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Varsha Seshan

Top 8 Picture Books – 2025

posted on January 8, 2026

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...]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: 1 2 3 Idlis in a Sambar Sea, Everything Changes and That's Ok, I Am Quiet: A Story for the Introvert in All of Us, Manvinder's Medu Vada, picture books, reading, review, Rosa in a Rush, The Wish Fish, What Could It Be, What Feelings Like Best

Manvinder’s Medu Vada

posted on May 23, 2025

Manvinder's Medu Vada by Riddhi Maniar Doda and Vinayak Varma had me chuckling at each page! I could completely identify with Manvinder, who refuses to eat something that doesn't look like it's supposed to look! As a child, I had a problem with the same food--vadas. How could it be a real vada if it didn't have a hole? This, despite the fact that vadas (without holes) were made at home for special occasions, and I enjoyed them too!When Manvinder's family moves to Bengaluru, he eats a medu vada for the first time. It's delicious. Somehow, gobi parathas no longer look so tempting! And so, the family sets off on a mission to make medu vadas for him.With each page, Manvinder grows more and more upset. A medu vada is supposed to be round! With a hole in it! The page that had me laughing aloud was the one where he's fooled into eating a donut instead!I love the wholesomeness of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for ages five and six, Hook Book, Manvinder's Medu Vada, Picture Book, reading, review, Riddhi Maniar Doda, Vinayak Varma