I love Michael Morpurgo. And The Butterfly Lion? I've had it on my shelf for ever so long, hoping to share it with more readers someday. That day is nearly here!The Butterfly Lion is a classic. In Michael Morpurgo's signature style, he tells a heartfelt, almost mystical story in the simplest and most magical of ways. It's the story of love and kindness, friendship and loyalty.Bertie is heartbroken when his beloved white lion is sent away to the circus. He knows there is no choice, but that does not make it better. He promises the lion that he will find him, somehow, someday. But Bertie's story is a story within a story, told to a runaway boy Michael by an old lady who isn't everything she seems to be. As we learn about the butterfly lion, we explore the joy of memory and the ways in which we remember the ones we love.Like so many other older books, there are so many resources available … [Read more...]
Mira the Detective
Another reading programme, another hOle book! Mira the Detective by Pavithra Sankaran is perfect for my book club in so many ways. We love detective stories, and what better than a book featuring a child detective?When an antique watch is stolen, Mira has very few clues, but they have got to be enough! She must get to the bottom of the mystery.The theft of the antique watch is just the first of three mysteries that Mira the detective solves. What makes the stories even more fun is that we, as readers, are equipped with the same clues as Mira and we can solve the mysteries with her! Sounds and smells Working with our senses is something that never gets stale. In the first story, Mira hears a tic-tic-tic sound. What could it be? In the last story, an aroma is the biggest clue. I've worked with several activities to do with the senses before, and … [Read more...]
Manolita
In many ways, Manolita is a simple, old-fashioned tale. For a generation that's immersed in mythology - from the retelling of Indian myths to all the popular books that have their foundation in Greek mythology - I think a story about a selkie set in the modern world is perfect!Jaya makes friends easily, so it comes as no surprise that she befriends a stranger in Oregon. Of course, her new friend Manolita has to be perfectly human ... right? Even if she doesn't quite understand the phrase 'exchanging numbers', and she likes to eat her fish raw ...?The entire series of books that Karadi Tales has released under the Minmini Reads imprint is remarkable in many ways. Often, books of this length are for younger children, but a chapter book like this for slightly older readers works so well! It's a quick read, wholly satisfying and perfect as a conversation starter. Here's what we'll do … [Read more...]
Postbox Kashmir
From the moment I came across Postbox Kashmir by Divya Arya, I knew I wanted to read it. The title, the cover and the subtitle - 'Two Lives in Letters' - everything appealed to me. I knew little about the book, and the little I did know was gleaned from random social media posts. Soon after I started reading it, I knew that it was a book for keeps.We're inundated with information. Sometimes, with a mild sense of panic, I realise that details of events I've quickly researched have become hazy again. For instance, I knew about the exodus of Kashmiri pundits, but vaguely. When I read Paro Anand's Nomad's Land, I read up about the history of Kashmir once more, but my research was cursory at best. Dates and details slip by, especially when we don't contextualise facts. What was happening in Kashmir when the Babri Masjid was demolished? Did the protests at Shaheen Bagh have any effect on … [Read more...]
Reva and Prisha
A chapter book featuring a family that has two mothers? Yes, please! The moment I saw that Funky Rainbow had Reva and Prisha by Shals Mahajan in stock, I emailed them. I ended up buying six other books too, but that's another story. I loved this book!Like Timmi in Tangles, Reva and Prisha is a collection of little tales featuring the same characters. I loved the simplicity and madness of the stories. The story about eating drumstick particularly struck a chord with me because my little cousin (20 years ago) insisted that her drumstick had bones! The logical way in which Reva and Prisha understand things is delightful too. For instance, they overhear a teacher saying that stripes are slimming. Does that mean that if they wear enough stripes, they'll turn invisible? I adore the idea! My favourite tale, however, is 'Octopus Children'. If Amma finds it exhausting to wash the hands and … [Read more...]
