we eat but also by soil being the basis of farming and agricultural work, which connects to food and climate justice too. These are complex, multi-layered issues which have often times forced the very caretakers of lands and soils to be made invisible, or even erased. Their survival needs are ignored and in Panjab, this has led to fatal outcomes.
“Migration is sometimes the result of human needs not being met on one soil, so humans travel to find another to cultivate. In We Are Cheesemakers, a map shows a land divided during Partition – dividing people from their home soil – there is a nod to the Farmer’s Protest and Panjab becoming a desert. I imagined how people would have felt a pull to their homes but were being pushed away.”
—Navjot Kaur
Where did the idea of stitching and sewing come from in the art? Was it from the phrase “push and pull”?
If you look closely at the map, the illustrator - Parmeet Arora Bori – has created the five rivers of Panjab from one spool of blue thread. The thread snaps as the land separates. In parallel, later in the story, curds and whey separate. There is a push and pull rhythm throughout the entire story, mirroring the push and pull of migration, as well as waves in the treacherous oceans crossed and also in the milk being warmed, used to create cheese.
We had decided on using a phulkari pattern to interpret pre-partition Panjab – Phulkari is a traditional Panjabi heritage weave pattern passed down from one generation to another. The historical drawings highlight the Farmers Protest when farmers across boundaries came together collectively to bring awareness to unjust laws.
“Independent publishing was established for the most part to create safe spaces for historically marginalized narratives without entry to well-guarded gates. “
—Navjot Kaur
Pre-order WE ARE CHEESEMAKERS; find Saffron Press on Instagram.
February TO MAKE/making events with students + educators
I got to be part of Author-Go-Round with the Santa Barbara County of Education for its 55th year! Hundreds of students attended—and it was one of the most well-organized events I’ve ever been part of. Plus, the kids were eager, delightful readers!! And makers! Check out their maker ribbons!
“It’s really cool to go around and meet different authors and see how they write their stories. It’s very inspiring…” said one participating student from…the Goleta Union School District.
How special are these thank you notes that just arrived?
And how hilarious are the giant photo heads the hosts made of us??!!
Then I got to present and make with educators at STEAM Symposium in San Diego with my friend Lauren who runs the Octavia Lab at LA Public Library! We talked about Community through Reading and Creating: Making with Picture Books, Identity, and Technology. And made zines!!
Thank you for spending this time with me and for reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.
I loved reading about how your book came to be (which has such a beautiful, thoughtful title), and your friendship with Ahmed! Thank you for sharing. <3