Author Archives: Thebookreviewindia

Several challenge ideas that love is but a current coin for transgressivewomen or that learning and fine aesthetic sensibility are domains in which only the well-to-do are proficient. Many poems, particularly those by transgressive women affirm the significance of looking beautiful, the relevance of accoutrements, cosmetics, graceful mannerisms and many while asserting the importance of their composers’ selfhoods are also confessional without a trace of embarrassment or shame.

Between her musings and observations, Lakshmi Kannan has a finely attuned sense of the subtle changes in Indian society: the joys, the dangers, the desires, the loss of control; her poems serve to remind us of poetry’s role in recovery, healing and moving on. These poems tell stories of resilience and endurance and in doing so showcase a sutradhar, a storyteller for our times.

Jha had built up an enviable reputation as an administrator. Sarojini Naidu once called him ‘the Grand Moghul of the University’. There was enough justification for such a remark, for no external authority could interfere in the administration of the University and he was the monarch of all he surveyed.

The fourth and final section of the book attempts to set up a dialogue between the two characters in the children’s book story, school books and trade books, by seeing if the latter can comfortably and self-assuredly accompany the former to teach and educate the children who are after all the target audience for both.

The book also talks about holistic development with equal emphasis on physical, mental and spiritual health. The author provides tips to improve in each of these areas. Besides personal growth, the book also covers areas of financial planning and investment

Recent advances in the field of agriculture and medicine have pointed towards the vested interests of capitalists in promoting developments and innovations that benefit a few, and continue to perpetuate an exclusionary society. The impact of genetically modified seeds will only be fully evident over the next generations.

The book is sweet and funny, with delightful illustrations by Simon Yeo that vividly bring the story to life. The visual storytelling complements Neil Flory’s narrative

Illustrated with warmth and charm by the author, the book captures the essence of Lakshmi’s quest and the joy of discovering a true friend in the most unexpected place. Sharanya Kunnath’s engaging storytelling, combined with vibrant illustrations, creates a touching tale that celebrates friendship and the beauty of finding connections where least expected.

Chambers: My First Picture Dictionary is an invaluable addition to any child’s picture book collection. Its comprehensive coverage of everyday objects, aspects of life, and relationships ensures that children are exposed to a wide array of vocabulary relevant to their world. The delightful illustrations and engaging characters make learning an enjoyable experience.

However, while the book is a fun and engaging exploration of mythical creatures, some children might find the concept a bit confusing, especially if they are more accustomed to real-world animal facts. Parents and educators might need to provide a bit of guidance to help kids understand and appreciate the imaginative nature of the book.

The book ends on a lovely note by bringing out the biggest and the best fact that all children are clever and have their unique way of seeing the world.

The language and narration lend the story a feeling of it being a grandmother’s tale. At the same time, the childlike demeanour and quirks of the grandmother have the potential to capture a young reader’s curiosity and initiate conversations around one’s own grandparents.

Pop of colours and change of fonts to highlight the text along with large illustrations make the book inviting. Large illustrations which occupy most of the page can help the reader enjoy the story through pictures as well. The book has interesting illustrations which make the strange and fantastic become more real. Like a train and a helicopter landing in a garden

The story of the travels of Asha and her auto unfolds simply in Aruna Shekar’s effortless and easy style, and we get to take a trip around Chennai through rain and sunshine. The author is an award-winning teacher and writer for children who has written about life in different parts of India

The illustrations have a good depiction of Hyderabad’s market. They have many colours, including yellow, blue, green, and pink on the cover, and various shades on the background. The shops in the market also have a lot of colours, from signboards to the goods in the shops. Tishya Malya has done an amazing job of capturing all the expressions in her illustrations

The illustrations show pure love, care, respect, and support towards the ambitions of others. It breaks the stereotype of males not helping in the household, or males who are less sensitive than females. This also challenges the word ‘male ego’.

Despite the catchy illustrations with great use of white space on the inner pages, the cover with flat dull blue in the background takes away the charm of Parvathy’s illustration style and makes the book less attractive for the children to pick. Overall, reading this book will require support for a Level 2 reader.

The illustrations show pure love, care, respect, and support towards the ambitions of others. It breaks the stereotype of males not helping in the household, or males who are less sensitive than females. This also challenges the word ‘male ego’. In some societies, it is notional for women after a certain age to not pursue higher education

Niveditha’s limited palette illustrations selectively highlight the elements that need readers’ attention. This complements the narrative, makes it easier to follow and make sense of. Illustrations are revered as a key component in early literacy.

My Little Book of Diwali the board book opens up with colourful and joyous preparations that include diyas, new clothes, flower decorations—each creating a happy moment for the kindergarten readers.