We all know about the infamous salt tax and the march to Dandi. What would the people of Dandi have felt at the time? Were people even aware of this huge political upheaval brewing in various parts of the country? A Demon in Dandi by Lavanya Karthik is part of Duckbill's Songs of Freedom series, and it reimagines a few days in this tumultuous period from the point of view of a Sherlock Holmes fan, Dinu. Dinu is slow to find motivation when it comes to Bapu's call to action. He can't spin and he can barely concentrate while he's praying. What role could he possibly have in Bapu's march to Dandi? As the story unfolds, Dinu finds that he does after all have the motivation it takes. Against the backdrop of the Dandi march, Dinu finds himself plunged in a murder mystery, one that he must solve, if only for his friend Alif. In true Sherlock Holmes style, he begins his investigation, … [Read more...]
Some Places More than Others
Finding your roots can be such a complicated thing. Amara has never visited New York City, where her father grew up, and there's nothing she wants more than to go meet her father's family and get to know them. What's even more intriguing is that even before she goes, she learns tiny things like the fact that her Grandma Grace died on the day Amara was born. Or the fact that her father hasn't spoken to his father for twelve years. Could she have had something to do with that? Amara manages to convince her mother to let her embark on a journey to New York City with her father, and she has more than one project to do while she's there. For one, she must find out about her family both because she really wants to and because of a school project. For another, she must ensure that her father and her Grandpa Earl spend some time with each other and work through their differences. Some … [Read more...]
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race by Khyrunnisa A. and illustrated by Saumya Oberoi is another fun Silly Billy book! The cover image encapsulates the madness of the book perfectly: a parakeet sitting on an inverted saucepan worn by a boy riding a cycle! Agassi hates his name. Just because his parents are tennis fans, they didn't have to name him Agassi! He refuses to play tennis, and he much prefers to be called by his middle name, Joel. When he decides to take part in a cycle race, however, his quest for a cycle is a mixed blessing. A cycle loaned to him comes along with a parakeet that he must care for. But what should the parakeet be called but Steffi? With Joel, his neighbour Zeba, and the parakeet Steffi, we go hurtling on a hilarious adventure. Joel seems to attract accidents and drama, and the book takes us through a race, film-making, accidents, an antique cycle and a … [Read more...]
Jumble Sale
Shabnam Minwalla's Jumble Sale is another delightful Silly Billy Book, a lighthearted mystery, which begins with a missing bottlebrush. Who could have stolen it? An evil crow? A ghost? Or a thin woman with a beaky nose? Jumble Sale takes us through a hilarious whodunnit featuring mischievous children Dina and Dorab Sethna, hapless parents, and a vengeful teacher, Tinaz Toddywala. Of course, we know who stole the blackboard, the Aadhaar card and the 'No Parking' sign. The question is, how will the whole story unravel? With Tinaz Toddywala, I found myself singing, Justchoo wait, Dorab-Dina, Justchoo wait! with a thrill of pleasure. With the children, I found myself chuckling and hoping they get away with mischief. And with their parents, particular Mrs Sethna, I had every sympathy! The pictures by Isha Mangalmurti make Jumble Sale all the more delightful--my favourite character … [Read more...]
The Double Life of Danny Day
The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer is such an unusual book! I haven't read anything quite like it ever before, and I loved it! Danny Day is unique. He lives every day twice. As a very young child, he doesn't understand what's happening to him. He remembers conversations that never happened, and he can freakily predict what is going to happen. His parents consult one doctor after another because Danny himself has no idea why the world is so confusing. An unusual therapist, open-minded and observant, finally helps him figure out what is happening and how to deal with it. The story opens several years later, when Danny has grown used to his 'Discard Days' and his 'Sticky Days' as he calls them. Discard Days are days he experiences alone, which prepare him for the day ahead. Sticky Days are the days everyone remembers. When Danny befriends Zak, he begins to realise that … [Read more...]
