The Elephant Thief was one of those books that I would have loved to read as a child, and thoroughly enjoyed as an adult. At the back of the book, there are three words that describe it – animal, adventure and thrilling. I think the first two sum up the book perfectly. I wouldn’t go as […]
My Name’s not Friday
My Name’s Not Friday. I love the title. My name is not Friday. It says so much to me. In the afterword, Jon Walter talks about markers in the book like the embargo on cotton, which happened in the first year of the American Civil War. Yet, he warns the reader that if you try too […]
Workshop for Women’s Day
Yes, I was a bit sceptical about doing a workshop for children to mark International Women’s Day. What would I do? How much would I say? How would I even begin to talk about the inequality we see around us every day without even noticing it? Talking about equal pay means nothing to these children. […]
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
The British Library is organising several women’s day related events this weekend, and thanks to that, I came across a gem: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World. Featuring Jane Austen, Gertrude Ederle, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Mary Anning, Mary Seacole, Amelia Earhart, Agent Fifi, Sacagawa, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Anne Frank, Fantastically […]
Charmed Life
I remember reading something by Diana Wynne-Jones a few years ago and not particularly enjoying it. I can’t even remember which book it was. I don’t know what made me pick up Charmed Life, but I’m so glad I did! Not only did I find a wonderful book, but I also found a list of books […]
The Wolf Wilder
The Girl Savage. Rooftoppers. And now, The Wolf Wilder. How can one person write three such wonderful, and wonderfully different books? I started reading The Wolf Wilder with unfairly high expectations. For one, I’ve read and loved Katherine Rundell’s other books. For another, the cover of The Wolf Wilder has a quote from Philip Pullman saying it is a triumph. What […]
Perijee and Me
Caitlin is sure her disguise will work. She will escape from the camp that is supposed to keep her safe from the monster that is taking over the world. She will save her friend. Caitlin dons a chef hat, and even writes ‘chef’ on it. If that’s not convincing, what is? Unfortunately, she looks like […]
Sophie Someone
When I started reading Sophie Someone, I simply could not figure it out. I was also a little put off by the idea that the whole story was told from the point of view of a pigeon. I have no love for pigeons. But then, something made me frown and say, ‘Let’s give this another shot.’ […]
So Many Books, So Little Time!
I’ve been reading so many lovely books that I think it’s finally time to write about them. When I am on a train with co-passengers I don’t want to talk to (which is 99.999% of the time), I end up reading almost throughout the journey. And when it’s a 20-hour journey … Aubrey and the […]
Reading Challenge Workshops at MIT Gurukul
Six workshops with six different batches. Six hours of workshopping, one session after another. And it was so much fun! MIT Gurukul is using a mixed bunch of reading challenge books this year. Some children are reading Space Hop, some Creepy House, and some The Big Friendly Read. So, beginning with Grade V, I decided […]
Reading Challenge at Indus International School
“The circus has come to Pune!”“Yes, and it can fly!”“Yes, and there are gymnasts jumping from the ceiling!”“Yes, and there is a flying unicorn!”“Yes, and there are singing koalas!”“Yes, and the tiger can bark!”“Yes, and the dogs are miaowing!” I love playing ‘Yes, and …’ with children. They are just so imaginative. We created a […]
What animal are you?
Have you ever played Chinese Pictionary? I used it as part of my junior workshop for the British Library’s Reading Challenge this year. It’s a combination of Chinese Whispers and Pictionary, and it promises to be hilarious. Especially with young children, or people who cannot draw, it becomes a crazy game that is loads of […]
Solve the Mystery!
Of all the workshops I conduct, the ones at the British Library remain special. Maybe it’s because that’s where it all began. For the Animal Agents Reading Challenge, I conducted my first pair of workshops at the new premises. Logic, imagination and laughter are such a delicious combination! For the seniors, I conducted a session […]
Reading Challenge at the British Library
I can’t believe that this is the fifth year that I’m conducting workshops for the British Library’s Reading Challenge! I began with … Then came the challenge that probably has my favourite set of books: I thoroughly enjoyed the workshops in my third year with the Reading Challenge: With Dahl, you can’t go wrong, so […]
Smart
How do you write a modern novel with a child detective? Famous Five and Secret Seven aren’t really believable anymore because now, everyone thinks of the tape that cordons areas off, and the fact that clues simply aren’t that easy to find. Smart by Kim Slater shows you how it’s still possible to write a mystery […]
An Eagle in the Snow
Every book by Michael Morpurgo that I’ve read so far has been gripping from the very first chapter. When I saw An Eagle in the Snow at the library yesterday, I snatched it up, thinking of a lovely weekend with a wonderful book for company. And then I had nothing to read while I waited for […]
Little Bits of Sky
The cover of the edition of Little Bits of Sky that I read is absolutely gorgeous. I felt like a child when I looked at it. I stared and stared. And then I played with the dust jacket a little bit. And then, just like a child, I was afraid I would damage it or something, so […]
Dreaming the Bear
Dreaming the Bear reminded me, in some ways, of White Dolphin. I loved it and I hated it. Because the story took the turn it had to take, and what ‘should’ happen did. Read the story to figure out what I mean. An intriguing story, Dreaming the Bear took me into minds that are distant from me. The […]
The Fastest Boy in the World
Four years ago, I read Elizabeth Laird’s Oranges in No Man’s Land, and was deeply moved. Then, two years ago, I read The Witching Hour, and loved it. And now, her The Fastest Boy in the World did not let me down. Eleven-year-old Solomon lives in a small village in Ethiopia. When his grandfather announces that he will take […]
Reading Challenge at Clover Dale, Aurangabad
I put a ten-rupee coin into the bubblegum machine Soon, bubblegums flew out and hit my head! For a moment, I wondered; then I realised That I’d put a hundred-rupee coin into the machine instead! – adapted from a poem written in about seven minutes by one of the participants at yesterday’s workshop.* *If anyone […]