It is 1978. Schoolgirls Teesta Mehta from Bombay and Jenny Asha Vinil from Palakkad in Kerala become pen pals. Soon a delightful friendship blossoms between the two as they start getting a glimpse into each other’s worlds and realising the commonalities and differences between them. Jenny lives near the Silent Valley forest and loves everything about her life except for her classmate Pushkin, whom she doesn’t like. Teesta wants to become a journalist when she grows up. She dreams of her articles getting published in the school magazine.

Parts of Silent Valley are under the threat of getting submerged if the proposed hydroelectric project by the state electricity board gets underway. Urban expansion and illegal dumping of construction waste threaten the mangroves of Bombay, which is Teesta’s go-to place to write. Jenny and Teesta find themselves in the thick of action to inspire each other and fight battles against those who seem to have no consideration for nature in the name of development. Read the charming book which celebrates courage and nature.

Written as a series of letters and postcards exchanged between two pen pals over a period of time, the book turned out to be an enthralling read for me and my twelve-year-old. Having heard about the movement in passing, I read about the details of it. This book gave us an insight into how people from different walks of life contributed to saving the forest and thereby its inhabitants. Striking a balance between development and the cost at which it can be achieved is quite a challenge. We also got glimpses of how life had been in the late seventies and early eighties through the characters and the settings in the story. Chits with messages being passed between friends in class and impositions written for breaking rules in school (which was something new for my son) added a lovely touch. The endearing characters with their distinctive traits made us smile every now and then as we breezed through the story. The doodles by Pushkin were quite amusing. The book is part of the “Chronicles of Courage” series which explores moments and movements in India after independence that have shaped the life of the nation.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India (Duckbill), for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin for sending it across!

Fifth grader Moyna leads a content life filled with school, friends, and loving parents in a small village in the Sunderbans. Her backyard is a vast mangrove delta which is home to birds like herons who seem to stand still most of the time, kingfishers who dart like sparks over the water, and tigers. Moyna has grown up listening to the stories of Bonbibi who is revered as the guardian of the forest. Her Baba is a fisherman. He takes her birdwatching and always encourages her to enjoy nature.

With the sudden death of her father while on a fishing trip, Moyna’s world changes completely. Filled with grief and misery, she finds it a struggle to get to terms with the situation. Held gently by her friends, neighbours, and her mother, she learns that she doesn’t have to face it all alone. Laughter can return little by little over time. She discovers how sorrow and joy can exist together. Read the deeply moving book to get a glimpse of Moyna’s world in the Sunderbans while watching how an event can suddenly change one’s world.

Given that the book is set in a richly biodiverse region and written by authors whose older picture books have been loved at our home, we had to pick this one up. Written so sensitively and beautifully, the story appealed to both me and my twelve-year-old son. The complexity of life in areas like Sunderbans where humans and animals coexist comes out hearteningly through the story of Moyna. We felt that the grief that Moyna experiences upon losing her Baba has been portrayed very authentically. The support that she gets from neighbours and friends like Sumi who show up for her and help her navigate her way through grief with gentleness and empathy. Nice to see a book that talks about topics like these to children. The usage of regional words which have been peppered throughout the book gave it such an authentic touch. The writing style made it feel like we were in the Sunderbans watching the story unfold in front of us. It was nice to revisit the folk tale of Bon Bibi at the end which used to be a favourite in our family thanks to a picture book. We now look forward to going to the Sunderbans someday and getting to see the Lal Machranga (Ruddy Kingfisher) as well as Dokkin Rai aka the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 10 and above.

P.S - The other books written by the authors which we have read before and loved are “Thukpa For All”, “The Doll That Bommakka Made” and “Can You?”.

Books set in Sunderbans which we have read earlier include “In Bon Bibi’s Forest”, “Jhupli’s Honey Box” and “Grandfather’s Tiger Tales”.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin for sending it across!

