Latest news with #Duckbill
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Books to teach children about India's rich history and culture
The Indian children's publishing industry has sounded the bugle for a new kind of revolution — one that makes reading history cool. From graphic novels to fictionalised stories set against the backdrop of major historical events, children's authors are exploring interesting ways to bring context and nuances that will make Indian history come alive for children. Here are some recommended reads: 'Songs of Freedom' series (Duckbill) by multiple authors These stories follow the life of a child living in India grappling with the effects of an event in the struggle for Indian Independence allowing young readers to understand what life may have been like during the freedom struggle. 'After Midnight: A History of Independent India' (Penguin) by Meghaa Gupta What happened when the British left India? How did a country so divided unite to become the country we know and love today? From unifying the princely states to a single-minded focus on progress and development, this book details everything that has happened from 1947 to today. '565: The Dramatic Story of Unifying India' (Hachette) by Mallika Ravikumar The amazing story of how a team persuaded 565 princely states to join the independent nation of India to become one nation. 'History Unpacked' (Duckbill) by Saisudha Acharya How much do we know about Ancient India? This book will unwrap the connection ancient India had to the rest of the world in a rib-tickling, laugh-out-loud manner! Reading history has never been more fun! 'A History of South India for Children' (Hachette) by Pradeep Chakravarthy Take a trip to South India and read about what life was like when the Pandyas, Cholas, Cheras, and other famous dynasties were in power. 'Travelling Treasures' (Hachette) by Mala Kumar Find out how all the things we take for granted today — from ketchup to corn and steel tumblers to umbrellas — came to India. This is an amazing, alphabetical journey through history. 'The Puffin History of India' by Roshen Dalal A comprehensive book, detailing history from the Indus Valley Civilisation all the way to Independent India in 1947 — this book is well researched and a joy to read. 'A Children's History of India in a 100 Objects' (Puffin) by Devika Cariapa The fascinating history of India told through 100 treasures that have shaped our nation in a manner that will fascinate and enthral the reader. 'The People of the Indus' (Penguin) by Nikhil Gulati with Jonathan Mark Kenoyer When a graphic novel crosses paths with ancient Indian history, the reader gets a book that will educate, fascinate, and make immediate history buffs of even the most discerning reader. 'The Book of Emperors: An Illustrated History of the Mughals' (Puffin) by Ashwitha Jayakumar and Nikhil Gulati Get acquainted with Mughal emperors as though they are people you know and mingle with. Jaykumar's amazing research brings the Mughals to life in one of the more fantastic ways to learn about India's history. 'Krishna Deva Raya: King of Kings' (Hachette) by Roopa Pai and Archana Sreenivasan A lively, richly illustrated retelling of the life and legacy of the Vijayanagara Empire's greatest ruler, Krishna Deva Raya, for young readers. 'India's Freedom Story' (HarperCollins) by Ira Saxena and Nilima Sinha An engaging, accessible journey through India's struggle for independence, brought to life for young readers with vivid storytelling and historical insight. 'Girls of India' series (Puffin) by multiple authors Step into the annals of history with this fiction series where young girls tackle challenges and make their mark. 'The Missing Rocks of Hampi' (BluOne Ink) by Mala Kumar Two mysteries, both set in Hampi. While Devyani and her siblings, 'The Seekers', go about solving a mystery to help their mother in modern India, we also travel back to Vijayanagara in 1407 to help Subha unravel a plot against the kingdom 'Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why' (Tulika) by Sowmya Rajendran An inspiring picture-book biography of B.R. Ambedkar, tracing his childhood curiosity and determination to challenge injustice. 'Ahimsa' (Scholastic) by Supriya Kelkar A moving historical novel about a young girl whose life changes when her mother joins Gandhi's freedom movement, challenging her to stand up for justice and equality. 'A Children's History of India' (Rupa Publications) by Subhadra Sen Gupta A captivating, child-friendly retelling of India's history, weaving together key events, cultures, and personalities from ancient times to the present. Podcasts 'India Unveiled' by Rakesh Soni 'Empire' by William Dalrymple and Anita Soni The writer is founder of Mother of Readers, a platform championing Indian children's literature.
