Krishna Bala Shenoi's artwork is stunning. From the black-headed stork to the green pigeon, the pelican to the doves - the illustrations leap off the pages making The Golden Eagle a visual treat.But of course, I choose books based on the story, not just the pictures, and The Golden Eagle is a pacy, exciting read.The white-headed squirrel Shikar has questions. Who were his parents? How did he make friends with the birds? Why did Kabul the bulbul become a mother-figure to him, and why are Lovey and Dovey like his aunt and uncle? The two doves, Lovey and Dovey, set out to tell him his story. It's a long story, full of twists and turns, a story about Regal the golden eagle.I loved The Golden Eagle. Suspense, drama and beautiful characters make it a pacy read, sucking us into a book that full of politics, intrigue and betrayal. Suspense … [Read more...]
Ottoline Goes to School
We read Ottoline and the Yellow Cat at my book club last year, and it was such fun. I enjoy silliness of this kind so much that the book was on my list of favourite chapter books from 2023.And Ottoline Goes to School, which I read in 2022, was one of my favourites from that year. I'm waiting to read it with my book club! Picture Postcards We've made picture postcards at my book club before and it is so much fun! I remember doing it when we read The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev. I sent my book clubbers postcards after that too, which was part of the fun.Since there are so many letters and postcards in Ottoline Goes to School, we'll make one of our own! Unusual Subjects At the Alice B. School for the Differently Gifted, there are some very unusual subjects, like Giggling Studies and Weeping Workshop. What other funny, … [Read more...]
No Talking
No Talking is such a fun book! I'm often wary of 'Boys vs. Girls' stories because I don't like books that reinforce stereotypes. No Talking does the opposite; in fact, rather too explicitly so, for me. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved how a contest between the boys and the girls in a class slowly morphs into a team game, where the students overcome their differences and come together. What emerges is a school story that is utterly believable and good fun! Three Words at a Time I've lost count of the number of times I've played the one-word story and the one-phrase story. In No Talking, Mr Burton introduces the three-word story, and I love it! It's perfect for my book club too. Can we create a story together, three words at a time? I'm sure we can! Three Word Debate Mr Burton takes the three-word challenge … [Read more...]
A Giant Leap
I read and reviewed A Giant Leap three years ago. Since then, I've been thinking about introducing it to my book club, but it's shorter than the books I usually select, making me wonder whether it would be too simple a read. Yet, so much draws me to the book, from the childlike perspective to the exploration of a landmark event, that I decided we would read together. Here's what we'll do with it! Gravity I know that gravity as a concept is one that children study much later, but a lot of them have visited upside-down "museums". What do they think will be most difficult to do in a place without gravity? What do they think will be most fun? Moon Stories There are so many more stories about the moon! Who is the man on the moon? Is there a rabbit on the moon? Does a monster eat the moon every month?We'll explore a couple of stories, … [Read more...]
The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella
The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella is the sixth book by Asha Nehemiah that we'll be reading at my book club! And it promises to be just as much fun as the others.Like any good mystery story, The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella keeps you reading. Who is the mysterious intruder at the beginning of the book? What could Shantha athai, who really has no valuables to speak of, be hiding that is so precious? Who wants what she has, and how does the silk umbrella fit into all this?With so many chapters ending in cliff-hangers, the book compels you to read on, intriguing and humorous at the same time. Gutsy heroes, nefarious villains and a range of colourful side characters make this a fun read, which I'm looking forward to introducing to my book club! Precious Objects The silk umbrella is special to T. Satyavan for secret reasons. There are memories … [Read more...]
Ostrich Girl
I love introducing children to brand-new books, hot off the press! I read Ostrich Girl written by Lesley D Biswas and illustrated by Anupama Ajinkya Apte, and I loved the possibilities of exploring this book with my book club! Here's what we'll do as we read. Sounds The Secret Songsters imitate bird calls to fool tourists into believing that there are lots of birds on Henry Island. That's the perfect opportunity for us to explore bird calls! I will ask the children to imitate any birds they know, and then I'll play a few bird calls for them to identify. Bird Trivia Children love trivia! I look forward to asking the children to talk to me about birds they know, after which we will talk about a few unusual birds---including the ostrich, the roadrunner, the penguin, the drongo, and more! We'll also look at pictures of all the … [Read more...]
What Happened to Grandpa
Books spark discussion. As a book club facilitator, I know only too well how a story can lead to conversations about fear, wonder, belonging and so much more. And that is why it's delightful to see an increasing number of books touch upon themes that help with difficult conversations.Several years ago, I read Where's Grandma?, a poignant picture book (though aimed at older readers) about a child's relationship with a grandparent diagnosed with Alzheimer's. With my book club three years ago, I read Flying with Grandpa, another book that explores a similar relationship. The conversation that followed was lovely!And now, I just finished reading What Happened to Grandpa, which I loved.Big themes in deceptively simple books always make for gorgeous reads, and this picture book by Nandini Nayar fits the bill perfectly. As a creative writing educator, I also often look at books … [Read more...]
How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide
It's voting season, the best time to read How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide! I would argue, however, that any time is a good time to read the book because it's hilarious, light, and fun.When Sachin is disqualified from standing for the middle school elections, he does the next best thing. He becomes the campaign manager for his best friend Mini. He comes up with the best ideas. Taco Tuesday! A new snazzy name for Mini--eM! A rap song!Unfortunately, someone is out to sabotage their campaign. A lizard--whose species Sachin recognises--soils a competitor's nomination papers. A rap song maligning another candidate is written on the bathroom mirror. Everything is carefully chosen to frame Mini and Sachin, right up to the time that Mini is disqualified too.The duo must clear their names, and they engage in undercover spying, a little bit of lying, and a chase to … [Read more...]
Under the Bakul Tree
Optimistic, even idealistic, Under the Bakul Tree was a heart-warming read.To be honest, I started reading the book prepared not to like it. It seemed like it would be preachy and unrealistic--and it was! I found myself enjoying it nonetheless. I love the way it embraces the possibility of happiness, of hope, and of a bright future.Ashim, whom Mahendra Sir hails as a 'jewel' has been steadily deteriorating in terms of his academic performance. The boy who was once a class topper is now at the bottom of the class. Like so many others, he drops out of school and starts working in a quarry. What is the point of continuing at school?Were it not for Nirmal, who has only respect and affection for Ashim, the boy would have faded into oblivion. But Nirmal, who, in Ashim's absence, is the class topper harbours no jealousy. He wants Ashim back, and he's willing to keep trying to coax … [Read more...]
Sky Hawk
Even as a child, I loved stories about the environment, especially stories where children make difficult decisions to save an animal. So many books I've recently read fit the bill too--book club reads like the Bat series, Trunk Call for Ajju, and, in a very different way, At Least a Fish.Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis is about difficult decisions too. It is another beautiful book, one that I've been meaning to read for ages. It begins slowly, but draws you in, making the loch in which it is set come alive. When Callum and his friends discover Iona--practically an outcast--on Callum's farm, they chase her away. But Callum is uneasy. He meets Iona and thanks to her, he discovers that an osprey is nesting on their land. Callum and Iona know how important it is to keep the osprey secret because all too many people think of it as a game to steal osprey eggs.Yet, when circumstances change, … [Read more...]