The Dreamers – Books on Chasing your Dreams and Dreaming

Today is ‘World Dream’ day which means you can sleep in a few moments and take as many naps as you’d like! We’re just kidding but wouldn’t that be just the most fabulous way to spend the day? Is there something better than trying to fall into that dreamscape and explore worlds unknown? Well, If you’re sleepless, there is. Not to worry we have the next best thing – books do to our imagination, what dreams do to our sleep.

That’s why on dream day we decided to put together a list of books that look at dreams in all its forms – from chasing your dreams to to actually dreaming about a far off land. These books are as wonderful as your favourite recurring dream.

1. Brown Like Dosa, Samosas and Sticky Chikki by Rebecca Manari

This book is all about a healthy body image and loving yourself for who you are. Samaira drifts off into a dream where she is met by a strange fairy called Anahi, who keep wanting to change her appearance. True to herself, Samaira doesn’t budge and show Anahi instead the wonderful meaning of being ‘Brown like Dosa, Samosas and Sticky Chikki.’

Read Brown Like Dosa, Samosas and Sticky Chikki

 

2. Dream Writer by Sandhya Rao

Shobha dreams every night, sometimes about cats sometimes about a boy who doesn’t stop talking. Every night a new adventure, however every morning she wakes up before the dream ends – never knowing the conclusions to her stories. Find out along with Shobha just how her stories end by reading this fascinating book.

Read Dream Writer

 

3. Arya in the Cockpit by Nandita Jayaraj

Arya is a true believer in her dreams. She always wanted to be a pilot and no matter what, her journey stayed on course. So much so, that one day she did indeed land up in the pilot’s seat of a plane. This story about believing in your dreams and making them a reality, is something all of us need from time to time!

Read Arya in the Cockpit

 

4. Against All Odds

Against all Odds is a story about a one-armed boy, Kartik, who loves football. However, things take a turn for the worse when his family shifts from Kolkata to Rourkela. Everything changes, especially when his football coach refuses for him to play his favourite game. But will Kartik be discouraged from his dream of playing football?

Read Against All Odds

 

5. Junior Kumbhakarna by Arundhati Venkatesh

What’s not to LOVE about this book. A little boy Kuku falls asleep and dreams of his favourite story – A giant Kumbhakarna who sleeps non stop for 6 months. In his dream, they try everything to wake up the giant, even giving him some yummy laddoos to wake him up! We’d love to have dreams of laddoss, wouldn’t you?

Read Junior Kumbhakarna

 

6. Raju’s First Flight By Nandita Jayaraj

This cute story is about Raju who is about to take his very first flight. He’s so excited that he even dreams about flying the night before his big journey. Relive Raju’s excitement step by step as you read about all his observations about flying for the first time.

Read Raju’s First Flight

 

7. What A Bad Dream by Mercer Mayer

Image Courtesy Amazon.com

In this book, the protagonist Little Critter is having a very bad dream. He tried everything to feel better about it, but even a glass of warm milk is not helping him get passed his dream. It’s a heartwarming look at how, no matter the nightmare, we can overcome bad dreams.

 

8. Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Caroll

Image Courtesy Pengun Random House

This classic tale and it’s delightful characters will never grow old. Alice In Wonderland has captured the imaginations and hearts of all it’s readers. Who here hasn’t wanted to dream of Wonderland, just so we can meet the Mad Hatter and have a tea party? The takeaway from this book – the lessons in some dreams like in Alice’s will always be fresh in our minds.

 

We don’t know about you, but we’re quite ready to be wrapped up in a warm blanket and dive into these stories. Whether you’re mulling over the dream you had the night before or looking for courage to chase your goals – we hope this booklist will inspire you.

Now for a quick nap? All this talk about dreams has got us in the mood for a quick dream-escape.

Happy Reading!

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Feature Image Courtesy Hindustan Times

Five Minutes With Natasha Sharma

We love that the Indian publishing industry is filled with such fantastic writers and illustrators of children’s books. Five Minutes With … is a feature where we get to know some of our favourite children’s book people in some not-so-usual ways.

Our next author is none other than Natasha Sharma. You’ve probably read her books in our library and fallen in love with the characters and stories that she creates. In fact, her book called Bonkers! won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in 2014, a huge achievement for any author.

Accolades aside, Natasha calls herself a ‘Fuzzy-scatter-brained-day-dreamer, thought-chewer, random-worrier, giggle-monster, unstoppable-laugher, dog-obsessed-design-obsessed-baking-nut-travel-fiend‘ – Whoa, wasn’t that a mouthful. Let’s hope she writes a book with a protagonist that matches that description, we’re sure it’ll be a cracker of a book!

Words Of Gratitude From Powerhouse Women In Children’s Literature

It isn’t very often that we stop and check in with our lives to give thanks and appreciate everything that is happening around us. Luckily today is World Gratitude Day, the one day where we should pause and give voice for all the grateful things in our life.