Shrouded in mystery and mentioned in legends, a rare blue sapphire named the Star of India has quietly passed through history for over two thousand years. It is supposed to bring unparalleled wealth and success to its owner. Pale blue in colour and as big as a pigeon’s egg, it has a six-sided white star inside it that can be seen no matter which way one views it. Hidden, buried, and guarded by those who understood its power. And sought by those who wanted to own it and harness its power. Its trail winds through epics and historic moments ranging from the battle of Ramayana to Alexander marching across the Jhelum to Chhatrapati Shivaji’s stand at Ghod Khind in the Sahyadri mountains to the rise of Bombay under the rule of the British to a daring museum heist in New York that shocked the world.

In present-day Mumbai, three teens Neel, Anosh, and Nahid find themselves at the scene of a break-in while attending a session at the Asiatic Society Library. Managing to foil the burglary, they uncover a mysterious clue which leads them on an unexpected adventure. What begins as a puzzle featuring bits of poems by Rudyard Kipling soon turns out to be a thrilling chase across the city. They encounter forgotten tunnels, bustling markets, historic fountains, and heritage monuments. All this while making connections between the Bombay of 1871 and the Mumbai of today. Forgotten stories involving a pair of siblings and the then six-year-old Rudyard Kipling emerge from 1871. As the trio race against time to find the stone, they realise that they are up against others on the trail of the stone who will not stop at any cost. Read the thriller of a book to uncover dangerous secrets and crack the puzzle of the sapphire.

What a heady combination of history, mystery, adventure, and camaraderie the plot of the book turned out to have! Mesmerising for me as well as my twelve-year-old son. We felt like we had done a time travel trip as we went through the book. Each chapter uncovered a bit of the puzzle and left us wondering what was coming up next. The chapters interspersed across the two timelines from the late nineteenth century and current day kept us hooked. Thrilling connections, wonderful wordplay, endearing characters one couldn’t help rooting for, together with historic facts, made it such an interesting and exciting read. It was lovely to know about this fascinating gem which is not as well known as the popular Kohinoor. We loved how the author has used her imagination to weave a fictional history around the stone and create a wonderful mystery. This is one of those books which makes you want to go on a trail exploring all the locations mentioned in the story. I had to go and do my bit of reading up online about the sapphire after reading the book. Would have loved it if there had been a section at the end of the book letting us know which parts about the history of the stone are fictional. Overall, a “MUST READ”.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for anyone aged 10 and above.

Where to Buy From?

The publishers Talking Cub here.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Talking Cub, for review. Thank you to the folks at Talking Cub, for sending across the book!

In the aftermath of a stormy evening, ten-year-old Junglee, who belongs to the Pardhi tribe, finds herself alone in the jungle. She wonders where her family is. Their community leads a nomadic life. Though she is alone, she isn’t afraid. The forest is her home, and she knows that she can survive. At least till her family finds her. As time passes with no signs of her people, she begins wondering whether they are going to come back and look for her at all. On the same day, a tiger cub finds himself alone and wonders where his mother has gone, leaving him behind. Lonely and afraid with no help from his mother, he knows that he must find help to survive. Otherwise, he will be lost forever.

When fate makes their paths cross, the two must learn to be together. They will have to function as a family and help each other survive. Junglee names the cub Raunaq as she feels that he is like a piece of the sun who has come down to Earth to keep her company. As they start facing challenges, they end up forming a bond which is so unusual that it transcends human imagination. Presented as two sides of the same story told from the points of view of both Junglee and Raunaq, the tale gives a glimpse into the beautiful world of the jungle. Read the book to understand how both Junglee and Raunaq overcome fear and mistrust with love to co-exist peacefully.

