I just finished reading book 3 of the Little Shambu series, and it's just as enjoyable as the others! We meet all the familiar characters--Little Shambu and family, the dog Dum Dum, Little Shambu's neighbour Shanti, the class bully JJ--as well as several new characters with names that made me chuckle. The drama teacher, for instance, is called Miss Mithi Sharbat, but more fun are the biology teacher Professor Y. Russ and the P.E. teacher, Stan D'tease! Just like the other collections of stories, Dum Dum to the Rescue & Yet More Adventures of Little Shambu comprises believable tales of an urban boy's encounters with animals. A monkey enters Little Shambu's house, Mama Shambu keeps a fox and chickens, and JJ plays a prank that involves four tame mice. Of course, Dum Dum is part of several adventures too. At the very end of the book is a lovely little backstory showing us how … [Read more...]
Five Fictional Friendships I Loved Writing
Three years ago, to celebrate Friendship Day, I wrote about five times fictional friendships won my heart. For Friendship Day 2023, here's a post about five fictional friendships I enjoyed writing. And because I can't choose which one to write about first, I've put them down in the reverse order of publication. Dhara's Revolution "I wish for you a best friend as special as Carol. Equally, I wish that each of you can be like Carol for someone in your life" That's from the acknowledgments page of Dhara's Revolution, a book that's hot off the press and will be released at the end of this month. Carol and Dhara have a very special kind of friendship. They make charts together, even if they're competing. They learn each other's speeches. Until one day, the don't. A book about friendship and rivalry, I loved writing about Carol and Dhara and what makes them the friends they … [Read more...]
Kolam Kanna
I've read two books by Vibha Batra in less than a month, and I've loved them both! So many things about Kolam Kanna were utterly delightful that this review deserves to be in bullet points, highlighting everything I loved about it. The name Bharathi! The moment I learned that Bharathi is a boy's name in the story, I could not help thinking of a little boy I met in Perani (near Puducherry) ten years ago. He won't be so little anymore, but I remember his bright eyes and his curiosity. His name? Tamilbarathi.( I liked him so much that he features in my story "Dragonflies and Tablets" in Dragonflies, Jigsaws and Seashells.) Vibha's descriptions and Jemma Jose's illustrations made me imagine Bharathi, the kolam kanna of the story, in the same way.Breaking Stereotypes A boy who likes drawing kolams? Yes, please. A girl who likes to play cricket? Yes, please. And ideas brought together in … [Read more...]
In the Bear’s Den & More Adventures of Little Shambu
Life is never humdrum with Little Shambu around, and I loved this next set of adventures too! I remember reading about how the non-violence policy of Shikari Shambu ensured that he never fired a single shot. In fact, he is more a forest ranger than a hunter, and these stories about Little Shambu set the stage for a Shikari Shambu who loves animals. From saving the life of a harmless snake to meeting an officer who rescues bears, these tales featuring Little Shambu are a lovely way to introduce environment activism in young children. At the same time, the stories don’t shy away from mirroring reality, whether it is in the context of an elephant at a temple in Kerala or a rattlesnake that needs to be returned to its natural habitat. I enjoyed also how gently the idea of livelihood versus animal rights was expressed through stories like “Shooting with a Bear”. But as with Strangus … [Read more...]
Postcard from the Lushai Brigade
What a beautiful addition to the Songs of Freedom series! Reminiscent of Private Peaceful although for a younger audience, Postcard from the Lushai Brigade is the story of a pair of brothers. And just like Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful, it is told from the point of view of a younger brother who idolises the elder, and the elder seems worthy of his adulation. Young Bawiha's brother Kima is everything that is perfect--generous, caring and brave. He seems larger than life, someone whom everyone loves. Yet, Kima always has time for his younger brother, and together, the boys watch stars, play make-believe, and listen to Api's enchanting stories. But perhaps Api is right. Perhaps the sap--the white Britishers--are nothing but trouble. Maybe they need to go. Maybe their battles are not the battles of the people of India. But when Mrs McCall who lives in the big bungalow is nothing … [Read more...]