Ghosts, Thieves and Aha! Adventures
I love the idea of a Silly Billy Book! That's what the series is called, and that's what drew me to Ghosts, Thieves and Aha! Adventures by Asha Nehemiah in the first place. With its full colour illustrations, the series is a great addition to books that bridge an awkward gap between age-groups and reading levels. It's perfect for ages eight and above, well suited to children who aren't yet ready to pick up middle-grade books, but enjoy colourful chapter books. Independent bookstores are close to my heart, and a book set in a bookstore was bound to be fun! At Aha! Books, there seems to be rather a lot happening. There's a ghost that keeps putting a particular book on display. There's a thief (or more than one thief, perhaps?) who steals scarves and harmonicas. Could a rambunctious dog called Kattabomman, a baby called T-Reks and a young man called Biplob be somehow involved? Like … [Read more...]
The Girl Who Played with Numbers – Shakuntala Devi
The Girl Who Played with Numbers by Lavanya Karthik is a lovely addition to her series of biographies for very young readers. A little note tells us that the illustrations in this book about Shakuntala Devi are inspired by the Mysore school of painting. While this isn’t my favourite style, I love the fact that the choice isn’t random. I also enjoyed the story, and the part I loved best was the childlike desire to stop studying and be allowed to play instead. Shakuntala Devi may have been a genius and a prodigy, but she was, after all, a child! I like that the story mentions it without dwelling on it. The Dreamers series is a delightful one, ideal for those looking for simple, illustrated biographical picture books. I look forward to seeing who the next dreamer in the series will be! TitleThe Girl Who Played with NumbersAuthor and illustratorLavanya KarthikTagsDreamers, Picture … [Read more...]
The Astoundingly True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev
It's been nearly four years since we read The Absolutely True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev by Ken Spillman. We had fun reading it, and I hope The Astoundingly True Adventures of Daydreamer Dev will be as much fun with a new group of book clubbers!Dev is a highly imaginative character. The smallest things set him off on the wackiest of daydreams. A question asked during his geography lesson sends him daydreaming to Antarctica. A conversation about volcanoes, and he lands up in Whakaari. Where can our book club escapades take us? Where are you? Physically, Dev may be in an autorickshaw, but his mind is far away in New Zealand!What was the last place you read about? What if you were transported there? What do you think you would do, see or eat? Daydreaming Adventures Picture prompts always spark the imagination. I will give each child … [Read more...]
Nimmi’s Bizuper Birthday
Some time ago, we read Nimmi’s Dreadtastic Detective Days, and although it is longer than most of the other books I choose for Read, Write, Explore, we enjoyed it. It’s funny and engaging, and there’s so much we can do with the book!Nimmi's Bizuper Birthday is no different. Like in Lucky Girl, Nimmi finds herself eating (and sharing) all kinds of ... interesting ... foods. How can she admit that the chocolate-like things she distributes are jowar banana bites?The hapless Nimmi finds herself in one coil after another as she navigates her way through a birthday that is nothing short of bizuper. Portmanteau Words I love portmanteau words! When we put two words together—like bizarre and super to get bizuper—we have a portmanteau word. We’ll do a quick quiz about words that have come into being in exactly this way, before we go on to invent a few … [Read more...]
The Chocolate Touch
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling is an old book, unlike most of the others I select for my book clubs. Its copyright dates back to 1952! And that's not the only thing that makes it different from the books I usually choose. Another important distinction is that it has a clear moral, something I usually avoid. But the story is such fun! Plus, it's about chocolate, so it's already a win, isn't it?John Midas loves chocolate. He can eat it all the time. Or so he thinks. It is only when everything that touches his lips turns to chocolate that he begins to realise that there might just be a limit to the amount of chocolate he can eat.At first, no one believes him. How could they? He has to be lying. How can everything he puts in his mouth turn to chocolate? That's absurd!Eventually, however, everyone realises he is telling the truth. Even the doctor has no choice but to believe … [Read more...]
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