Peanut vs the Piano
We’re reading Peanut vs the Piano at two of my book clubs. Peanut, Papad and Pickle. What funny names those are!
“I hope their parents named them after their favourite food!” I said. “Not things that were lying around. What if your parents had named you after their favourite foods? What would your names have been?”
“Fish!” said Zayn. “My name would have been Fish.”
“Like the dog in At Least a Fish!” someone said.
So, Zayn amended, “Fish fries!”
Aarav thought about it. “I think I would be called Kalidal Pizza.”
We couldn’t help laughing. And then, he changed his Zoom name to something even more specific – Dal Makhani Four Cheese Pizza.
Ira could not think of what her parents would name her. “They like everything!” she complained. Finally, she settled on ‘Mutton’. Mutton. That’s what she would be called.
And Aarya? Her parents like very different things. “If my father had named me, I would be called Sushi. If my mother had named me, I would be Potato Chips. So, Potato Chips Sushi. No. Sushi, Potato Chips!”
Promptly, they all changed their screen names and I had a feast on my screen that day!
Paati Goes Viral
Soon, it was time for my session with ages nine and ten. We’re reading Paati Goes Viral, and I’ve been thinking about the phrase ‘goes viral’. Where do words come from? How do circumstances lead to the invention of words like contactless and acronyms like WFH and LOL? We discussed etymology and then, we did a fun group activity. I asked them to think of any word we would use often in class and make up another word that we would use instead, right through the weeks that follow. Now, look at the words we have!
book = strook
ma’am = sclem
creative writing = C. R.
viral = electric
So, the strook we’re reading right now is Paati Goes Electric. The C. R. activities are going to be fun, yes, sclem!
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