Author Archives: Thebookreviewindia

Ranjini Rao and Ruchira Ramanujan’s book Bookworms And Jelly Bellies brings a refreshing change of pace to how we think, cook and consume our food. Aimed at children and parents who’d like to try a more ‘playful’ and creative approach to cuisine, it comes at a time when the Indian culinary world is being buffeted by the emergence of a modern Indian ‘food culture’—with competitive cooking television shows and trendy dietary fads overwhelming the simple pleasures of actually eating food and being happier for it.

I have liked most of the CBT books I have read. I have read them to my children, gifted them to other children. But this book needs to be kept away from children.

This is a compilation of prize-winning entries for 9–12 age received in the category of ‘Heritage and Culture’. However, there are several criticisms that may be levied against the book.

Over generations, teenage angst has been one of the toughest issues to deal with. Perhaps the use of the phrase itself might be a dangerous dismissal, obscuring serious matters. Childhood ends, removing the protective covers from a murkier reality, leaving youngsters to cope with issues that they are yet unable to fully comprehend.

The back cover of Best Stories describes the book as a ‘collection of timeless pieces from the world’s greatest storytellers—Oscar Wilde, O’ Henry, Saki, H.G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving and many more.’
In this modern-day world of multi-novel fiction and fantasy such as A Song of Ice and Fire (or The Game of Thrones to those of the more visual persuasion) and Harry Potter, the literary merits of the short story sometimes get overlooked. It is always easier to mentally engage with a vast story, where a fleshed-out universe is created by the author. The reader in turn can commit to a fairly complex relationship, often involving multiple characters who will see growth and change. Even the standalone full-length novel tends to have the space and time for a reader to invest in the plot and characters, and see them mature. The short story is different. It can convey significant complexity, often having elaborate philosophical or moral points to make, or being open to a multitude of interpretations. But the investment in reading the story itself is minimal. The short story might have a cast of relatively unidimensional characters, or very few characters with limited backgrounds being provided. Like Japanese Muromachi period art, the short story conveys a deep and intense picture but keeps its brushstrokes minimal and quick.

The magical woods comprises two separate yet intertwined fantasy stories of 2 children who have lost hope, and enter a forest.

When Hina lost her father, she lost her mother, house and her way of life.

Saumya’s Doll is a story about how Saumya gets her dream doll which her friend Meenu owns. This book is available both in Hindi and English.
Why I liked this book?
I liked this book as it also indirectly shows you that saving trees is important and teaches you poems and saying

The concerns of parents, teachers, and psychologists for children in schools has heightened in recent times because of various issues associated with violence, safety, sexuality, substance abuse, and career guidance, because of which the need to have competent mental health professionals to plan, organize, and conduct well-thought out mental health programmes in schools, is being felt more than ever before.

Hamlet the young wolf at the city Zoo has adapted to the routine life, being fed by the zoo keeper Knut, the crowds of visitors and the open skies covering his cage. His only joy is his best friend and mountain of fur—Barnabas the gorilla.

As you flip open the colourful book, Hello Earth…Here We Come, a sentence on the inner cover page grips your attention. It says, ‘The moral right of the author has been asserted!’ Intrigued you move on and get introduced to two alien beings,

When the world leaders gathered in Paris on Nov 30, 2015 for the annual United Nations Climate Change conference, it was hailed as an historic event. The aim was to build global consensus to address climate change, especially due to the heightened risk of global warming.

I have always been a fan of children’s books and movies, especially now, as an adult and as a mother to a toddler. Somewhere while growing up we lose the imagination that took us to places as a child; and it is a very sad loss. There are, however, children’s books that are largely didactic and too high on morals; I try to steer clear of those.

What would be the most ‘fascintresting’ way to introduce a ‘tremunglous-istly’ lovely story about Wizards, Warriors, and Witches? Would it be enough to mention the weirdly wonderful verbal concoctions some of the characters speak in?