What a thought-provoking and engrossing story this one proved to be! It is one of the most creatively done books that my twelve-year-old son and I have ever read. The unique storytelling style presenting Junglee’s point of view through her words and Raunaq’s through fabulous illustrations blew our minds away. The impact of the narrative is all the more hard-hitting because of this style of presentation. From the cover design to the plot to the characters to the language used, everything was so fresh and amazingly executed. The book won us over hands down. Junglee’s handprint and Raunaq’s pug mark will be etched in our memories for a long time to come. Such a poignant topic this one is. The vicious cycle of Pardhis and similar jungle tribes not getting acceptance in society and therefore getting stuck in illegal poaching is heartbreaking. This is one big problem that lurks and needs to be addressed. Creating awareness through books like these will hopefully be one of the stepping stones to overcome the mistrust and fear that is associated with the people from these communities. Their knowledge of the forests and its inhabitants is unparalleled and can be harnessed in a far better way. Overall, a “MUST READ” for everyone.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for anyone aged 10 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin for sending it across!

Sona is a twelve-year-old Nepali girl living with her mother, elder brother, and a yellow dog in a tea plantation in Darjeeling. Having lost her father a couple of years ago, her family is facing financial challenges. She has to pass an English exam coming up in the next three weeks to get a scholarship and the chance to study in a good school. However, there are daily struggles she has to go through. For one, there is the struggle to fetch enough drinking water to manage daily chores. Then there is the worry about her brother Samiran Daju, who has been wrongly accused of being a thief earlier, making it difficult for him to get a job. To top it all, English isn’t that easy to learn on her own without anybody’s help.

The plantation manager Banerji babu is unpopular amongst the workers. He does not care about their living conditions. He had lent a loan to Samiran Daju, who was now struggling to pay it back. Banerji babu kept threatening to remove their mother from her job. Sona and her family have a threat looming over their heads thanks to him. Sona has an unexpected friend and ally in the form of Tara, who is the niece of Banerji babu. Tara is an orphan who is being kept locked in her room and made to work as an unpaid secretary by the wily Banerji. He had kept the gold that her parents had left for her in his safe and was trying to usurp it. Things start going wrong when the gold goes missing one day. It is up to Sona now to ensure that the gold is found and her brother doesn’t get labelled as a thief once again for a robbery he did not commit. Read the page-turner of a book to know whether Sona can find the truth.

The book proved to be a gripping read for both me and my twelve-year-old son. A good mystery with a glimpse into the tough and poignant lives of tea plantation workers ensured that we were hooked to the story. Sona was such an endearing character that we couldn’t resist rooting for her throughout the book. It was unfortunate to see the class divide and poor living conditions of the plantation workers who had to struggle for something as basic and vital as drinking water. It was heartening to see Sona and her family along with some of the other characters persevere despite all the difficulties that they have and hope for a better future. Nothing can stop them from dreaming and working towards making their dreams come true. The mystery as well as the settings have been woven masterfully by the author, making it a memorable read. We loved the illustrations (one per chapter) which hinted at what the particular chapter might bring forth.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 10 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India (Duckbill), for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin for sending it across!

The story, set in Hanle valley of Ladakh, starts off with little Otsal in for a surprise when he is sent by his mother to get some flour from their storeroom. The storeroom was at some distance from their home. Otsal found three little fuzzy animals huddled together just beyond the sack containing the wheat flour when he opened the door and peeped inside. They looked just a few days old and were purring softly with their eyes closed. All of a sudden, their mother entered the room and gave Otsal a stern look. Fearful, he rushed back home, wondering what the creature was. Surely his elder brother Lobzang would know.

When Otsal returned home without the flour, his Ama-ley (mother) was irritated. Lobzang took stock of the situation when Otsal mentioned the presence of an animal and its young ones, which seemed to be a kind of cat in the storeroom. As they hurried along to the storeroom, Lobzang suddenly stopped in his tracks when he saw a small creature jump out of the window. He identified it as the elusive Pallas’s cat. The brothers did not want to disturb the cat, who would undoubtedly move away if they ventured anywhere close to the storeroom. Every time their Ama-ley asked them to fetch something from the storeroom, they ended up borrowing rations from neighbours without her knowledge. How long would this work? Would the cat and its young ones be safe and survive? Would Ama-ley understand the situation? Read the engrossing story to find out what happens as the brothers do all that they can to let the cats be undisturbed.