Fast Company
07-08-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Successful companies will integrate AI training into workflow
Most of us are failingat AI. While nearly 90% of CEOs expect AI to transform their organizations, only 16-23% report seeing meaningful value today. As a result, employers and employees are losing out. Employees are significantly undertrained in AI. Yet, they feel the pressure to keep up. Only about one-third of workers report receiving employer-provided AI training, and of those who aren't receiving training, 34% of them want their employers to provide it. Meanwhile, employers face unprecedented pressure to innovate faster—all while navigating rapid changes in technology and the economy. Boards and investors are urging fast adoption of AI, but many companies don't know how, given high expectations, questionable results, and a wildly uncertain future. The companies that will succeed are the ones that can integrate AI into their workflow. The rest will be left behind. By investing in training for their employees, employers can reap the benefits of AI almost immediately, while better preparing its teams, businesses, and communities for whatever the future holds. Here are three ways companies can harness the value of AI. 1. Use AI to unlock your talent pool Because Amanda, a Duckbill employee, lives with chronic pain, traditional job roles were unsustainable, and freelance work didn't offer reliable pathways to upskilling. Through structured training with Duckbill's technology, Amanda was able to transition into a flexible, AI-integrated role. The result: She's trained to take on future roles in tech that are accessible and flexible enough for her. As are all our other employees. 2. Invest in human-AI partnerships Elizabeth stepped back from her career to start a very difficult job: parenthood. She re-entered the workforce with a role at Duckbill, where she received tech training. As a Duckbill copilot, Elizabeth completes life administrative tasks for Duckbill members, using her knowledge to create real value for clients by combining AI-generated information and adding her lived experience and empathetic listening. For example, when a customer and fellow mother asked a parenting question, Elizabeth used AI to generate a research-backed foundation for an answer, then layered her own story, creating a richer, more meaningful connection while completing the member's task. The result: When leadership prioritizes human-AI workflows, it delivers both efficiency and emotional intelligence. 3. Embed AI training in career development Amanda is teaching both humans and AI at Duckbill. As a team leader, she onboards new copilots, teaching them how to use Duckbill's proprietary AI technology, and in the process working with engineers to help develop better tools that serve both copilots and members efficiently. Amanda's progression is part of a larger, employer-built framework: Every role is paired with built-in AI fluency milestones, career development paths, and mentorship programs. Embedding AI literacy into Duckbill's career development, rather than treating it as a nice-to-have, turns training into infrastructure. The result: Adaptability isn't dependent on a few tech-savvy individuals; it's systemic and sustainable, even in an uncertain economy. It's time to sink or swim AI skilling for non-technical employees benefits employers and drives immediate-term efficiency, efficacy, and engagement. AI skilling gives employees the best possible chance to keep up with the demands of an AI economy and helps to build tech that brings out the best in our human teams. The choice is yours: Reap the benefits of AI or get left behind like the other 84%. Meghan Joyce is cofounder and CEO of Duckbill.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Majority of Parents Are Just ‘Getting Through the Day' Instead of Enjoying It
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Last night I attempted (rather unsuccessfully) to sleep through the sound of my son's incessant coughing from his bedroom. (Far too) soon, I woke up to a hungry baby, and one daughter who needed help getting ready for dance camp, while another wanted a ride to the gym. It was all in a matter of 10 minutes. Upon returning from the urgent gym run, I could no longer put off a growing list of doctor and dentist appointments to schedule. At the same time, emails are flooding my inbox about summer math modules, practice schedule changes, and fees for upcoming clinics. The day ahead is packed with carpools, errands, feedings, and meals to plan and prepare. All I can think is, 'Just let me get through this day.' This is why I completely relate to the sentiments in a new report from Duckbill and The Harris Poll. They surveyed American parents and found that most of us (65%) are 'just getting through the day' rather than enjoying it. Interestingly, while married parents who make more than $100,000 are slightly less burdened by the tasks of modern life, half still report that they are just doing their best to get through the day too. As a mom of six, days like the one I mentioned are not the exception. They are the rule. I rush around trying to make life happen for my family. I'm constantly pulled away from conversations and thoughts by requests to find a Lego and questions like, 'What can I do?' or 'What can I eat?' Through it all, I'm also responsible for