The Impossible Pet by Jane De Suza is such a fun book! I laughed out loud more than once as the hapless Tarun tries one thing after another to get a pet of his own--whether his parents like it or not.Just like when I read Puppy Trouble, what drew me first into the story is the universality of its theme. What child doesn't want a pet? In Tarun's case, there's more. He and his best friend Joey are same-same in every way--height, age, class, everything. But when Joey gets a pet and refuses to share, how can Tarun be same-same again?So Tarun tries acquiring one pet after another--a lizard, a cow, a pigeon--anything will do! I love how the humour of the story blends with the more serious elements that come towards the end of the book. Without being preachy, The Impossible Pet leaves us feeling that there's a sense of justice in the world!TitleThe Impossible … [Read more...]
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race is a brand-new book that I'm eager to introduce to my book club. I read it not very long ago, and it's such a rollicking read that I'm sure it will be fun! What's in a name? Agassi hates his name. In fact, he prefers to be called by his other name - Joel.As Agassi and the Great Cycle Race is the first book we will be reading, we will do several name-related activities. If your parents had named you after their favourite sportspeople, what would your name be? If they had combined their names to create one for you, what options would they have had? And finally, I'd love to know what the stories behind their names are. What led to the choosing of their names? But, then ... We've played "Fortunately, Unfortunately" at several editions of my book club. It's time to do something different! When we play … [Read more...]
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race
Agassi and the Great Cycle Race by Khyrunnisa A. and illustrated by Saumya Oberoi is another fun Silly Billy book! The cover image encapsulates the madness of the book perfectly: a parakeet sitting on an inverted saucepan worn by a boy riding a cycle!Agassi hates his name. Just because his parents are tennis fans, they didn't have to name him Agassi! He refuses to play tennis, and he much prefers to be called by his middle name, Joel.When he decides to take part in a cycle race, however, his quest for a cycle is a mixed blessing. A cycle loaned to him comes along with a parakeet that he must care for. But what should the parakeet be called but Steffi?With Joel, his neighbour Zeba, and the parakeet Steffi, we go hurtling on a hilarious adventure. Joel seems to attract accidents and drama, and the book takes us through a race, film-making, accidents, an antique cycle and a … [Read more...]
Jumble Sale
Shabnam Minwalla's Jumble Sale is another delightful Silly Billy Book, a lighthearted mystery, which begins with a missing bottlebrush. Who could have stolen it? An evil crow? A ghost? Or a thin woman with a beaky nose?Jumble Sale takes us through a hilarious whodunnit featuring mischievous children Dina and Dorab Sethna, hapless parents, and a vengeful teacher, Tinaz Toddywala. Of course, we know who stole the blackboard, the Aadhaar card and the 'No Parking' sign. The question is, how will the whole story unravel?With Tinaz Toddywala, I found myself singing, Justchoo wait, Dorab-Dina, Justchoo wait! with a thrill of pleasure. With the children, I found myself chuckling and hoping they get away with mischief. And with their parents, particular Mrs Sethna, I had every sympathy!The pictures by Isha Mangalmurti make Jumble Sale all the more delightful--my favourite character … [Read more...]
Ghosts, Thieves and Aha! Adventures
I love the idea of a Silly Billy Book! That's what the series is called, and that's what drew me to Ghosts, Thieves and Aha! Adventures by Asha Nehemiah in the first place. With its full colour illustrations, the series is a great addition to books that bridge an awkward gap between age-groups and reading levels. It's perfect for ages eight and above, well suited to children who aren't yet ready to pick up middle-grade books, but enjoy colourful chapter books.Independent bookstores are close to my heart, and a book set in a bookstore was bound to be fun! At Aha! Books, there seems to be rather a lot happening. There's a ghost that keeps putting a particular book on display. There's a thief (or more than one thief, perhaps?) who steals scarves and harmonicas. Could a rambunctious dog called Kattabomman, a baby called T-Reks and a young man called Biplob be somehow involved?Like … [Read more...]