I enjoyed reading this review of Mr Oliver's Diary written by Arwen Banerjee, one of the students of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. The theme of the month was school stories, and this review was a refreshing change from the ones on Malory Towers, St. Clare's and others! Mr Oliver's Diary: Review Arwen Banerjee Ruskin Bond has written a lot of enjoyable books but Mr Oliver’s Diary is my personal favourite.Mr Oliver, a PT, Maths and English teacher is the main character and this book is his diary. He has noted every incident that has occurred in his hostel. He also mentions Tata, Mirchi and Basu and other students and their mischievous acts in a lively manner.Some people think that a teacher’s life is just about books and studies, but Ruskin Bond has painted a totally different picture of Mr Oliver’s experience with his students. The language is simple and almost every … [Read more...]
How to Capture an Invisible Cat
Yes, I picked it up because of its name. No surprise there. Wouldn't you pick up a book that seemed like a guidebook to capturing an invisible cat? I'm sure you don't know how to do it, and who knows when you'll need to?How to Capture an Invisible Cat was a funny book, one that was funny enough for me not to read it in public so as not to appear crazy. More importantly, there were lots of parts that were my kind of humour. I'm not a big fan of slapstick comedy, or "disgusting-therefore-funny". I love word play, sarcasm and cleverness. And that's why I loved How to Capture an Invisible Cat.No one suspects that Nate is a genius. His classmates think he's one of those quiet nerds, definitely not the kind of person they want to mix with. When Nate's dog Bosper smells something special about Delphine, Nate puts on a fancy scientific dog-nose--and smells it … [Read more...]
You Can’t take an Elephant on the Bus
It's Children's Day; what better time to celebrate a picture book I loved? You Can't take an Elephant on the Bus is one of the books in this year's Reading Challenge collection, and I loved it!I enjoy picture books that rhyme. I also enjoy whacky books that don't have a hidden agenda - to teach, preach, etc. I love how books express crazy ideas that make me chortle as I read. So naturally, I loved You Can't take an Elephant on the Bus.The theme for this years Reading Challenge is The Big Friendly Read, and it celebrates 100 years of Roald Dahl. For me, the joy of Dahl lies in his crazy ideas that defy reality and defy parents who want to teach their children through any book they find. I could not wait to start reading the books in the collection, and this one lived up to my expectations!If you can't take an elephant on a bus, and you can't make a whale … [Read more...]
The Boy with the Tiger’s Heart
The cover of The Boy with the Tiger's Heart is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. When I picked up the book, I didn't notice the tiger, and when I did, it took my breath away!My reading of the book was certainly influenced by how beautiful it was. Every time I closed the book to take in what I had read, I saw that tiger, those wonderful silhouettes, the wonder of the image. And the book was impressive.Set in a dystopian city where the wild is considered so dangerous that it must be destroyed, The Boy with the Tiger's Heart is the tale of three children who want to know what the world beyond the Green Wall is like. Jay, the boy with the tiger's heart, is an incredible character that made my hair stand on end.A pacy book, I kept reading with a mixture of fascination and horror. I enjoyed it and I hated it. But it was well worth a read.TitleThe Boy with the … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames – A Review
Flickering Flames is a collection of short stories and poems written by the members of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School. Here's a little about it.Ishitaa Shevate, one of the students in the next batch of the Writers' Club, reviewed the book: here's what she has to say!This is a very nice book. It draws the reader into each and every poem or story. I couldn't stop turning pages. It is by the girls of my school. My favourite story was 'Room 37'. This book is filled with excitement. I would recommend this book to people who like poetry, mystery and other genres. … [Read more...]
The Great Cheese Robbery
Lots of books on my blog this week: that's what happens when I do a workshop for the British Library's Reading Challenge!The Great Cheese Robbery was a delightful picture book that brought back memories of Disney's "Dumbo". I remember the first time I watched "Dumbo" and saw the elephants shriek at the sight of a mouse. I chuckled at the movie as a child, and the same images came back to me as I read this book!When I started reading The Great Cheese Robbery, I was already prejudiced towards it simply because so many children who had enrolled for the reading challenge enjoyed it so much. When children like a picture book, what other endorsement does it need?Two things about the book charmed me: the illustrations and the delightfully innocent Patrick Elephant. If I'd read this book as a child, Patrick Elephant would have been one of my favourite characters ever. He knows his … [Read more...]
The Paper Dolls
I love Julia Donaldson! I came across her work for the first time when I read and watched The Gruffalo's Child. Then, I read Running on the Cracks - a completely different book for a completely different audience. And now, as part of the Record Breakers Reading Challenge, I read The Paper Dolls, first by myself and then during my workshop with children at MGM Clover Dale. It was just lovely!I'm one of those who prefer picture books that rhyme to those that don't. I find rhyme, when well done, truly delightful and very easy to read. More than anything, I love how children respond to rhyme, like when I make them repeat Ticky-and-Tacky and Jacky-the-Backie and Jim-with-two-noses and Jo-with-a-bow. The Paper Dolls was delightful from start to end, both to read aloud and to act. What makes it even more special is that after the story, there's a page that shows you how to make your own … [Read more...]
The Imagination Box
Isn't the name wonderful?The Imagination Box is the story of a boy called Tim, who has convinced himself that all he needs in life are his pencil and paper (and some confectionery would do no harm). Recently adopted, he knows that all the papers have been signed, but cannot help thinking of his new home as temporary. His easiest defence mechanism is to convince himself that he does not need friends. He is happiest by himself. No one else matters.Until, of course, he meets Professor Eisenstone, inventor of the imagination box. Never one to curb his curiosity, Tim tries on a funny helmet thing connected to a box, not sure what to expect. And the magic begins ... He alone has been able to make Professor Eisenstone's imagination box work. And he can create anything he likes.The book has so much potential and so many truly brilliant bits. I love the finger monkey Phil. I love … [Read more...]
The Boy in the Dress
I started reading The Boy in the Dress long ago and never ended up finishing it. I don't know why. Maybe I was in no mood to deal with all the mucus in the second chapter. Or maybe I was just not in the right mood.I picked up the book again because I watched a "Britain's Got Talent" video and was charmed by the way David Walliams responded to one of the participants - a xylophone player. It made me think that I had to give the writer another shot.And I'm so glad I did! The Boy in the Dress was simply lovely. Though there were parts that made me suspend disbelief rather too much, I enjoyed the story. More than anything, I loved the tone of the book. The story is so lightly written and the characters emerge so sweetly. And of course, Quentin Blake's illustrations - when have they not charmed me? As I was reading it, I didn't get the impression that it was a brave book or that … [Read more...]
Flickering Flames
Last week, St. Mary's School officially launched Flickering Flames, an anthology of poems and stories I edited as the facilitator of the Writers' Club. The teachers have their copies already, and I've heard some lovely comments about the book.Here's a little about it for those who are reading about this for the first time ... In the academic year 2015-16, I started a Writers' Club at St. Mary's School, Pune. We began with nearly sixty girls, but as they discovered how much work goes into writing, they slowly dropped out. Finally, thirteen girls submitted work that was put together in an anthology. As it is the sesquicentennial year of the school, Dr Kinjal Goyal came forward to help us publish it, and now it's a book!Written entirely by children aged 11-13, Flickering Flames is a collection of all kinds of stories and poems - ranging from … [Read more...]