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Baljinder Kaur

@blahjinder

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Artist // Illustrator
Lost and Found at The Gurdwara [Pre-order🙂]

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Join us for an inspiring evening with award-winning children's book illustrator Baljinder Kaur @blahjinder, as she shares the story behind her latest book, Lost and Found at the Gurdwara.

Based in the West Midlands, Baljinder is the creator of this joyful search-and-find adventure celebrating Sikh culture and community.

Baljinder's other books include The Sleeper Train, which won the V&A Children's Illustration Award in 2026 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Baljinder will talk about her journey as an author and illustrator, the ideas and experiences that inspire her work, and the creative process behind bringing a children's book to life.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions, followed by time to meet and socialise with fellow illustrators and members of the creative community.

Books will be available to purchase, either in advance when booking your free ticket or on the evening. Any books purchased in advance can be collected at The Jointworks during the event.

Whether you're an illustrator, an aspiring author, a student, or simply curious about children's books and illustration, come along for an evening of inspiration, conversation and creativity.

Tickets are free — we look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday 19th November, 7pm at The Jointworks, 45 Frederick St, Birmingham, B1 3HN.

Event organised in collaboration with @bhamdsgn and kindly hosted by the @thejointworks

Picnic is an informal meet up for illustrators in Birmingham supported by @theaoi, a non-profit membership organisation for illustrators. The meet-up is open to all illustrators at any stage in their career.

#illustration #childrensbookillustration #birmingham

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LOST AND FOUND AT THE GURDWARA by Baljinder Kaur.
Published by HarperCollins.

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Reading Corner | Lost and Found at the Gurdwara

I am so excited to share this book with you all today! It’s one of those special, one-of-a-kind books that you’ll want on your child’s bookshelf but also a copy for yourself.

“Lost and Found at the Gurdwara” written and illustrated by Baljinder Kaur @blahjinder and published by Harper Collins @harperkids , is not only a fun and engaging picture book, but one that fills me with nostalgia and reminds me so much of my own childhood growing up in a Sikh home within the heart of the Sikh community.

In this story, we join Darshan and her family as they attend the Gurdwara and prepare for the Nagar Kirtan celebrations. Along the way, we meet a whole host of wonderful characters (I love all their names!).

This book is special in so many ways:
✨It’s a seek-and-find book specifically focused on the Gurdwara and Nagar Kirtan celebrations.
✨It’s super fun and engaging for your kids to read the prompts and look for items on each page of the book.
✨The details of each illustration are stunning. You’ll find yourself lingering over the illustrations and noticing new details.
✨The book includes a meaningful note from the author/illustrator and a glossary of terms.

The book is now available in North America (link in bio) and will be available in the UK on November 5th.

I’m so grateful to the author/illustrator and publisher for sending me a copy of this book.
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Sikh Parents, Sikh Children, Sikh Mom, Sikh, Sikh Art, Sikh Books, Panjabi, Sikh Children’s Books

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READ NOW! ➡️📚 Something’s gone missing at the gurdwara…can you help Darshan find it?

From Baba’s keys to cupcakes in the Langar Hall, LOST AND FOUND AT THE GURDWARA is a joyful search-and-find adventure set during a vibrant Nagar Kirtan celebration!

📖Lost and Found at the Gurdwara by Baljinder Kaur

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A trip to London to have a proper look at my work in the V&A and enjoy my moment in this incredible museum as overall winner of the V&A Illustration Awards 2026. My poster Views of Glasgow on display as well as some roughs and a few of the many pieces of artwork that I blended digitally to make the whole finished thing.
Lots to admire in the exhibition of winners and runners-up including great work by @juliepereiradg and @a.burel.illustration (no pics, sorry) and (slides 8-11) @vannyshaillustrates @blahjinder @crayonlegs @neasdencontrolcentrestudio
The London exhibition has just finished but it will be launched anew in V&A Dundee in the new year.

Also enjoyed a visit to the new @qbcentre
Quentin Blake Punch cover from 1958
and work by @fridakahlo
and Manuel Lopez at #tatemodern

thanks @juliepereiradg for photo of me

@vamuseum
@hunterianglasgow
@woodlandscommunityglasgow
@lilyegsmith

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On the UN International Day of Peace, I’m honoured to share that I am part of this beautiful book ❤️

At a time when children are being killed, displaced from their homes, and growing up amid constant turbulence, conflict and invasion, this book is a reminder of what peace means — and of how deeply our children are being failed by the world.

I can’t wait to share my part of this book and, to share what peace means to me as a Syrian.

@harpercollinsuk @ken_wilson_max @litagentclare @natelessore @chrishaughton @benjidavies

#internationalpeaceday

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We forgot to pack The Sleeper Train — but on our overnight ride to Mysore, my daughter remembered every page. The berth, the food, the stations rolling by, she carried the whole story with her from memory.

Lovely timing too: this book has just been shortlisted for the 2026 CILIP Carnegie Medal for Illustration.

✍️ Mick Jackson
🎨 @blahjinder
📚 @walkerbooksuk @walkerpicturebooks

#readwithrev #TheSleeperTrain #ChildrensBooks #BedtimeStoryTime #kidsbooksofinstagram

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I’ve been a @blahjinder fan for quite a while, so when I found out she had illustrated The Sleeper Train I immediately added it to our order list. Beautifully written by Mick Jackson, it tells the story of a little girl too excited to sleep on an overnight train, so she thinks back to all the other places she has fallen asleep.

