I used to read The Worst Witch as a child! I had no idea whether I would still enjoy reading about the hapless Mildred Hubble, though. I picked up The Worst Witch to the Rescue without having decided whether to introduce it to my book club--and I loved it all over again! It's funny, sweet and full of action; I'm sure my book clubbers will enjoy the book too. Quizzes and Vocabulary Games Most children love fantasy. I look forward to doing a few magical games with them - a word search puzzle on words related to magic, a quiz about famous magical places, and perhaps an activity on creating a witch together too! The Rule of Three It's never too early to get children to start looking at how books are structured. The rule of three, for instance, is a fascinating one. How many characters come together at the centre of the story? What … [Read more...]
Sita’s Chitwan
Last year, I invited Vaishali Shroff to conduct a workshop for my writing programme on nonfiction. It was aptly called 'Non-Boring Nonfiction'. I rarely read nonfiction, and I don't think I've ever read nonfiction with my book club. I find it easier to introduce nonfiction elements through books like A Cello on the Wall and A Giant Leap.Once more, that is what I will be doing with Sita's Chitwan. Half the book is a story, the story of eight-year-old Sita, who lives on the outskirts of Chitwan National Park. The other half of the book lets us explore Chitwan National Park, introducing us to its vegetation, people, animals and birds. I'm waiting to read this book with my book clubbers next month! Paw Prints Often, when we visit the jungle, guides tell us that the job of a guide is much like the job of a detective. Following tracks, looking for … [Read more...]
Flyaway Boy
We're going to read Flyaway Boy again at my book club! We've read and enjoyed When the World Went Dark by Jane de Suza twice, and I look forward to reading this one with another batch too. It's perfect to discuss so many things - form, narrative voice, imagination, possibility ... The list of ideas below just about scratches the surface of everything we can do with the book! Boxes Flyaway Boy opens with a bit about boxes. What neat little boxes do we fit into? Are there any labels we give ourselves, or any labels people give us? Especially as many of the children join my book club batch after batch, I'd love to know if there are any labels they give one another. What labels do they associate with the others at the book club?It's an interesting introspective activity to undertake even without the context of the book because sometimes, we create … [Read more...]
Puppy Trouble
Amit wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. But his parents refuse. For me, that was the hook. And thanks to my book clubs and the number of conversations we've had about wanting pets but not being allowed to get them, I know that this is practically universal. Puppy Trouble goes further, though, because a puppy does come into Amit's life. Unfortunately for him, however, everything isn't as exciting as he imagined it would be. A fun book that made me laugh at all the right moments, Puppy Trouble is another Hook Book that brings illustrations and text together perfectly. I love how this short story takes us through so many highs and lows - hope, disappointment, resentment ... It's a happy addition to a delightful set of books for young readers! TitlePuppy TroubleAuthorIllustratorBijal VachharajaniRajiv EipeTagsChapter Book, Hook Book, Animal … [Read more...]
The Golden Eagle
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Recently, I reread The Girl Who Drank the Moon and then looked through my blog to see what I'd written about it the first time I read it. That's when I realised I hadn't written about it at all! It's such a gorgeous read that I have no idea how I skipped writing about it! As often happens with me, I was drawn to the book by its gorgeous cover. And when I started reading, I was enchanted. Detailed world-building, intricate plotting and a delightful balance of seriousness and humour come together in this middle-grade work of fantasy. Most of all, though, I love how poetic and beautiful it is. The Protectorate is always shrouded in a fog of sorrow. This is because every year, on the Day of Sacrifice, the youngest child is given up to appease the Witch in the Woods. No one knows why the Witch wants babies. But everyone knows that if the Witch is not appeased, she will destroy the … [Read more...]
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