- HOMEGROWN WORLD
- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
Blending nostalgia with cultural relevance, Bento Magazine reimagines children’s print media through South Asian storytelling, interactive activities, and thoughtful design. Created by Peerbagh, it offers young readers a screen-free, tactile experience that encourages curiosity, creativity, and connection. With themes like body positivity and hands-on elements such as recipes and games, Bento goes beyond reading, becoming a shared family ritual rooted in culture and imagination.
Growing up, I would wait every Wednesday with bated breath for 'Magic Pot' magazine to arrive with the newspaper. Its mischievous characters and playful, irreverent stories sparked my imagination long before I was fully immersed in the world of books. In many ways, it was my first introduction to storytelling as something almost alive and tangible.
There’s a common misconception that children’s literature belongs to a narrow, age-bound demographic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Magazines like these are rich with folklore, curiosity, and cultural memory, often weaving in complex ideas beneath layers of humour and whimsy. They have a unique ability to translate difficult or abstract themes into something accessible without diluting their meaning. And beyond the writing, they are often always thoughtfully designed.
Perhaps most importantly, representation in children’s media matters, if not more than in any other form. The stories we encounter early on shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. When children see their languages, cultures, and lived experiences reflected back at them, it affirms their place within the narrative. 'Bento', a quarterly children’s magazine brought together by Peerbagh, a non-profit based out of Austin Texas, aims to do the same for South Asian children.
Inspired by South Asian stories and culture, Bento is a print magazine for all children (and their parents) above the age of eight. In a time when screens dominate the way both children and adults consume entertainment, magazines like Bento offer a much-needed alternative. There’s something deeply valuable about that tactile experience of holding a magazine, transforming reading from a flippant scrolling rampage to a much more intentional and hands on experience that forms genuine connection.
Each issue of Bento is thoughtfully built around a central theme — the latest, 'Bravo Avocado', for instance, explores body positivity and self-love (topics that adults should also look into). Every edition is packed with interactive elements like quizzes, family games, creative prompts, and even recipes that transform reading into a shared experience. From trying their hand at libir libir, a traditional Nepali hand-rolled pasta, to exploring dishes like Afghan dalda, the magazine becomes a facilitator of activity and discovery within the home for the whole family. It grounds young readers in a sense of cultural belonging while simultaneously nurturing their curiosity about the world beyond their immediate surroundings.
Bento feels like a more intentional way of engaging with stories and with each other. It invites children to participate, to question, to create, and to connect. And in doing so, it extends that invitation to adults as well. It is a reminder to us that children’s media doesn’t have to be simplistic to be accessible, and that the stories we grow up with continue to shape us long after we’ve outgrown their intended age group. And at a time when attention is fragmented, culture is often flattened and authentic representation has become increasingly important across the world, Bento moves away from the shallow and dives into the deep end of storytelling — striking a balance that is both joyful and expansive.
