Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Hope: Stories for a healthy mind

Book Title – Hope: Stories for a healthy mind

Author – Pragati Sureka 

Genre – Realistic Fiction 

Publisher – Scholastic India

Recommended for Age Groups – 5+ years

Book Summary  

This book contains three stories about three different kids – Ryan, Kabir, and Shoma – who come across various emotional challenges, which they are struggling to deal with and are unable to share comfortably with their parents. The stories depict the journey of how they overcome their challenges and learn to deal with the circumstances they are in. The book has a separate segment for parents too, with simple  guidelines on how to boost a child’s emotional well-being. This book is for parents as well as children for mental health awareness.  

Continue reading Book Review – Hope: Stories for a healthy mind

Book Review – Dasavatara

Book Name – Dasavatara

Author – Piyusha Vir

Illustrator – Aparajitha Vaasudev

Publisher – Westland (Red Panda Imprint)

‘Dasavatara’ by Piyusha Vir, as conveyed in the title itself, is a book about the 10 main avatars of Lord Vishnu (the preserver). The book consists of short stories about each of these Avatars. All of these stories have an underlying theme – when darkness tries to take over the world, Lord Vishnu comes to the rescue as, after all, he is the preserver! 

Continue reading Book Review – Dasavatara

Book Review – Spellbound!

Book name – Spellbound!
Author – Nalini Sorensen
Publisher – Scholastic India

“Spellbound!” is a unique and delightful book by renowned author Nalini Sorensen with a contemporary and refreshing take on the classic tale of “Princess and the Frog”. The base and the plot remains the same, but the end is radical in a way that teaches us so much more than the cliché fairy tales we were introduced to as kids. 

Continue reading Book Review – Spellbound!

Book Review – Esperanza Rising

Book name – Esperanza Rising
Author – Pam Munoz Ryan
Publisher – Scholastic
Recommended for Age Group – 8-12 years

‘Esperanza Rising’ is an interesting book about a girl named Esperanza who thought that life is always full of happiness but a sudden change brought a whole new life in front of her. The book focuses on how she accepts this new life and rises to new heights.

Continue reading Book Review – Esperanza Rising

Book Review – Against All Odds

The book “Against All Odds” tells us a creative and thoughtful story, but the only problem with it is that you can’t put it down once you start reading it. Kavya and Kartik are twins who shift to Rourkela from Kolkata. Kartik is one-armed since birth and hence, has many apprehensions about how he would be treated in the new school in Rourkela. What happens next is for you to read and discover, but I can vouch for the fact that it will be an emotional and motivational experience for you. 

Continue reading Book Review – Against All Odds

Book Review – The Canine Chronicles

Book Title: The Canine Chronicles – Love & Laughter in the Times of Corona

Author: Ramendra Kumar

Published By: Blue Pencil

“The Canine Chronicles” is a humorous, entertaining and heart-warming tale written from the point of view of Aryan, a lovable black 6-year-old Labrador ‘guppy’ or ‘grown-up puppy’. The book focuses on how he spends his days in the Covid-19 Lockdown with his family of four, his conversations with his best friend and neighbour guppy Priyamvada or ‘Pri’, and includes anecdotes from the point of view of ‘Papa’ – Aryan’s human dad.

Continue reading Book Review – The Canine Chronicles

Book Review – Manya Learns to Roar

Book Title: Manya Learns to Roar

Author: Shruthi Rao

Illustrator: Priya Kurian

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Recommended for Age Group: 6+ years

Published By: Duckbill Books and Publications Private Limited

“Manya Learns to Roar” is a story about a girl named Manya who struggles due to stammering. The book depicts her journey of overcoming her fears and apprehensions, in a realistic and entertaining manner.

Continue reading Book Review – Manya Learns to Roar

Book Review – Dear Earth

The Earth is a beautiful home that cares for us like no other. In return, we have to give it the same love that the Earth gives us. This is the basic premise of ‘Dear Earth’ by Avvaiyar. The poem is like a plea that one can not escape. The author showcases a pen’s power in only 25 words. The poem provides for hours of thinking after the first read. The illustrations done by Murali Nagaphuza complement the piece beautifully and are enticing.

Continue reading Book Review – Dear Earth