Creating Mirrors and Windows Through Storytelling
As part of Refugee Week, we’re delighted to shine a light on Moubani Roy Choudhury, a Wolverton-based multilingual children’s author whose work celebrates language, culture, identity and belonging.
Moubani writes dual-language Bengali-English children’s books inspired by her experiences as a mother, storyteller and member of a dual-heritage family. Through her stories, she aims to help children see themselves reflected in the books they read while also encouraging curiosity and understanding about different cultures and languages.
What began as a personal project to share her Bengali heritage with her son has grown into a collection of six published books. Moubani is now developing storytelling sessions, workshops and literacy activities for schools, libraries and community groups, helping children explore themes of kindness, inclusion, emotions and cultural identity through stories.
Although not a refugee herself, Moubani’s experiences of living between cultures, navigating identity and creating a sense of belonging for the next generation resonate strongly with many of the themes explored during Refugee Week. Through her writing, she champions inclusion, representation and the value of embracing different languages, cultures and perspectives.
Moubani describes books as both “mirrors” and “windows” – mirrors that help children see themselves represented and windows that allow others to experience different cultures and perspectives. We think this is a wonderful way to build understanding, confidence and belonging within our communities.
To learn more about Moubani’s journey as a multilingual children’s author, her experiences of identity and belonging, and her advocacy for inclusion, we encourage you to read her personal story on Medium:
You can also find out more about Moubani and her work through her website and social media:
Through her books, storytelling and community work, Moubani continues to champion inclusion, representation and the power of stories to help children and families feel seen, valued and connected.
We are delighted to be connected with Moubani and look forward to exploring opportunities to work together, while helping her build connections with local VCSE organisations, community groups and partners across Milton Keynes.
Photo credit: https://moubani.com/