Meet Rita Bhandari | Children’s Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rita Bhandari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rita, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

As someone born to a South Asian dad and a French-Canadian mom, “where are you from” is definitely a question I’ve been asked a lot in my life. It’s funny because this question along with questions around origin, ethnicity, race and identity are exactly what influenced me to write a children’s book series on race and racism.

My upbringing and identity has deeply shaped who I am today. I had the unique ability to see things from multiple perspectives as I was immersed in two very different cultures. It’s sparked a lifelong curiosity of the world and the people in it and has given me clarity about my core values and what impact I want to have in the world.

My experiences with the perception of my “race” ranged from ignorance and everyday microaggressions to blatant racism. From frequently being asked “what are you” or “where are you from” to being told to “go back to your country” on the streets of Toronto while wearing an Indian outfit after a wedding (even though this IS my country). One memory that has truly left an imprint on me was when a child threw rocks at me in elementary school while yelling out racial slurs. 

All of this and more inspired me to, first, become a teacher and connect with all of my students and ensure that they feel as if they are learning in a safe and inclusive environment. Second, to educate myself more on equity and inclusion in order to advocate for all students. For instance, I earned a Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell university, three certificates from the Equity Literacy Institute and an Antiracism certificate from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. I became the equity lead at my school and presented at staff meetings and Professional Development days to educate my peers. I also joined a group at the school board level called “Leading Change” which aims to develop and align antiracism leadership competencies. And finally, my background and experiences have inspired me to become a children’s book author of a series called “The Ace Compeers” which, as I mentioned, is an educational series for kids about race and racism.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My book series takes a deep dive into the science, history and social meanings behind race using kid-friendly language and an antiracist framework. The goals are to cater to the child’s already innate curiosity about the world and the people in it, to encourage critical thinking and to shift preconceived ideas of race in order to adopt an accurate understanding of it. The Ace Compeers books are also an educational resource as they have sections within the book with additional information for parents, guardians and teachers. It also includes discussion questions for children, which provides a comfortable, appropriate base from which to launch into discussions about race and diversity. 

I decided to use my teaching skills, lived experiences with racism and ignorance, knowledge from various courses and general curiosity and creativity to make a difference. If my books help just one child, either by validating their experiences or humanity or by preventing them from forming racial bias, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

I don’t believe in destiny, but what I truly believe is that if you’re like me and you feel like you need to do something to make an impact but feel stuck, look inwards. Take care of yourself and heal first. You first need to find out who you are and understand your core values to move forward. Then draw on your strengths and personality to figure out what you need to do. This will be your purpose.

It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose. All I know is that if you feel a need to add value to the world in some capacity, there is a reason for that feeling. Don’t ignore it. That love for the world that you have, that need to make a difference, can easily drown into the pain you feel for the world. And although they aren’t mutually exclusive, if your love for the world and the people in it becomes clouded, indifference will be your coping mechanism.

So lean into that feeling and find yourself. This need that you have to make some kind of impact is your purpose. This isn’t destiny. It’s what your heart really wants. It’s why your heart aches.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my two children, partner, parents and students. I was always passionate about equity, inclusion and making a difference, but once I had my own children, I realized that I never wanted them to experience what I had experienced growing up. I wrote the book I wish I had as a child and the resource I wish I had as a teacher.  The Ace Compeers: The Secrets of Skin Colour is now a gold recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Awards® and a 2022 New York City Big Book Award winner. I now have an award-winning educational children’s book thanks to them!

Website: https://acecompeers.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acecompeers/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rita-bhandari-a622a124b?trk=people-guest_people_search-card

Twitter: https://twitter.com/acecompeers?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Ace-Compeers/100073027567116/