Vancouver based South Asian lawyer launches book to teach kids gratitude

0
206

Children Who Dance in the Rain follows Sophie a young girl who’s trip to India unveils an understanding of privilege and gratitude
VANCOUVER, BC: BC-based legal children’s advocate and author Susan Justice has launched her first book Children Who Dance in the Rain in US on May 15. Compassion Project Press announced her book will be available in Canada on June 15, 2023.
The book has already won the 2023 Human Relations Children’s Book of the Year, said press release Compassion Project Press.
Justice, a dedicated lawyer and advocate based in Vancouver, BC, co-founded South Asians Against Childhood Abuse an organization dedicated to ending cycles of abuse and prevention through strong advocacy and unyielding awareness. Her mission to better the lives of children continues with her inaugural children’s book, Children Who Dance in the Rain. 
The captivating 32-page picture book aspires to gently enlighten young readers about the complex realities that pervade our world, fostering gratitude for the resources and opportunities they are fortunate to have at their disposal.
“I have always been driven to make a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children, particularly those in the South Asian community,” says Justice. “As a mother, a woman of colour and a passionate advocate for the next generation, I wanted to write a book that shines a light on the vast disparity among how children live globally, our negative relationship with material possessions, technology, and the natural world. It’s an uplifting story that touches on these pressing issues, the importance of our human interconnectedness and the value of living with gratitude and generosity.” 

Children Who Dance in the Rain follows Sophie, a young girl who travels to India to visit her grandmother. She is surprised that people in the village live very differently, with little electricity, no internet, and none of the luxuries that she has in her daily life. Sophie is disheartened and wants to go home. She isn’t able to see the beauty around her, appreciate the animals roaming freely, or feel the connection the children have to the natural world around them until she meets an orphan named Nanaki. Nanaki has very few possessions, doesn’t go to school, and works hard in order to take care of her brother. She has so little, yet is full of joy and grateful for the world and people around her. When Sophie returns home, she has a newfound gratitude and appreciation for things in her life that she took for granted and understands the meaning of privilege. 

Children Who Dance in the Rain will provide families and educators of young children an opportunity to have a dialogue about these important themes. True to one of its core themes about giving back, 100% percent of net proceeds from every fourth copy of Justice’s book will go to Save The Children, GiveWell and Bright Sparks School in Mohali, India, who are dedicated to providing education opportunities for underprivileged children. The book is available now for pre-order in the US on Amazon, the ebook is available in Canada now on Amazon and the physical book will be available in Chapters-Indigo stores on June 15th, 2023.