The Reader's Heart | Guest: Pooja Makhijani

How do we help children understand when someone they love is struggling?

In this episode, Jennifer chats with author and journalist Pooja Makhijani about her picture book Together for Mama, a deeply personal story inspired by her own experience with postpartum depression. Their conversation explores caregiving, South Asian representation, the complicated emotions that can accompany new parenthood, and the importance of showing young readers that asking for help is part of being cared for. Pooja also shares how her work as a journalist shapes the stories she tells for children, why she is drawn to conversations about subjects communities sometimes avoid, and how her forthcoming picture book Aunties expands her exploration of the many people who help care for children.

Show notes, episode transcripts, educator activities, and other goodies can be found here.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Caregiving, Representation, and Welcome to The Reader’s Heart

00:02:11 – Ramona, Nancy Drew, Anne Shirley, and the Characters Who Shaped Pooja as a Reader

00:05:12 – Ramona’s Parents, South Asian Representation, and Modeling Good Caregiving

00:08:19 – Together for Mama: Welcoming a New Baby Into a South Asian Family

00:11:46 – Pooja’s Experience With Postpartum Depression and the Story Behind Together for Mama

00:15:57 – Writing Postpartum Depression for Young Readers Without Hiding Its Complexity

00:20:24 – Letting Mama Get Help: Mental Health, Family Support, and a Hopeful Ending

00:26:51 – Journalism, Picture Books, and Telling the Stories We Don’t Talk About

00:31:10 – South Asian Storytelling, Reincarnation, and Seeing Our Work as Part of a Longer Story

00:34:38 – Aunties, Bonus Adults, and Expanding the Definition of Family

00:36:36 – Closing Credits and Thanks for Listening