What a delightful read this one turned out to be, just like the other books featuring Ladakh which we had read a couple of years ago. This was a wonderful way of introducing a not-so-well-known animal found in Ladakh to my twelve-year-old son. Full of warmth and curiosity, the story instantly transported us to Ladakh and allowed us to admire the Pallas’s cat. The story is interspersed with facts about the cat in a fun and engaging manner, making it a comprehensive read. The bright and cheerful illustrations are gorgeous and complement the narrative beautifully. The attention to detail is commendable. The usage of local words adds a great touch to the story. The story explores how mutual coexistence of humans and animals can be made possible. The author’s passion for the mountains and wildlife comes across amazingly, just like other books of hers that we have enjoyed reading before. The book made it to the shortlists of a couple of awards and won the “Book of the Year” award at the Green Literature Festival 2025. It is a “MUST READ” to create awareness about the Pallas’s cat.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9/10 and above.

P.S. - Some of the other books set in Ladakh by the same author are “Chuskit goes to School”, “Bumboo...The Donkey who would not Budge” and “The Ghost of the Mountains”.

The book brings alive the stories of athletes who changed the game and became icons as well as those who broke barriers and achieved glory. The victories that put India on the global sporting map, such as the first Olympic hockey gold in 1948, the 1983 cricket World Cup triumph by Kapil Dev and his team, to Neeraj Chopra’s javelin glory, to Mary Kom’s boxing titles, come alive in the book. These trailblazing journeys and victories have paved the path for the current generation of sporting stars.

Despite facing challenges in the form of lack of support, infrastructure, facilities, funding, awareness, and injuries, and the likes, these athletes have inspired the generations to come with their grit, perseverance, determination, courage, sacrifices, and the will to win for the nation. The stories in the book are packed with inspiring stories, dramatic comebacks, and nail-biting finishes. They are a testament to how these athletes learned to dream big and turn those dreams into reality through their passion and dedication for their respective sports. Read the enthralling book to go on a whirlwind journey through almost eight decades of independent India’s sporting journey.

The inspirational book serves as a befitting tribute to Indian athletes and their achievements. Given his love for sports in general and specifically cricket, badminton, and F1 as things stand now, my twelve-year-old son had a whale of a time savouring this well-written book. While he knew quite a few of the cricket-related stories, many others were new to him. The 40 iconic moments in the book spanned across several sports and athletes, giving us a peek into both popular as well as lesser-known ones. The detailed descriptions of each of these events made it such an exciting and engaging read. There was no dull moment whatsoever. It was heartwarming to read about each of the athletes, especially the ones who have given it their all to not just represent the nation but to promote lesser-known or played sports such as luge, car racing, etc. Having grown up reading and enjoying articles in “The Hindu” by Vijay Lokapally who is a sports journalist renowned for his reporting on cricket powered by his underlying knowledge about the game as well as the players, it was a treat to be getting a book written by him along with his son. The book is a wonderful way to appreciate how far we have gotten as a sporting nation. It is a “MUST READ” and deserves to be read widely.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for anyone aged 12 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin for sending it across!

The narrator starts off the book with a chapter on a little girl called Razia who has a pink-coloured baby elephant named Sarasvati. Though the narrator wants to talk about Razia mainly, the narrative ends up going all over the place. But this is delightful in its own way. This leads to introducing other characters like Sarasvati’s uncle Sher Singh who is a Master Mistri Elephant and former Carrot Taster. Sher Singh has been to various parts of the world such as Myanmar, Australia, and South America.

As the narrator gets distracted easily and often, another character comes into the limelight taking up another chapter. This one is Natasha who is considered to be the world’s fastest courier pigeon. She used to be Sher Singh’s best friend when he lived in Mumbai. She leads the fly past on Republic Day and draws maps for all the world’s airlines. Wondering what the story is all about? Will Razia and her pink elephant come back in the story? Read this creative book to jump into a rabbit hole and undertake a whirlwind journey around the world.

