With old age comes its share of health problems. At times, it can be difficult to explain to children what ails their ageing grandparents. More so, when the grandparent is struck with a condition like dementia. What happened to Grandpa by Nandini Nayar (Puffin books) takes the reader through one such tale where the young child comes to grip with the changing mental faculties of her beloved grandfather.  How can one explain the complicated impact of this condition? Is it just enough to say that grandpa is now forgetting what used to be so dear and normal earlier? How can one tell a child ..read more

It is a lucky child who has a very large tree as their best friend.  Nachiketaki, or Nachi, the child protagonist of Finding Tree by Geeta Dharmarajan (Katha Books) has spent a greater part of her childhood in the beautiful and vibrant world of this tree that is teaming with life. The tree in question is a mangrove, and true indeed brims with life.  Gorgeous illustrations by Rajiv Eipe take us through these wondrous experiences of a child in sync with nature. Nachi hears the million sounds of the multitude of creatures, looks at the vibrant colours of the thousands of insects and a ..read more

Death, a character in the graphic novel “Starry Starry Night” (Duckbill, Penguin)has a surprisingly reassuring presence in this book written by Nandita Basu. about two people dealing with grief. The Protagonists, Kunal and Tara are both grappling with grief in their own way.  Kunal has lost his mother and is now sent to a boarding school in the hills. Tara is his father’s cousin, and she teaches a special music program in the school where Kunal will be studying in. She is coming to terms with the death of her best friend. Both are dealing with a deep sense of loss and grief. Kunal ..read more

 “Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instant in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true” writes Juliet, the protagonist of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, quite early on in the book.  Such was the feeling that actually drew me towards this book. I had gone to the bookstore to pick up a specific title for my fiction fix, but realised that it was out of stock. As I scanned the beautiful wooden book racks, for another alternative, it seemed that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society  gently beckoned ..read more

AdiDev Press is known for beautifully illustrated books that bring deep mythological and indigenous literature in simple forms so that they are accessible to young children. You’ve Got This, Arjuna! by Lissa Coffey, also a fun tale is based on a modern-day version of the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna from the Bhagavad Gita. When I picked up the book, I expected a simplified version of the Gita. However, as it turns out, it is the essence of the philosophy that plays out in a completely modern setting. Hence, we have Arjuna quite confused on the eve of a really bi ..read more

I have always believed, that both NO and YES are two very powerful tools that we can use in our arsenal as we navigate through life. No is a Good Word by Bharati Singh, (illustrated by Urvashi Dubey and published by Daffodil Books) focuses on the NO that we often fail to emphasise on.  Teaching children how to say “no” is crucial for their personal development and well-being. By empowering children with the ability to say no, we equip them with essential life skills. It helps them to establish boundaries, assert their independence, and make confident decisions. Teaching children how ..read more

Devotional hymns are parts of a rich fabric of culture that form an integral part of growing up years. An earlier generation of children would learn prayers recited in families as a part of daily rituals. In many urban homes today, daily prayers as a whole family is a practice now reserved for special occasions. Books such as My First Prayer to Lord Ram- a translation of Tulsidas’ prayer may well play a role in introducing some of these hymns to children.  My First Prayer to Lord Ram- a translation of Tulsidas’ prayer by Chitwan Mittal and Sarita Saraf, with gorgeous illustrations by Apa ..read more

Wayel Kati – The Quest of the Seven Guardians by Linthoi Chanun (Niyogi Books) takes the young reader into a world brimming with enchantment and mystery set in the mythical hills of Manipur. This is a fantasy fiction tale that draws inspiration from and is intricately woven with the folklore of Manipur. Many folktales find expression in a single tale of epic proportion.  This middle-grade fantasy novel effortlessly weaves together elements of adventure, friendship, and destiny, captivating young readers and adults alike.From the very first page, readers are transported into a vividly im ..read more

‘Susanna’s Granthapura’ is the first-ever English translation of the Malayalam novel ‘Susannayude Grandhappura’ by Ajai Mangattu (Penguin). It has been translated by Catherine Thankamma. With a narrative that moves back and forth in time, this is a coming-of-age novel where books, literature and the literary life assume center space. Paul, the reticent son of Susanna wants to meet Ali, the narrator after his mother’s death. This message takes Ali down the memory lane, when he and his friend Abhi met Suzanna for the first time, when they travelled to her house in search of a lost manuscript ..read more

The Last Island by Adam Goodheart (juggernaut) tells the story of the elusive Sentinel tribe, found in the distant Andaman Islands. The tribe has resisted contact with the outside world ever since the British colonisers first set their sights upon them. The book starts off with a history of how the Sentinel Island was discovered, the impact of colonisation on the Andaman Islands as a whole, the varied attempts to contact this specific tribe, the current state of things and so on. The book, albeit a well-researched work of non-fiction, reads like an adventure story! Back to the time when ..read more