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!

Elephants in Indian Children’s Books

We love literary elephants and luckily for us, Indian children’s books are full of them! Here’s our round-up of all kinds of elephants – gentle ones, funny ones, strong ones, and friendly ones; sleepy ones, colourful ones, lost ones, and imaginary ones; elephants who like to pretend to be other things as well as elephants you have to bring to life yourself.

PICTURE BOOKS

Aana and Chena 

Aana the elephant doesn’t like his looks, but Chena the yam says he’s beautiful. How? asks Aana. Endearing conversation and pictures that say, be yourself!

 

 

 

A Jungle Safari

Are you a lover of the wild and myriad mysteries of the jungle? Are you thrilled by its smells and sounds? Do you long to trek through the meandering jungle paths and lush greens? Join us for an elephant safari, and let Bharma take us through the deep, silent forests of Mudumalai in the Nilgiris for an unforgettable experience!

 

Five Minutes With Vaishali Shroff

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.

Vaishali Shroff is the author of The Adventures of Padma and a Blue Dinosaur, Raindrops, Ari, The Missing Bat, Purple Turtle pop-up books among others. She’d love to write a book of poems someday. She’s quite eccentric; while constantly striving to be in the present, her writerly mind keeps oscillating between the past and the future and everything that does not exist.

Make Books Come Alive: Salim Mamoo and Me

Make Books Come Alive is a series which features activity ideas for the different Indian children’s books from our GetLitt library. Parents, educators, and other adults who work with children’s books and young people can use these resources to make the stories a more immersive and interactive experience. 

About The Book:

Zai’s uncle is the famous ‘birdman of India’ Salim Ali, everyone in her family is a birding expert, and she herself can’t so much as identify the pipit sitting right under her nose. In this delightful portrait of childhood, Zai Whitaker recounts her early birding woes and how she winged it. Prabha Mallya’s pictures pick up the humour, and are an arresting collage of a bird-filled Bombay of the past, and a troubled little girl with a ‘superstar’ uncle!