The intriguing title made us pick up this book from our ever-growing pile of books to be read. As we started reading, my twelve-year-old son and I realised that this was no ordinary story. It felt as if the narrator was going down several rabbit holes one after the other and remembering every now and then that the topic was supposed to be Razia and her pink elephant. Anecdotes and seemingly tall tales were deftly woven into the narrative. We just couldn’t stop smiling as the story progressed. The book is a creative concoction of history, geography, imagination, fantasy, and magic all set against the backdrop of an urban space. This one-of-a-kind book is a worthy addition to a bookshelf. The quirky and colourful illustrations add to the charm of the book. Thank you, Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow, for recommending this book in one of the weekly buzzaars that you used to do during the pandemic.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.

Where to buy from?

The publishers Katha here.

Twelve-year-old Malu lives with her mother in Bangalore. The story starts off in summer holidays, which were meant to be a time of freedom and fun with no school. Despite that, Malu seemed lost and upset as her best friend Zubin was very ill. He seemed to be getting worse, and nothing seemed to help him get better. His parents were trying everything possible to get him back to normal. Malu did not want to leave Bangalore for the holidays as she was worried about Zubin and moping about him.

Lost in thoughts, Malu did not realise that her eyes had welled up, and a few of her tears fell on the mango seed that she had licked clean. Suddenly, the mango seed seemed to move and jumped from her hand. It landed on the window sill, and a tiny figure stood on it. This was the mango seed spirit called Ambi. She had come out as Malu’s tears had fallen on the mango seed, which was her home. She wanted to know why Malu was sad so that she could help her using magical powers. When Ambi got to know of Zubin and his health, she immediately suggested that they should get the special Quetzal feather, which had powers to heal sick people. This was easier said than done. The Quetzal was found in faraway Guatemala in Central America. How was Malu going to get the Quetzal feather? What adventures would she have? Read the engrossing book to go on a one-of-a-kind magical adventure set in the world of the Mayans and the Quetzal.

This charming book proved to be a source of delight for me and my twelve-year-old son. A perfect concoction of adventure, fantasy, and history set in a faraway exotic place with an amazing bird as one of the main characters made it a delectable treat for the bird watchers in us. The allure of the Resplendent Quetzal and the ancient Maya civilisation kept us hooked. The accompanying illustrations helped us picture the settings well. The book proved to be a great means of introducing the ancient American civilisation and the Quetzal. We now hope to see this lovely bird someday! The way this book came to us is itself a tale of serendipity. Having interacted online with the author during the pandemic, I was thrilled to meet her briefly at the Blr Lit Fest in 2022. When an opportunity to attend Green Lit Fest cropped up within a few weeks, I checked with her if she would be attending. Little did I know that this was the start of a lovely friendship. She was so kind to meet us and give me this book. Thank you once again, Sunila!

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 10 and above.

Nine-year-old Pedru lives with his parents (Mai and Pai) in the village of Rotnagaon in Goa. He is a curious young boy who wants to know about places beyond his village. Though he loves his village, friends, father’s cashew trees, and mother’s delicious curries, he is desperate to become an explorer. He tries to set off on an adventure to a new village with his friend. However, his grand plan turns topsy-turvy when his Pai gets to know of it.

Strange things start happening in Rotnagaon soon. The village seems to be in danger. Strange ear-splitting sounds can be heard from the nearby hills. Clouds of red dust seem to be all around. Pedru believes that it is all his fault and he is being punished in this way. He starts realising how his beloved village needs to be saved from the people who are blasting a big hole in the hills. Who are these people? What can Pedru do to set things right? Read the story to find how Pedru and the villagers struggle against a powerful opponent to save their land.

The engrossing story of Pedru had me and my twelve-year-old hooked. Themes of adventure, friendship, family, and courage have been woven into a realistic and thought-provoking story. We also get a glimpse into the life in the countryside of Goa. The challenges and impacts posed by mining and development on the environment are presented in a simple and understandable manner to create awareness in younger readers. The beautifully sketched and detailed illustrations bring alive the fictional village of Rotnagaon and the characters, enhancing the reading experience.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.