Team Get Litt is extremely grateful to all the little readers and parents out there, who get lost in our library on a regular basis. We love our readers and strive to be better and get newer, more exciting books for all to enjoy. We’re also very grateful to all the people involved in Indian children’s literature – the authors, the illustrators, the teachers and the publishers; all of whom are doing an amazing job at curating content that’s interesting and most importantly fun for children.

As part of showing gratitude, we decided to reach out to some powerhouse names in the field of Indian children’s literature and find out what they are thankful for this gratitude day. Here is what they had to say.

Vaishali Shroff

Author of The Adventures of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur, Ari, Raindrops and The Missing Bat.

Team Get Litt: What are you most grateful for at this very moment?
Vaishali: At this very moment, I’m most grateful for all the love my books and I are getting from people – it’s an unparalleled feeling to know that what you are creating is bringing joy in so many children’s lives!

TGL: Who are you truly grateful for having in your life and why?
Vaishali: I’m truly grateful for having Aatish, my husband, in my life. Without him, it would have been quite a challenge to pursue my love for writing, which can be quite demanding with chores, commitments, and children!

 

Deepa Balsavar

Author of Lonely King and Queen

Team Get Litt: What are you most grateful for at this very moment?
Deepa: At this very moment I am grateful for the tree before me, the cat by my side and the book on my lap.

TGL: Who are you truly grateful for having in your life and why?
Deepa: I am grateful to Hasina my beloved dog, who taught me before she died that every living creature (including every human being) has a right to life, dignity and the expression of their feelings.

 

Richa Jha

Author of Boo!, Thatha at school, Vee Loved Garlic, The Susu Pals and she is a Publisher for Pickle Yolk Books

Team Get Litt: What are you most grateful for at this very moment?
Richa: My daughter’s school library that gives me an unending supply of the absolute best-reads in contemporary international children’s and young adult titles.

TGL: Who are you truly grateful for having in your life and why?
Richa: Rubina, my domestic aide. I can’t think of surviving a day’s madness and chaos on my professional work front if she were not there to ensure my household’s smooth sailing.

 

Chatura Rao

Author of Gone Grandma, Nabiya, Meanwhile Upriver, Growing Up in Pandupur and Arnie The Chawl Of Colour.

Team Get Litt: What are you most grateful for at this very moment?
Chatura: I’m grateful to be able to walk and run the distances I can. I like being healthy!

TGL: Who are you truly grateful for having in your life and why?
Chatura: I’m grateful for my daughters. We like to hang out together, chatting, eating, and exchanging news and views!

 

Meenu Thomas

Author of Fakruddin’s fridge 

TGL: What are you most grateful for at this very moment?
Meenu: I am extremely grateful that my parents, friends and their families are safe back home in Kerala with the incessant flood last month. I am also humbled by the way the fisherfolk, the armed forces and the rest of Kerala helped and supported each other in the course of this turmoil.

TGL: Who are you truly grateful for having in your life and why?
Meenu: I am grateful to have found a bunch of new friends at my MBA college. We share a great camaraderie. We help each other manage our studies while juggling full-time jobs, we whine together about the tests and assignments and motivate each other to keep chasing the silver lining.

There you have it, we all have something to be grateful for and we hope this post inspires you to take a moment and ask yourself the questions we posed above. There may not be a science behind it but have you noticed that the more grateful you are, the more blissful and uplifted you feel? This state of being is absolutely delightful, which is why we’re going to try being more grateful as often as possible!

Happy World Gratitude Day!

Learning About Famous People Through Graphic Novels

It’s no secret, if you’ve been with us for a while now, you may have noticed that our library has recently been updated with Amar Chitra Katha comics. These books will most certainly take you back to summer vacations when all you wanted to do after a long day of playing in the sun, was to attack your comic book stash. It is this exact nostalgic feeling we hope the future generations will have when they start to enjoy their first Amar Chitra Katha comic.

What better way to be introduced to these comics than by learning about some of the world’s most famous personalities. Reading up on History and its icons can sometimes be dreary, but these comics make their stories come alive. Comics or graphic novels are not only addictive to read but they are educational as well, making them perfect for your child’s weekend reading list.

 

1. Marie and Pierre Curie

We can’t imagine a better way to learn about physicists Marie and Pierre Curie than through this comic. Their story begins in a small government school in Warsaw where Manya (Marie Curie) is playing a war game with her siblings. You’re immediately transported into their world and as the story unfolds you get to see how they contributed to the study of radioactivity and their discovery of the elements radium and polonium. A great read for children who love science.

Read Now – Marie and Pierre Currie

2. Jawaharlal Nehru

Why not compliment your child’s history textbook with this next comic about Jawaharlal Nehru? This retelling of Nehru’s life starts in the early days, in the valley of Kashmir and goes on to explain in great detail all the aspect of his life as a son, a scholar and a politician. Young minds who have an interest in our country’s struggles and tribulations will enjoy this thoroughly.

Read Now – Jawaharlal Nehru

3. Kalpana Chawla

Many of us know of Kalpana Chawla’s unfortunate demise, but how much do we really know about this starry-eyed woman who wanted to travel the universe? From wanting to be an astronaut to even choosing her own given name – there was nothing ordinary about Kalpana and this comic does a delightful job of showcasing her uniqueness and tenacity. Your little Space-head kiddies will have a blast with this comic.