uplifting six people with problems ranging from getting a boo-boo to getting their heart broken. It's exhausting and leaves little time to focus on myself. Not all is lost, however. Given that this study and others are finally shining a light on parents' mental load, a major benefit has emerged: We are also being encouraged to start thinking about ways to refocus our attention on joy. Here's what I try and focus on—even when it feels impossible on some days. For me, seeing how quickly my kids are growing up gives me an immense sense of appreciation for just how fleeting this time with them really is. My oldest is about to head off to college—although I swear it was only a few years ago she was a little girl dressing up in Disney princess dresses and asking for string cheese. I also have younger children, with my littlest being just 5 months old. The kids' big age gap puts a lot in perspective, and I am able to actually enjoy their challenging stages, rather than just wishing they would move on from teething, tantrums, or middle school. It'll be over way too soon, I now realize. My experience has also allowed me—at times—to resist the instinct to simply survive, and rather, be more present in the good and bad moments that inevitably characterize each day as a parent. I'll often force myself to stop worrying about what I have to do later or tomorrow, and center on what is happening right now, be it that my baby just giggled for the first time, or that my 4-year-old is upset over having to be in the car for longer than 15 minutes. Being in the moment doesn't always provide the greatest sense of joy, but it does lessen my anxiety about what's next, or what's not done yet. According to the new data, women are most likely to suffer from guilt and the overwhelming sense that even if they have a spare moment, they should be doing something else. We are also the least likely to ask for help—and even struggle with the misguided belief that our needs are not as important as those of others. But I have learned to claim one thing I love, just for me, each day: yoga. Sometimes I get 45 minutes by myself at the gym to immerse myself in a really amazing practice. Other days, I fight to complete a 15-minute YouTube class at home amidst a whining baby and A Minecraft Movie blasting on the TV, leaving my boys laughing uproariously, although they've already watched the "Steve's Lava Chicken" part 1,000 times. My advice to any parent who is struggling is to find that one thing that you love and stake your claim on it. Maybe working out is your one non-negotiable, or perhaps it's getting time to call your sister. You might be determined to blow dry your hair in the morning to feel like yourself, or get away to meet a friend for lunch. Whatever your thing is, make it happen, hopefully with the support of a partner or loved one. When it comes to challenging situations with my kids, which take place on multiple occasions throughout the day, I find it helps to just be real about how I'm feeling. I might confess to my kids that, "Mommy is overwhelmed and needs a minute." Or, I'll vent to my husband—or ask him to step in. A few close friends can totally relate, so staying connected to them is a huge boon. Finally, a mantra I have learned to live by is that it's better to be laughing than crying. Picture this: my baby is suffering from a diaper blowout at the same time my preschooler is screaming about his shirt being on backwards, while my 7-year-old is demanding to watch a show after I told him 100 times his screen time is over for the day. Sure, my inclination may be to burst into tears, but I'll do my best to find humor in the circumstance instead. Anyone else want to torture me with an outburst at this very moment? Ha! Ultimately, we should absolutely be aiming higher than just trying to survive until bedtime. The goal of finding joy amid the chaos could not be more important, both because a grumpy, frazzled parent sets a poor example for our kids, and because parents deserve to be happy, too, even if it's for 15 minutes. Read the original article on Parents
Travel Weekly
23-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Departure Lounge
2024 sales: $340 million Previous ranking: 55 Employees: 15 full-time Box 26545 Austin, TX 78755 Phone: (512)322-9399 Website $340 million5515 full-timeBox 26545Austin, TX 78755Phone: (512)322-9399 Executives OWNER/FOUNDER: Keith Waldon COMPANY FACTS * Privately held. * An international luxury host agency with advisors in 11 countries. * Works with 320 independent contractors. * 100% of sales completed by hosted advisors. * Sales: 95% leisure, 5% business. * A member of Virtuoso. DEVELOPMENTS * Added 112 advisors, including 30 new to the industry. * Added client-facing private booking portals. * 34 first-year, new-to-industry advisors (added in 2023) sold $26 million in 2024. * Expanded international footprint of advisors. LOOKING AHEAD * Continuing what it terms "careful growth." * Enhancing technology. * Offering new educational and exclusive travel products. * Forming partnerships with companies such as Duckbill, a concierge service app; adding programs to existing partnerships such as with Texas Exes, the alumni association of the University of Texas. * Booked more than $100 million in first two months in 2025, so "off to very strong start; otherwise predicting the world we live in currently is quite difficult."