Where to Buy From?

The publishers Kalpavriksh here.

Ten-year-old Valarmathi lives in the town of Theenkulam in Tamil Nadu. She dreams of winning the first prize at the ‘Student Science Fair’ announced by the District Collector to celebrate the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She has grand plans for receiving the prize. Her only problem is that she doesn’t have a topic ready yet for the project that she would take up for the same. That is the only thing running in her mind.

Quite unexpectedly, she comes up with an idea of creating snow somehow to cool down her sweltering hometown. This is easier said than done though. Roping in her best friend Siva onto the idea, which seems ridiculous at first, she actually sets out to make real snow. She is convinced that her idea is innovative and worth trying despite being pretty bold. Just like some of the early Chandrayaan missions, her experiments don’t necessarily go as planned. Instead, they end up failing spectacularly. Read the thoughtful book to join Valar on an adventure of chasing big dreams and learning from the epic flops along the way.

What an interesting and engaging book this one proved to be! Drawing parallels with the Chandrayaan missions, the story shows how failures can become learnings as we keep trying to achieve success. My twelve-year-old son was hooked to the book right from the start. Even though he found Valar’s idea outlandish, he was curious to know how she could achieve making snow. The narrative alternates seamlessly between Valar’s story and the Chandrayaan mission learnings, showing how we can apply these to whatever tasks we encounter or take up. Valar’s innocence, perseverance, resilience, and determination are infectious. The fact that failures can be viewed as means of learning lessons and taking it in our stride comes across very well. The vibrant illustrations enhance the reading experience. This book is the third one written by the author related to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) missions and how children can be inspired from them. The first two are “Topi Rockets From Thumba” and “How to Reach Mars and Other Impossible Things”.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 8 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin, for sending it across!

The Chowtas ruled over the coastal town of Ullal and surrounding areas of coastal Karnataka. Belonging to the Jain Tuluva Bunt community, they followed the matriarchal system. Most of the rulers of the dynasty were therefore women. At least two of these rulers were named Abbakka. They have gone down in history as well as regional folklore as fearsome warriors who were a force to be reckoned with. They managed to defend their tiny kingdom by defeating the Portuguese who were a dreaded lot for most other kingdoms of similar size. This book is a fictional account of how the growing up years of Abbakka III might have looked like through a series of journal entries.

Abbakka was an unusual teenage girl growing up knowing well that she would become the future queen of Ullal following in the illustrious line of queens such as her grandmother Abbakka II and her mother Rani Tirumala Devi. She was being trained in both warfare and scriptures along with her sister Chinnu and cousin Sudarshan. She had heard the tales of her grandmother’s incredible sea battles waged against the firangis countless times. She loved adventure and set out on dangerous missions to track down spies on the seas. She also admired a mysterious and handsome boy from Mangalore who seemed to crop up in their kingdom at regular intervals. She had to prove her mettle when she accompanied her mother in a secret plan to outwit the Portuguese who tried to capture the prized pepper crop from their kingdom. Read the book steeped in the lesser known history and culture of this vibrant region from an exciting time period to know about a forgotten queen.

What an enthralling and inspiring read this one proved to be for me as well as my twelve-year-old son. Historical fiction is one of our favourite genres, and this book caught our fancy for being from the region that we hail from. I knew just the bare minimum facts about Rani Abbakka and was eager to know more. This book is the best means of introducing this valiant warrior queen to children. Through the story, we got a beautiful glimpse into the rich culture and traditions of the region. It is fascinating to know how bravely Rani Abbakka thwarted the Portuguese attacks and was famous across the world for her guts in standing up to the Portuguese. Despite ruling a kingdom which was the size of a district, the queens of the Chowta dynasty had the nerve and confidence to trade across the oceans and defeat the Portuguese, who were one of the greatest naval powers of the time. To imagine Rani Abbakka’s growing-up years and see the world through her eyes was an incredible experience. The book is an ode to the great queens of the Chowta dynasty, making it a “MUST READ”.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 12 and above.