Read Now – Kalpana Chawla

4. Baji Rao

If your child is obsessed with epic battles and stories from the past, then they will be itching to get their hands on this comic about Baji Rao. The battles, the drama and the traditions all take center stage as you read on from page to page. Who needs the movie, when you can be equally engrossed in the comic?

Read Now – Baji Rao

5. Purava and Alexander

Now here’s a tale that isn’t as widely-popular but definitely a nail-biter. We’re talking about the battle between Alexander of Macedonia and King Purava. The comic gives us an on-the-battlefield view of how things played out between these two courageous conquerors. Strategy, skill and a whole lot of intelligence – this book will have your little burning the midnight oil. Definitely beats being on their mobile!

Read Now – Purava and Alexander

6. Mangal Pande

Another historic character and battle brought to life through the pages of a graphic novel. Here we get to see and understand the difficult times in which Mangal Pande lived. Follow his journey through a time when India was on the verge of radical change.

Read Now – Mangal Pande

There you have it, these are just some of the many Amar Chitra Katha comics in our library currently. We’re always restocking with fun new titles, so do follow us on our social media for #FridayFirsts, where we will be featuring a newly launched book every week. So exciting!

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Book Talk with Preeti Athri

We’re constantly in touch with super-parents who love children’s literature as much as we do. That’s why we’ve decided to feature a parent each month in our new blog series called ‘Book Talk With.’ Here we will delve deeper into what parents and their kids love about reading. Let’s take a look!

Preeti Athri was an obvious choice for this blog series as she is not only an amazing mom but also a freelance editor and writer. Plus, in her own words, Preeti feels ‘she’s the reincarnation of the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.’ Anyone who uses storybook characters to describe themselves is a winner in our book!

She is vivacious, loves watching cooking videos, a big Sherlock Holmes fan and absolutely hates rats. We feel you Preeti! Like many parents out there Preeti isn’t growing up but rather growing down with her kids through children’s books. That’s why she’s our first candidate and we couldn’t wait to get to know more about her literary tastes.

Team Get Litt: Share with us a few of your favourite children’s books.
Preeti Athri: Aargh! Choosing a few is not easy because there are so many favourites. But there are few which have been read and re-read by my kids and me too many times to count. They are:

1. Supertato by Sue Hendra
2. Tiddler by Julia Donaldson
3. Junior Kumbhkarna by Arundhati Venkatesh
4. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
5. The Wolves in the Wall by Neil Gaiman
6. The bike lesson by Stan and Jan Berenstain
7. Horrible Science Series by Nick Arnold and Tony Dear Saulles

TGL: What is the best bedtime story that actually works and gets your kids nice and sleepy?
PA: Our favourite bedtime story is the Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle. It takes you through the sights and sounds of the night so beautifully. To get the listeners sleepy you have to read it in a sleepy voice so that they calm down, imagine the night, and slip into slumberland.

TGL: What are your kid’s favourite books?
PA: My elder son Kavin loves Calvin and Hobbes, the Horrible Science Series and any book with fun facts. My younger son Naitik loves the Magic Rolling Pin by Vikas Khanna and Julia Donaldson classics.

TGL: What tips/advice do you have for parents who want to get their kids more involved in reading?
PA: When parents read often, kids tend to follow. I feel reading to kids more often than asking them to read by themselves also encourages them to eventually read more.

Preeti reading to her two boys Naitik and Kavin – “Math in a story… interesting!”

TGL: What is a quirky reading habit you have (either when you’re reading with your child or by yourself)?
PA: I sometimes try to read the book in an alien language just to see how it sounds. We try reading sentences backwards as well, with hilarious results.

TGL: Do you have a tip to help engage kids with reading?
PA: I feel children are naturally drawn to books because they’re so magical. But I’ve noticed that if you narrate a story a bit dramatically and introduce suspense, kids get hooked and want more, eventually, they want to read.

TGL: Which is your favourite reading spot/somewhere you get the most reading done?
PA: Anywhere and everywhere! But my favourite reading spot is on the pot. (Hehe)

4-year-old Naitik “My mummy has read this book more than me.”
6.5-year-old Kavin “Let’s write some gross facts from this ‘horrible’ book!”

TGL: Do you have a favourite memory associated with a book?
PA: Yes! When I was eleven, my mom brought me a book titled Midnight Blue by Pauline Fisk from a library. It is about a troubled girl who escapes to a parallel universe. I still feel I’m trapped in a parallel universe sometimes.

That feeling of a parallel universe or being transported into a book is what makes us fall in love with books everytime we read. Thank you Preeti for all your fun tips and insights into children and reading – we’re going to give that alien language a try the next time we start a book.

If you’d like to be featured or have a ton of fresh ideas that you use to get your child engaged in reading – drop us a line in the comments below. We love hearing back from parents who are as enthusiastic about children’s books as we are.

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