When I read this simple, heartwarming story a few months ago, I knew I wanted to read it with my book club soon, so here we are! In August 2026, my book club for ages 9 and 10, Read, Write, Explore, will read Sonia Mehta’s On Air with RJ Rini. This is what I hope to do with my book clubbers as we read! On Air with Varsha As On Air with RJ Rini is the first book we will be reading in August 2026, we’ll begin with a radio show of sorts (and this will link well with our next activity too)! I will ask each of my book clubbers to hold something that could be their pretend-mic (just like Rini on the book cover!) and I’ll ask each one a question, which they have to respond to quickly and clearly—as if they’re being interviewed on radio! Radio Show Let’s host a radio show! What are some things you should keep in mind when you are hosting … [Read more...]
Sandy to the Rescue
Another edition of my book club, and we're reading another delightful hOle book!Sandy, aka Sandip when his mother is angry, makes a new friend, Aftab, who needs rescuing from Mrs Gupta, the witch next door. The problem is that he needs to sneak Aftab into his house, feed him and give him a place to stay. And of course, Sandy has got to be braver than Aftab when it comes to an adventure of this sort. After all, Sandy is a whole year older.We've read this hOle book before, and I'm looking forward to reading it again--five years later! Here are some bookish activities we're going to do. Making Up Words 'It's greeny blue, not bluey green. It's, um, grue!''You need spectacles,' Aftab scoffed. 'It's not grue, it's breen!'What words can you make up by combining two words? What do these new words mean? Hiding Places Aftab hides under the … [Read more...]
Song of the River
I love Gill Lewis’s books, and when I saw Song of the River at Kahaani Box, I picked it up without a second thought. And even though I haven’t read any of Lewis’s books in a while, I wasn’t disappointed. When Cari’s father dies, her mother wants to start over. She wants to move out of the city and to a village where she can run a picture perfect café, complete with chequered tablecloths. For Cari, though, it feels like they’re deliberately leaving every memory of her father behind. They’re a half family now, and it seems as if her mother wants to forget. A river of rage surges within Cari, one that is echoed by the river outside their new cottage. When the river breaks its banks, Cari’s mother is heartbroken. Everything is destroyed, and she realises what a foolish ideal she was chasing. But perhaps it’s time to change the song of the river—both within Cari and in the physical … [Read more...]
I Am Hachi
Some picture books make you smile page after page, and I Am Hachi is one of them. Told from the point of view of a dog, it's an adorable story that explores the unique relationship between animals and their humans. Hachi has a dozen names--Hachiko, Himu, Chimuna, and so many more. And his story is one of innocence, trust and love. His life is like a journey through four seasons. In spring, he is a bundle of curiosity and bubbling with energy. As we move through summer, autumn and winter, we see him aging, but secure in the comfort of his home and his family. What I loved most about the story is the voice. We hear Hachi's voice and the way in which he makes sense of the world around him. He knows exactly what phrases like bahar chalte hain and nahai-nahai mean. He loves the first and hates the second! And yet, he's full of contradictions and idiosyncrasies. He hates having a … [Read more...]
The Girl Who Became a Buddha
What is it like to be the mother of one who gets enlightenment? How does one watch a young prince walk away from responsibilities towards something impractical and incomprehensible? The Girl Who Became a Buddha is a beautiful story that shifts the spotlight from Siddhartha to Pajapati, his foster mother. Author Maria Denjongpa creates vivid pictures of Pajapati, a feisty, rebellious girl who grows to be a queen and dares to ask questions. She is one who eventually seeks (and finds) enlightenment herself. As I read The Girl Who Became a Buddha, I was drawn into Pajapati's world. I love that her spiritual journey--and that of others in the story--is never once preachy. On the contrary, we meet practitioners of all kinds. A courtesan may be drawn to Buddha's path just as much as a queen. Every human is a bundle of contradictions and flaws, searching for answers in their own way. … [Read more...]
