It's Children's Day; what better time to celebrate a picture book I loved? You Can't take an Elephant on the Bus is one of the books in this year's Reading Challenge collection, and I loved it!I enjoy picture books that rhyme. I also enjoy whacky books that don't have a hidden agenda - to teach, preach, etc. I love how books express crazy ideas that make me chortle as I read. So naturally, I loved You Can't take an Elephant on the Bus.The theme for this years Reading Challenge is The Big Friendly Read, and it celebrates 100 years of Roald Dahl. For me, the joy of Dahl lies in his crazy ideas that defy reality and defy parents who want to teach their children through any book they find. I could not wait to start reading the books in the collection, and this one lived up to my expectations!If you can't take an elephant on a bus, and you can't make a whale … [Read more...]
The Reading Challenge is Back!
The Reading Challenge is back at the British Library, Pune, and this time, the theme is 'The Big Friendly Read'! Celebrating 100 years of Roald Dahl, we have a lovely collection of books as usual. Many feature Dahl characters that I fell in love with as a child, and of course, many others with the wonderful illustrations of Sir Quentin Blake. There are all kinds of stories, though, so even if you've read everything Dahl ever wrote, there will be something for you to read too!For those who have never taken part in the Reading Challenge, it is an exciting programme conducted every year at the British Library, Pune. If you are anywhere between 5 and 13 years old, you can register. There are two sets of books - junior books and senior books - and all you need to do is finish reading six books in six weeks. If you do, you will get a certificate, maybe even a medal!I will … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge at MIT Gurukul
Going back to a school at which I was once a teacher was a whole new experience for me! Despite all the reasons I quit, I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I walked around the school. This time, I was not there an employee, but as an independent trainer from the British Council. Going to the buildings where I taught English and ToK, visiting the library and the refectory, and, most importantly, meeting all the lovely people I worked with ... What a grand day!MIT Gurukul has taken on the Reading Challenge, and I worked with the PYP section today, reading out stories and teaching the children about book reviews. With Grade 1, I did a book I had not read before - There's a Shark in the Bath! It's a delightful story, one of those that is enjoyed differently by each reader. What does young Dulcie do when she sees a shark in her bath? I chuckled as I read … [Read more...]
The Great Cheese Robbery
Lots of books on my blog this week: that's what happens when I do a workshop for the British Library's Reading Challenge!The Great Cheese Robbery was a delightful picture book that brought back memories of Disney's "Dumbo". I remember the first time I watched "Dumbo" and saw the elephants shriek at the sight of a mouse. I chuckled at the movie as a child, and the same images came back to me as I read this book!When I started reading The Great Cheese Robbery, I was already prejudiced towards it simply because so many children who had enrolled for the reading challenge enjoyed it so much. When children like a picture book, what other endorsement does it need?Two things about the book charmed me: the illustrations and the delightfully innocent Patrick Elephant. If I'd read this book as a child, Patrick Elephant would have been one of my favourite characters ever. He knows his … [Read more...]
The Paper Dolls
I love Julia Donaldson! I came across her work for the first time when I read and watched The Gruffalo's Child. Then, I read Running on the Cracks - a completely different book for a completely different audience. And now, as part of the Record Breakers Reading Challenge, I read The Paper Dolls, first by myself and then during my workshop with children at MGM Clover Dale. It was just lovely!I'm one of those who prefer picture books that rhyme to those that don't. I find rhyme, when well done, truly delightful and very easy to read. More than anything, I love how children respond to rhyme, like when I make them repeat Ticky-and-Tacky and Jacky-the-Backie and Jim-with-two-noses and Jo-with-a-bow. The Paper Dolls was delightful from start to end, both to read aloud and to act. What makes it even more special is that after the story, there's a page that shows you how to make your own … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge at MGM Clover Dale
The Imagination Box, which I wrote about yesterday, as well as the books I'll be writing about in the days ahead, were part of the Reading Challenge organised by the British Library. As always, I enjoyed myself thoroughly conducting a series of workshops at MGM Clover Dale High School in Aurangabad. The theme for their Reading Challenge was "Record Breakers", and there were record breakers amongst them! A pair of twins read 16 books in the last three weeks because they enjoyed the challenge so much!The first workshop, for younger children, was a lovely storytelling session. I introduced them to Julia Donaldson's The Paper Dolls. We play-acted, read the story, and then even made the paper dolls as instructed at the end of the book!The second session was with eight-year-olds who found that they were too old to read the collection for young readers. They chose to read books from the … [Read more...]
The Imagination Box
Isn't the name wonderful?The Imagination Box is the story of a boy called Tim, who has convinced himself that all he needs in life are his pencil and paper (and some confectionery would do no harm). Recently adopted, he knows that all the papers have been signed, but cannot help thinking of his new home as temporary. His easiest defence mechanism is to convince himself that he does not need friends. He is happiest by himself. No one else matters.Until, of course, he meets Professor Eisenstone, inventor of the imagination box. Never one to curb his curiosity, Tim tries on a funny helmet thing connected to a box, not sure what to expect. And the magic begins ... He alone has been able to make Professor Eisenstone's imagination box work. And he can create anything he likes.The book has so much potential and so many truly brilliant bits. I love the finger monkey Phil. I love … [Read more...]
Record Breakers at Cathedral Vidya School
Another set of Reading Challenge workshops came to an end yesterday. This time, the theme was 'Record Breakers', and the school that took it on was Cathedral Vidya School, Lonavala. Working with fifteen bright children from classes five to eight filled me with joy!Lipograms and pangrams brought much hilarity ... The activity started in all seriousness and then went crazy as the children let their imaginations go wild.Every one of the participants was enthusiastic - all of them say they enjoyed the challenge!And, of course, team-building is part of the joy of workshops. How hard they try to finish their activity first!Another workshop is just around the corner, this time at the British Library, Pune. Click here for details. … [Read more...]
Reading and Writing Workshops at SGI, Kolhapur!
I spent three days at Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur, and conducted a series of reading and writing workshops with 204 children as part of the British Library's Reading Challenge programme. We worked on myths from around the world, read aloud Fragoline and the Midnight Dream and George and the Dragon, played with idioms, wrote stories ... What fun it was! … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge at Dr Kalmadi Shamrao High School
Today was the closing ceremony of the Reading Challenge Programme at Dr Kalmadi Shamrao High School. Look at all the proud faces!I conducted two workshops for the children: one on idioms, the other on myths from different parts of the world. During the first one, we solved a crossword puzzle, played team games differentiating between idioms and proverbs, and attempted to guess the meanings of several idioms. I was very impressed by the number of idioms the children were able to explain!The second workshop I conduct as part of the Mythical Maze Reading Challenge is always more fun for the children. I divide them into groups and give each group a myth from some part of the world. All five groups work with myths explaining the same phenomenon - rain. They perform a skit, make a chart, explain the major ideas ... It was such fun, as always!This is just the beginning of a … [Read more...]