Baljinder Kaur was born in England to parents who migrated from Panjab, and her work often, and intimately, reflects the Panjabi and Sikh diaspora experience. I fell in love with her little vignettes on Instagram and it’s a real pleasure to finally have one of her books in the shop. A delight from beginning to end, it was shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Medal for Illustration. Swipe through and get lost in the details!

#parketteshop #picturebooks #bedtimestories #kidlit

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Exploring the world with these 9 picture books.
Today marks International Literacy Day and September marks World Kid Lit Month.
We all know that reading is hugely beneficial, let’s continue to introduce readers to more diverse cultures and new places with the help of good books.
May this reading continue to promote mutual understanding, empathy and respect, particularly in these testing times.
May such books continue to bring joy, including to those individuals who are being seen and represented.
Literacy matters!

These 9 picture books are brimming with engaging artwork and each with unique storylines. A great route to seeing more of the world. If you’d like to know more about any of the books included, ask away.
Books featured:

🪷Mama’s Special Wonton Soup by Wai Mei Wong, Xin Yue Zhu, @lantana_publishing

🌺 Sing to the Moon by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl, Sandra Van Doorn, Lantana publishing.

🌷 No, Nancy, No! By Alice Tait, @walkerbooksus

🌺 My Grandma And Me by Mina Javaherbin, Lindsey Yankey, @walkerpicturebooks

🌷 L is for Love by Atinuke, Angela Brooksbank, Walker publishing.

🪷Dogger by Shirley Hughes, Random House Children’s Books.

🌺 Olive Harvest in Palestine by Wafa Shami, Shaima Farouki, Gate advertising.

🌷 The Sleeper Train by Mick Jackson, Baljinder Kaur, Walker publishing.

🌺 Is it a Mermaid? By Candy Gourlay, Francesca Chessa, @otterbarrybooks.

#InternationalLiteracyDay #Diversebooks #Raisingcuriouskids #Childrenslibrary #worldkidlitmonth

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I attended an absolutely brilliant creative session facilitated by the amazing @blahjinder at @soniaandnikkis

I am the last creative person you will ever meet. However, @blahjinder encouraged everyone to simply choose what spoke to us and be expressive....I thought I could definitely give that a try.

It was beautiful to simply pause life, take a break from the dissertation, connect with other souls over coffee, cakes and #art

It was amazing to hear @soniaandnikkis story behind this ultra gorgeous cafe and the link back to @blahjinder ❤️ We honestly cannot underestimate what beautiful moments are waiting to show up in our lives. All we need to do is lean within, connect with our hearts and believe that something beautiful is unfolding.

Life is #magical if we believe it to be 🎯

I chose the words that spoke to my soul and somehow created a little booklet from it (to be shared separately).

All in all, a #mindful morning spent with beautiful women having a banter, a wonderful pause from the structured dissertation writing, 1:1 time with the oldest attempting free-flow creativity, all of this while checking out this cute little stunning cafe by an Amritdhari mother-daughter duo 🎉

If you haven't been there yet, I highly recommend it as you don't know what you're missing out on ☺️

Align | Intention | Purpose

Ps. The event was sold-out and I had registered on the waiting list for 2 seats. 2 people could not attend and I was contacted if I was still interested in attending. This is how the universe works. Any small or big moments that have your name written on them, will not pass you. All we need to do is set the intention, take aligned action and surrender the outcome.

Watch the magic of living in #flow flow unfold 💫

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The output of a quick trip to @foylesforbooks

@blahjinder I am IN LOVE with #TheSleeperTrain (Mick Jackson, @walkerbooksuk); there's a joyous sense of finding home in everywhere we travel with loved ones that flows through your artwork and it's just impeccable! I so wish every child could read it at bedtime, not least when travelling!!! 🎉🙌

#FoylesBookshop #PictureBooks #ChildrensAuthor

Was the room spinning?

Or was I on an escalator, venturing into The Big Apple

(Well, I was venturing into the London equivalent - maybe we just go with The Big GHERKIN! I was on an escalator in a tube station venturing into THE BIG GHERKIN aka LONDON!)

The longer I was there, the more I was reminded that Londoners are FULL of CONFIDENCE! A perfect reminder to BE BRAVE; SO, I went to...

FOYLES‼️‼️‼️ Looking for a copy of Mole. 🫣

@foylesforbooks #TheMoleAndTheMound @postwave_books #KasiaFryza

We FOUND (and SIGNED) fresh copies of Mole - WAHOOOO!!! @kasia_fryza_illustration

#TheMoleAndTheMound @postwave_books

And here you'll find him, sat next to my new favourite book(s) in Foyles Charing Cross. 😊😆

@foylesforbooks @postwave_books @kasia_fryza_illustration

Finally... [Buns from] Home time 🚊🥐😊

@bunsfromhome

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Come with me to the Cake, Coffee & Create workshop at @soniaandnikkis 🌱💕

Such a lovely session filled with creativity, networking and meeting new people. Thank you so much to the lovely @blahjinder for hosting such a beautiful space! 🫶🏽

And of course, I couldn’t leave without trying the mocha with coconut milk & triple chocolate cookie… both were SO delicious 🤎☕️🍪

#CakeCoffeeCreate #BirminghamCreatives #WolverhamptonEvents #CreativeCommunity #artwork

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