Hope in the Valley
The blurb of Hope in the Valley speaks of how the book is a tale of "growing up in Silicon Valley at a time when immigrants are looked at with suspicion". With news coming in from all over the world--and most recently from Belfast--I can't help wondering, how much has changed? How is it that a book set almost fifty years ago is still relevant today? Hope in the Valley is a layered story told from the point of view of the youngest of three siblings, Pandita Paul. Pandita doesn't want things to change. She doesn't want the house across the street to be demolished, and she doesn't feel set for middle school, especially now that her erstwhile best friend is friends with trendy Katrina Reed. She certainly doesn't want to join drama camp, but when it's something her father asks her to do for him, what can she say? The various threads of the story are beautifully woven together to bring … [Read more...]
‘Carri-On’, Ruddy!
I remember the first time I visited Tadoba. Our guide, Vishwas, told us that being a forest guide is much like being a detective. You have to listen, look for detail, pay attention, and follow the clues. And the ruddy mongoose in the story--a naturalist and a sleuth--does just that. As with Sea ice? Now you don't!, the depth and breadth of research took my breath away. Page after page, I was awestruck by everything Rohan Chakravarty and his sleuth Naturalist Ruddy draw our attention to. Birds, spiders, ants, lizards--everything catches Ruddy's eye, and everything becomes a marvellous mystery for us to uncover. Parts of the book invite the reader to engage in an investigation with Ruddy, revealing gems of information in the best possible way. As an educator, I'm constantly on the lookout for texts that make nonfiction writing fun. I've worked with Sad Animal Facts and How Do … [Read more...]
Becoming Naomi León
Some time ago, I read about how searching for belonging creates among the most powerful children's stories. Time and time again, that rings true. Becoming Naomi León is the story of a young girl and her brother Owen, who are being raised by their Gram. As with Foxlight, Naomi has dreams of how her mother does want her, will want her, will shower her with love, and bring her family. As expected, Naomi's mother does turn up. But she's nothing like Naomi imagined. She's unpredictable, alternately showing love and blazing in anger. Worst of all, her mother wants Naomi, but not Owen. What is Naomi to do? Becoming Naomi León is a beautiful story of courage, love, and making difficult choices. Can Naomi live up to her name and become the lion she is? Can she stand firmly in support of what she wants, even though being abandoned led to selective mutism that she continues to struggle … [Read more...]
Wild
I read Boy 87 by Ele Fountain several years ago, and it stayed with me. Stark, powerful, frightening--I still remember the mood it left me with. And Wild is no different. Jack is a bundle of rage and resentment. His mother never had time for him. Why should anything change? Why must he suddenly forge a relationship with her when the only person he wants to be with is gone? Bubbling with frustration, he doesn't care what he does. If it means getting into trouble at school, so be it. Full of raw energy and power, each page of Wild pulses with Jack's anger, and the anticipation just keeps building as we read on. We dread what he will do next, terrified at everything that could go wrong. And yet, just like Boy 87, Wild is, ultimately, a story of courage and hope, of doing the right thing. Jack is lost but perhaps he can find his way again. And maybe he isn't as alone as he … [Read more...]
The Case of the Vanishing Gods
I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, and that is what makes it all the more remarkable how well the M4 series by Mallika Ravikumar works for me. I read The Case of the Mysterious Witches some time ago, and it left a powerful impression on me. The Case of the Vanishing Gods was no different. The story begins with a simple robbery--Mrs Shenoy's jewellery is stolen, and along with it, an antique idol. Malhar, a fan of detective stories, is determined to find the criminal, and soon, he ropes in his sister Meera. However, two urban kids living in a bubble of privilege have little experience of a murky world where innocent people are jailed and beaten. Enter Mirchi, who might not be able to read well but certainly knows the ways of the world. With the dog Munna, we have the M4 who dip their toes into a theft and find themselves neck deep in a racket far bigger than they imagined. What I … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 77
- Next Page »