The last book we will be reading at the next edition of my book club is Nami and Jhalak: Stinkypur Guardians! It's just a few months old, and I can't wait to share it with my book clubbers. Here's what we'll do as we read. Bird Quiz Nami and Jhalak get inspired to act when they find a lapwing stuck to a bucket of paint in the canal. Do you know what a lapwing is? What regular birds can you identify? Let's find out! Write a Poem! When we provide children with the right scaffolding, they write much better! Together, we'll work on a poem inspired by nature. Picture Postcards Nami and Jhalak send picture postcards to convince the authorities to save Town Park. I'll introduce my book clubbers to picture postcards and then we'll make our own! Join a programme! I'm always nervous about reading my own books with … [Read more...]
My Year in Writing – 2025
2025 was a spectacular year as a writer! The highlight was, of course, winning the Crossword Book Award 2025. Everyone knows how slow the publishing industry is, so it was also such a joy to have three books published this year, by three different publishers! The Crossword Book Award ceremony was a grand, celebratory affair, and the fact that Denise Antao and I won the award for the best children's fiction was a dream come true. Jury members Deepak Dalal, Deepa Agarwal and Anita Roy had the kindest things to say about our book The Wall Friends Club. 'Wall Friends Club' stands out for its entirely unexpected and imaginative storyline and structure. It is a story of friendship, a most unusual one, that originates from pieces of paper stuck in the nooks and crannies of a wall. Although the protagonists have never met each other, the author, in a … [Read more...]