When I started reading Trouble in the Tea Gardens by Mitali Perkins, I was struck by how similar several elements were to Tiger Boy. An intelligent small-town child capable of winning a scholarship to get a better education, a teacher with the child’s best interests at heart, a power-hungry, avaricious person in authority … I wondered if I was going to enjoy another story that followed the same lines. But soon enough, I realised that the similarities end there. The mystery in Trouble in the Tea Gardens is gripping, and I love how everything ties up as the story goes on. A pacy read, I was soon thoroughly invested in the characters, eager to know how the story would play out.Set in Darjeeling, Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a slim book weaves together a range of serious themes with subtlety and nuance. The protagonist Sona is the daughter of a Nepali tea plantation worker. … [Read more...]
Prabir’s New Flute
I love Asha Nehemiah's stories, and I love Rajiv Eipe's artwork. How could I not read a Hook Book created by the two of them?Prabir's New Flute is a lovely, gentle story about a gifted boy, whose music is part of every happy event in Munshipara. When his flute breaks, however, Prabir realises that only half the gift is within him. The other half is in the magic of his flute. And so begins his quest for the perfect flute, one that will help him create the best kind of music.What I loved most about this slim little book is the whimsical element of magic. It feels almost real, and wholly believable, even if it is--at least for the time being--out of our reach. Each flute Prabir fashions creates music that is similar to the surroundings in which the bamboo grew. As a child, I would particularly have loved the possibility of it being true! As an adult, I couldn't help thinking … [Read more...]
The Impossible Pet
The Impossible Pet by Jane De Suza is such a fun book! I laughed out loud more than once as the hapless Tarun tries one thing after another to get a pet of his own--whether his parents like it or not.Just like when I read Puppy Trouble, what drew me first into the story is the universality of its theme. What child doesn't want a pet? In Tarun's case, there's more. He and his best friend Joey are same-same in every way--height, age, class, everything. But when Joey gets a pet and refuses to share, how can Tarun be same-same again?So Tarun tries acquiring one pet after another--a lizard, a cow, a pigeon--anything will do! I love how the humour of the story blends with the more serious elements that come towards the end of the book. Without being preachy, The Impossible Pet leaves us feeling that there's a sense of justice in the world!TitleThe Impossible … [Read more...]
Top 8 Picture Books – 2025
I'm not much of a picture book reader, but every year, some gems come my way, gems that I love revisiting before I start a new year of reading. Most of these books were sent to me as review copies, but of course, that doesn't affect my opinion in any way. In fact, if a book doesn't work for me, I simply don't review it.In no particular order, here are eight picture books I loved in 2025. What Feelings Like Best What Feelings Do When No One's Looking was one of my favourite picture books in 2023; What Feelings Like Best is one I loved reading last year. Whimsical and tender, this beautifully illustrated picture book is one I could keep returning to. Targeted at older readers, this is one of those picture books that I believe adults may enjoy more than children do! Book review 1 2 3 Idlis in a Sambar Sea 1 2 3 … [Read more...]
Gobi Goes Viral
Gobi Goes Viral by Vibha Batra is funny, heart-warming, and altogether believable. We've read and loved Kolam Kanna and Pinkoo Shergill at my book club, and I'm happy to introduce yet another book by the same writer to the children I meet. Here's what we'll do as we read this story! Talent Show How can we read a book about a talent show without having a talent show of our own? Over time, I've had children recite poetry, play musical instruments, draw and solve a Rubik's Cube during our book club. It's always lovely to see a side of children that I wouldn't otherwise get to see if we stuck to just reading in class! Similes Gopi (aka Gobi) uses very interesting similes! Starting with an example from the text, we will explore funny similes, coming up with imaginative comparisons for a range of humorous … [Read more...]
The Mystery of the Disappearing Drone
A few months ago, when I read The Mystery of the Disappearing Drone, I knew I would eventually introduce this AKA Mystery to my book clubbers. Some of them have read The Mystery of the Missing Geometry Boxes with me; I look forward to introducing this one to them! Detective Notebook As we read The Mystery of the Disappearing Drone, we'll write detective notes. Whom do we suspect and why? What evidence do we have so far? How can we evaluate the evidence and reach a conclusion? Mystery Game I've played this game in the past, and it's good fun! I will give my book clubbers a set of clues, based on which we will try to figure out who the murderer is! Satisfying Conclusions Does a cliffhanger make for a satisfying conclusion? Why, or why not? The writing exercise we do for The Mystery of the Disappearing Drone will focus … [Read more...]
Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild
We read our first Amelia Bedelia (Amelia Bedelia Means Business) at the second edition of my reading programme, and what fun we had with it! Even though there were children who didn't understand much of the word play, the humour came through, and we enjoyed the book thoroughly.Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild promises to be just as much fun. Amelia is "sick as a dog", and she can't go to the zoo with the rest of her class. But it isn't like Amelia to give up and give in. Oh, no. If she can't go to the zoo, she must make one of her own!Powered by her optimism and bursting with ideas, Amelia can do anything, as she shows us in this humorous chapter book that I'm waiting to share with my book club. Wordplay How can we read an Amelia Bedelia and not engage in wordplay? From idioms to homophones, this series explores the madness of the English language, … [Read more...]
A Boy Called Bat
What does it mean to be autistic? What exactly does the word inclusive mean?I think these are conversations we must keep having, and the earlier we have them with children, the more likely it is that they will be sensitive to neurodiversity, and the fact that we can look at things from other points of view.For me, the best way to have these conversations is through books - books like A Boy Called Bat.Bat, aka Bixby Alexander Tam, is an unforgettable character, and his story is both funny and lovely. Bat may be autistic, but the truth is that all of us - neurotypical or neurodiverse - know what it is like to want something with all our heart. And what does Bat want? To convince his mother that a skunk kit is the perfect pet.A story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and being different, A Boy Called Bat is another book we're rereading at my book club because it's such a rewarding, lovely … [Read more...]
Help, My Aai Wants to Eat Me!
Yes, Help, My Aai Wants to Eat Me! is as mad and fun as it sounds. I know LOTS of people who express affection by saying they want to eat people up. People like Avi's Aai who thinks Avi is so adorable that she wants to eat him.The problem is that Avi thinks she's for real. And when his Aai is ill, he's sure that he is being fattened up for her, rather like the story of Hansel and Gretel, where the witch fattens children up to eat them ...It's humorously horrifying, but also sweet and charming; we're definitely going to enjoy reading Help, My Aai Wants to Eat Me! at my book club. Pros and Cons Avi looks at the pros and cons of everything, and we're going to use this idea in class. What are the pros and cons of reading in a group? What about of online book clubs? Schools reopening? Notes Each day that his mother is sick, Avi writes … [Read more...]
Tiger Boy
Sometimes, it takes a while to get to a book, even though you come across it everywhere. Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins was like that for me. I knew it was set in the Sunderbans, and that it has sold over a lakh copies. I bought a copy, and yet, it sat unread on my shelf for months. I finally read it, and I'm looking forward to introducing it to my book clubbers! It's a story about being true to yourself, making difficult decisions, and persevering even when it feels like the world is against you. Another book that reminded me of Red Eyes, I loved venturing with the protagonist Neel deep into the forest, as he struggles to balance what he wants with what he must do. Imagery As someone who loves visiting jungles, a book set in a forest opens up all kinds of possibilities. As we read Tiger Boy, we will work on bringing all five senses alive through … [Read more...]