Strangus Derangus and Other Adventures of Little Shambu
Much of my childhood was spent surrounded by Enid Blytons and Roald Dahls, Dick King-Smiths and Allen Frewin Joneses. But Tinkle stayed a favourite. I never got drawn to Chandamama or even Amar Chitra Katha mythology the way I was drawn to Tinkle. My grandfather subscribed to the magazine, and every so often, he would find a sheet of white card paper and bind several issues together to make a nice fat Tinkle volume, which we treasured. The problem with returning to beloved childhood tales, however, is that so often, they're nowhere near as lovely as you remember them to be. Enid Blyton is preachy. The Animal Ark books I loved so much have very little story. I haven't gone back to Suppandi, Shikari Shambu, Tantri the Mantri or Naseeruddin Hodja because I am afraid I will find them silly. That's the reason I postponed reading Little Shambu too. But I just did, and all the stories in … [Read more...]
Gobi Goes Viral
Gopi compares everybody around him to a vegetable. His world comprises a capsicum, a carrot, a tomato, a sweet potato ... The problem, of course, is that the moment he talks about it, he becomes Gobi, or worse, Fool Gobi. Trying to tell the bullies in class that it isn’t Fool, but Phool doesn’t help. Being bullied, however, is not the only problem Gopi faces at Primrose Academy. Even though he has got admission thanks to the RTE act, the hidden charges—for school books and the like—are crippling. If he does not pay his dues by the end of the week, he has no choice but to leave. Like the best of children’s stories, this is where a friend comes in—one who does not save the day, but instead helps Gopi save the day. Gopi’s life is worlds apart from Pari’s, but as they get to know each other, they make a plan, one that may just end up working out very differently from what they … [Read more...]
Moin and the Monster
I'm rereading Moin and the Monster with my book club! I read it in June 2021, and all those who read it with me are now too old to be part of Read, Write, Explore, so it's time to introduce it to a fresh batch of children.At my last creative writing programme, one of the children wrote a story about a pink 2D zombie the size of a pineapple coming to life. I immediately thought of Moin and the monster! How could I not? And I knew I had to read the book again. Rhyme Everyone loves rhyme. For me, the biggest problem with poetry that children write and send me is forced rhyme without a sense of rhythm. Sure, sometimes it works. Maybe. But most often, it does not.When do we use rhyme and why? What kind of poems would you like to write? What kinds of poems do you read?Beginning with a discussion, I hope to write a little poetry together. Surprising … [Read more...]
Because of Winn-Dixie
Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie has been on my list of books to read for a l-o-n-g time. Yet, I didn't get around to reading it until I thought of introducing it to my book club. And I'm so glad I did! It's a gorgeous book. It's the kind of book that makes your heart ache and swell with its sweetness and its gentleness.India Opal's mother left her father and her, and it's because of Winn-Dixie, a dog she adopts at the spur of the moment, that she begins to come to terms with her loss. Not just that; all thanks to Winn-Dixie, she makes friends and learns what it means to be part of a community where everyone not only has a story to share and but also has ghosts that haunt their past.I can't wait to read it with my book club! Vocabulary Playing with words is always fun! I have three vocabulary activities in mind for Because of Winn-Dixie. … [Read more...]
A Flamingo in My Garden
We've read Talon the Falcon, The Golden Eagle and The Paradise Flycatcher. How can we not read A Flamingo in My Garden?The entire Feather Tales series is stunningly illustrated in full colour, and that is most certainly part of the charm. Like The Golden Eagle, A Flamingo in My Garden is a story within a story. Mitalee is delighted to see a flamingo in Rose Garden, and she watches as her favourite squirrel--whom she calls Snowdrop--and the birds chatter together. In that little circle of birds, the skybird Longtail tells the story of how Sunglow the flamingo found his way to Rose Garden. It's a lovely story full of suspense and the universal theme of good versus evil.Here's what we will do as we read the book. Words The sea is called bigwater. Police-birds are skybirds. Terra-staan is the earth.During author events on The Prophecy of Rasphora, I … [Read more...]
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