Where to Buy From?

The publishers Talking Cub here.

The story takes place over the Christmas holidays. Alex, Sameer, and Tarun are headed on a trip to Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur with their uncle Avi, who is a naturalist well known for his scientific studies of flora and fauna. The young explorers are full of curiosity and enthusiasm. Little do they know that they are in for an unexpected adventure of a lifetime. They had heard that the migratory Siberian Cranes had returned to the National Park after a long hiatus of more than twenty years. They hope to see these birds. On the train journey to Keoladeo, an old man recounted a legend of a goose swallowing the Maharani’s treasure set in the Bharatpur forest. It seemed like a tale straight out of a fantasy book.

The three friends start exploring the national park and find themselves in the midst of things wondrous and wild. They start spotting birds and animals and noting down all their experiences along with whatever they find out about the birds found there and the history of the national park in their logbook. They meet interesting people along the way like wildlife biologist Rauf Ali, a mysterious engineer Vic, and wildlife photographer Kartik. Things don’t seem right at the park though. The friends start sleuthing around to solve the mysteries. Is the legend of the hidden gastrolith gems more than ordinary folklore? What is Vic lurking around in the park for? Where are the Siberian Cranes, which are supposed to have come back but not seen by anyone yet? Read the entertaining book to get an immersive experience of Keoladeo and solve the mysteries along with the trio.

The book draws the reader into the amazing world of wildlife at Keoladeo National Park. It serves as an informative guide, encyclopaedia, and travel journal with fun and adventure bundled into an irresistible combination. Given our love for birdwatching, my almost twelve-year-old son and I had a whale of a time reading this wonderfully written book. We loved the plot and how information about the park and its inhabitants has been nicely interspersed along with charming illustrations and beautiful photographs. Reading the book brought back memories of our trip to Bharatpur long back. We do hope to go back there and experience the magic that the place offers. It was wonderful to know the history of the place alongside information about the various birds. The book is supposed to be the first in “The National Park Explorers” series. We hope that more such books are written in the series given how lovely this one proved to be. Thank you to the lovely folks from Funky Rainbow bookstore for thoughtfully gifting us this fabulous book! The book is a “MUST READ” for everyone to promote the love for birdwatching and awareness about national parks.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.

The village of Phattupur is reeling from the deaths of three hale and hearty men in mysterious circumstances. There are no clues pointing towards murders or weapons, if any. All three men were good and popular. The police are clueless. The only common factor between the deaths is the presence of eclair toffees next to the bodies. The chocolate is not available in any of the stores in the village. The Mukhiya, head of the village council, calls for a meeting of all the residents. The panchayat had decided to rename the village to “Himmatnagar” which meant land of the brave. Everyone seems to be on their edge. Nervousness and gloom has descended upon the villagers. They were unsure if more deaths would take place as things stood then.

Five friends, Angad, Kalki, Mukund, Vasuki, and Govind, decide that it is high time to take matters into their own hands. They have to solve the mystery and find the murderer. Who is the strange young man with matted hair at the meeting? His presence made people around him feel uncomfortable. Does he have anything to do with the deaths? Why is the potter, Biru, nervous and ready to faint at the drop of a hat? Does he know anything that others don’t have a clue about? Will there be a fourth death? The friends are off on an adventure that leads them to the village cemetery and beyond. Read the rollicking story to solve the mystery and find what the friends uncover.

What seems like a simple village has quite a few secrets. The mystery and spooky atmosphere that got created right at the start of the story meant that I and my almost twelve year old son were drawn in and glued to it. We raced through the pages in between exam breaks to see what would happen next. The title of the book had caught my son’s fancy when he had spotted it during the Neev Lit Fest a couple of years ago, making him pick it up. We loved the endearing characters and how they complemented each other nicely with their distinctive traits to function well as a group. The charming and detailed illustrations helped us picture the characters and settings, bringing the story alive in front of our eyes. The heady combination of fun, thrill, humour, mystery, spookiness, adventure and friendship makes it a great read.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.