Mint
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Pride Month 2025: Stories of gender identity for kids
There are many layers to Rain Must Fall. This graphic novel—a gripping ghost story—is about Rumi and an apparition called Rain. Rendered in black-and-white, this poignant book by Nandita Basu follows an important chapter in the life of a young adolescent, who accompanies their father to a small village of Shankerpur to help him convert the ancestral home into a bed-and-breakfast space. There, Rumi encounters Rain, who is unable to recall the circumstances that led him to become a ghost. Rain isn't the only one who is conflicted in this story. Before coming to Shankerpur, Rumi was disheartened by their best friend's reaction, when they disclosed about identifying as a non-binary. Their parents too can't understand how Rumi 'doesn't believe she is anything—boy or girl". At the heart of it, Rain Must Fall is a story of healing and acceptance—of the ghost and the adolescent coming to terms with their own identities. Though this is not a new book—it was published by Duckbill in October 2021—it should be on the reading list of everyone aged upwards of 9-12. Stories such as these become a pertinent entry point for both parents and kids into themes of gender diversity. It is never too early to introduce children to a more inclusive and empathetic world, and fiction makes it easier to approach such complex subjects. One can find picture books, early readers and novels for pre-teens and young adults on themes of gender identity either written by queer authors or featuring queer protagonists. Unlike books written a decade earlier, which took a tokenistic and an in-your-face approach, in recent years, the subject has been woven into a multi-layered narrative, thereby normalising gender diversity through age-appropriate language and content. Also read: A new anthology of writings from south Asia celebrates marginalised voices There are a mix of books—some new and others published in the last five years—that families, librarians and educators can refer to when it comes to talking about queer families, the genesis of Pride History Month and gender acceptance. One such example is Ritu Weds Chandni for children aged five and above, which is a story about a same-sex relationship and highlights that love transcends all boundaries. Then there is Reva and Prisha, authored and illustrated by Shals Mahajan, a queer feminist author, about alternate family structures featuring two mothers and a set of twins. This is a must-read for children, who are growing up in same-sex households and are looking for understanding and acceptance. It can also be shared with peers and educators to highlight the many kinds of families that can exist in the world. Another sensitive book on the same subject is A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Qin Leng. For older kids, in addition to titles such asRain Must Fall,several recent books have featured non-binary protagonists. A 2023-book, Porcupines in my Pants and Other Craziness, is about a gender-neutral protagonist, who lives in a futuristic city on a planet called Maari. Authored by Anupama Ramanujam and published by Hachette India Children's Books, this title is meant for 8-12 year olds. The story, which sees a pre-teen being packed off by the Council of Elders for Young People on a coming-of-age journey across the heartlands, is about self-acceptance. Another book about self-discovery is Daisies in the Wild, for readers aged 13 and above, set in the midst of a rioting Darjeeling and centred around Inayat, Pema and Nidra. Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir is another pertinent story for young adults. Authored by Toronto-based Kai Cheng Thom, this surrealist novel published in India by Young Zubaan, is centred around an unnamed young transgender girl. 'She is quickly adopted into the vigilante gang of glamorous warrior femmes called the Lipstick Lacerators, whose mission is to scour the Street of violent men and avenge murdered trans women everywhere," states the publisher's note. Also read: Jane Austen's novels are both a mirror and a map for Gen Z and millennials And if it is non-fiction that you seek, then there are a host of interesting titles for kids there as well. Today, one can find books, which combine themes of body positivity and gender identity. Take, for instance, Bodies are Cool, listed by New York Times' Wirecutter in its 2022-list of 15 LGBTQ books for kids and teens recommended by queer librarians, educators and booksellers. Written and illustrated by Tyler Feder, 'it depicts a diverse array of bodies—of all shapes, sizes, races, and genders, including post-top-surgery trans bodies—paired with playful rhyming text," mentions the article. For those, who want to learn more about LGBTQ+ histories, which don't find a mention in mainstream education, there is Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno. 'Picture books like [these] help introduce young kids to some of those early struggles for queer rights in a way that's 'bright, cheerful, and really relatable'," states theWirecutterarticle. At a time when violence against LGBTQ+ activists and individuals is rising with greater vehemence, it becomes important to tell these stories of equality and pride to the younger generation.