WeirDo
What's the best kind of surprise? An unexpected book in the mail!Last week, I ordered books from KoolSkool and Funky Rainbow. The following day, I received a message saying that my shipment from Scholastic India was on its way. I was puzzled, but I let it go. I don't know how things work.Except that I do.I know that Funky Rainbow sends books by speed post. And a few minutes later, I got a message saying my shipment from KoolSkool was on its way. So what was Scholastic sending me?A brand-new book for review! Joy!WeirDo is a hilarious graphic novel featuring a boy whose parents have a dubious sense of humour. Weir's parents could have chosen any name in the world. But what did they choose? Weir.And what's Weir's last name? Yes, it's Do. And in case there's any confusion about it, Do rhymes with go not to.I'm not a big fan of humour that employs disgust to function, so … [Read more...]
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Dragon fruit. Who hasn't heard the name and considered the possibilities? I remember when I first came across dragon fruit at Shivaji Market. Ooh! Dragon fruit!And the way I see it, that tiny spark lit a fire in author Andy Shepherd. She took the idea to its logical conclusion - a fantasy story about dragons hatching out of fruits on a tree!The Boy Who Grew Dragons is a charming read. Tomas grows his first dragon by chance. Soon, however, he realises that there's more to growing dragons than the thrill of having a fantastic pet. Firefighting becomes second nature to him as his dragon Flicker sheds exploding poo all over his room. That's not the only thing Tomas has to contend with, though. The class bully Liam is determined to prise out what Tomas is hiding. Tomas's little sister is too little to even understand that a dragon, however exciting, must not be shared with adults. … [Read more...]
Uncle Oscar’s Chairs From A to Z
It's sometimes amazing how a book comes into your world at just the right time. A dear friend whom I don't talk to often enough sent me Uncle Oscar's Chairs: From A to Z out of the blue. I had not heard of it, but a book is always an exciting gift, right? Plus, she picked up the book at Storyteller, one of the lovely independent bookstores that supply books for my book clubs.And the book was perfect in so many ways. For one, it's unusual. It's a book about chairs. Real chairs. A is for Ant designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1952B is for Ball designed by Eero Aarnio in 1963C is for Coconut designed by George Nelson in 1955You get the picture.So it's an alphabet book, but also an introduction to all sorts of chairs, some of which are familiar and some so zany that they surprise a laugh out of you. I loved it!But the reason I call it a perfect book at this time is that my online … [Read more...]
Neha and the Nose
Why did I not read this book earlier? It's such a fun book, so witty and well written! I love it!Neha and the Nose are teen detectives. And they're not just your regular detectives - they're so good that even the principal calls on them when there's investigation required. Of course, "the Nose" is something that Neha just calls her friend Johan in her head, but one that's as apt as it gets because it's the Nose that's really her partner. Johan, who possesses the Nose, is just another boy, annoyingly good at everything he does. More annoyingly, he's a teen at the mercy of his hormones. I can practically see Neha rolling her eyes!But the Nose makes Johan special. He can sniff out anything, from perfume to the nuances of agarbatti. Subtleties don't escape him. What a marvel that organ of his is!The Nose is wacky, fun and brilliantly imaginative, but more, I love Neha! Her voice … [Read more...]
Muggie Maggie
I promised to write about the books that I don't end up using at my reading programmes because they aren't easily available - and Muggie Maggie is at the top of the list. I've read barely anything by Beverly Cleary. She was somehow one of those famous authors whom I never encountered as a child. It was when she died that I made a conscious effort to look for her books, pick them up, and read them. And when I read chapter books, of course, it is always with the ulterior motive of introducing them to my book clubs.I loved Muggie Maggie. It is such a delightful book! Maggie is determined not to learn cursive writing, but Mrs Leeper, her class teacher, has other plans. She comes up with an ingenious plan, playing on Maggie's curiosity, to make Maggie learn her letters. Maggie's stubbornness, Mrs Leeper's seemingly innocent support of it and the telling of the story were all … [Read more...]