The year 2020 was such a boost to me as a writer! With a poem published by OUP, a picture book, a chapter book, a middle-grade book and a collection of short stories, how could 2021 even hope to compete? Even so, with two publications, an award shortlist, a book going into reprint and tons of […]
What I’ve Been Reading on StoryWeaver
Every so often, I write about books I’ve read on StoryWeaver that have left an impression on me in one way or another. Free books are precious! And over 30,000 free books? Priceless! Here are a few I read and loved recently. In the past, most of the books I’ve read have been Level 1 […]
I Wish, My Street, Timmi in Tangles
January 2021 has already been so full of lovely things! I launched the second edition of my online reading programme, and I’m delighted that it came into being because parents of participants in my current programme wrote and asked if I would consider continuing the sessions. It was also a month when I received so […]
What to Read on StoryWeaver
At this moment, StoryWeaver has 22,487 stories. 22,487. Let’s do some maths. If I read a story a day every day of my life, I will need over 61 years to read all those stories. That’s not even taking into account the fact that there will be many, many more stories by then. So, here’s […]
A Theme-Based Reading Programme
A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog post for StoryWeaver about a training programme I have been conducting for the last three years for librarians in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, and the ways in which I use StoryWeaver and Pratham Books for the reading programme they implement in schools. I have grown so […]
Using Pratham Books and StoryWeaver in School Libraries
This post first appeared on the StoryWeaver blog on 9 October 2019. As a British Council trainer, I’ve conducted numerous reading workshops and facilitated many interactive sessions for theme-based reading challenges. I’ve worked in schools as well as at the British Library itself, interacting with a range of children, from those who devour books to those who yawn at the sight of a library. So, when […]
Using StoryWeaver in Class
I’ve been resisting writing this post for ever so long because it sounds like some sort of advertising campaign. I promise it’s not. It’s just that I’ve used StoryWeaver so many times during workshops that I really wanted to share how easy it is to bring such wonderful resources into the classroom. Why StoryWeaver? The […]
Reading, Writing, Dancing
Two weeks ago, I asked the children at my Writers’ Club whether they would like to make readers laugh or cry. Three girls said they wanted to make readers laugh. 12 said they wanted to make readers cry. When a few said they would like to do both, those who had already raised their hands […]
Today I Am … A Writer!
The worst thing about being a writer is not writer’s block. Not by a long stretch. The worst thing is all the waiting. Waiting for people to respond. Waiting for a book to be ready. Waiting for a book to hit the market. Every time I get an email – even a rejection – there […]
A Wonderful Month
Every so often, I think about doing a monthly round-up of workshops I’ve conducted and books I’ve read. And then I think, maybe next month. But the month that went by was just so full of wonderful things that I want very much to share everything that happened and everything that’s coming up! Last month, I […]