Storytime Sunday: Mixed Rice with Sophie Sarkar

Storytime Sundays kicks off the year with author Sophie Sarkar and her delightful new book, Mixed Rice, a multicultural tale of food, feelings, and finding Home Together, published by Berkeley’s Parallax Press, a nonprofit publisher founded by Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. Kids will also receive their own “storytime passport” that they can use to collect signatures from authors throughout the year. Join us for a reading, mindful eating moment, and a celebration of diverse stories.

Sophie Dipti Sarkar (she/her) is a Bengali, Japanese, and English American artist and community organizer, deeply rooted in the Engaged Buddhist tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Her multifaceted artistry—including paintings, mobiles, zines, workshops, and more—blends creativity, mindfulness, and social justice education to support communities to heal and build solidarity. Through her interactive readings, Sophie invites children to explore self-love, celebrate food traditions, and practice mindfulness through fun, creative activities. Her work has been featured in galleries and schools in the U.S. and U.K., including SOMArts San Francisco and Philadelphia’s Asian Arts Initiative, and she is a recipient of the Leeway Foundation’s 2022 Transformation Award.