The book begins with the birth of a baby girl called Chunni in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh in the early twentieth century. She was the ninth child in a family of ten children. Right from the time she was small, her favourite word was “why”. Full of inquisitive thoughts and curiosities, she would question everything that she didn’t know or understood.

Chunni loved playing. She just couldn’t get it why certain games were not supposed to be played by girls. A coach came to their home daily to teach her brothers horse riding. When Chunni saw her brothers riding their father’s white horse which she liked, she fancied wanting to ride it as well. When she was told not to ride horses as she was a girl, Chunni wondered why things were so unfair for girls. Will she have the courage to stand up and voice her thoughts? Will she get to ride the horse after all? Read the delightful book to know how Chunni’s childhood shaped her into becoming a champion of women’s rights when she grew up.

Chunni’s childhood comes alive beautifully through the pages of this delightfully written book. The bright and cheerful illustrations add to the charm of the story. My almost twelve-year-old son and I were drawn into the engaging narrative. Chunni’s feisty nature, curiosity, inquisitiveness, courage, conviction, and determination proved to be quite inspirational. She gave a voice to millions of girls to stand up for themselves just the way she did for herself. It was amazing to see the power of writing and what wonderful constructive changes it can bring about through her example.

This book is part of “The Magic Makers” series, which brings the stories of eminent people who ended up creating magic in their respective fields. Some of the other books from the series that we have already read include “Roshan’s Road to Music” on Annapurna Devi, who was one of the greatest surbahar players, “That Big-Voiced Girl” on Usha Uthup, who is a legendary singer, “Looking for Inspiration” on Rabindranath Tagore, who needs no introduction, “Baloo’s Big Win” on Palwankar Baloo, who broke the caste barrier in Indian cricket, and “Hands That Wrote History” on Prem Behari Narain Raizada, who calligraphed the Indian Constitution.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 6 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to the folks from Penguin, for sending it across!

Fourteen-year-old Aru is eagerly looking forward to the next day when she will be going to live with her husband, Sundaram. She has looked forward to this for many years now. But the day never comes, unfortunately. On that stormy night, Sundaram is found dead on the steps of the temple tank where he worked. Worse than his death are the village whispers which claim that Sundaram was a drunkard as well as a thief. He had apparently stolen a precious diamond necklace belonging to the local goddess Bhudevi and seemed to have incurred her wrath.

Aru’s life changes in an instant. The bright future that she had dreamt of and all her hopes come crashing down. What is left of her life seems bleak. When the landlord’s children present Aru with an opportunity to work at their home as a companion to their aged grandmother, she seizes the opportunity, much to the apprehensions of her family and the existing social conditions. Aru also gets a chance to take lessons from a teacher, finds friendship in an unexpected ally, and dreams of securing a better job in order to be independent. Along the way, she also decides to clear her husband’s name and reputation. While doing so, she learns uncomfortable truths and finds herself in mortal danger. Read the enthralling book to know what Aru finds out and how she navigates through the challenges in her path.

One of those books that magically transports the reader to the setting of the story instantly. Narrated in Aru’s voice, the book drew me and my almost twelve-year-old son into the plot, which thickened as the pages progressed. Intricately woven with well-developed characters, the mystery also gave a glimpse into the social conditions in rural Tamil Nadu at the start of the twentieth century. The emotional conflicts, grief, and difficult situations that Aru goes through made her such an endearing character for us. It was quite hard to imagine a girl so young going through such turmoil in her life. My son couldn’t help wondering how unfair life was for widows and children like Aru in particular. Though we wanted to uncover the mystery of Sundaram’s death and the missing necklace soon, we savoured the book slowly as we didn’t want it to end. The magic in it had us enthralled, creating a reader’s dilemma no doubt :) The book is a treat for mystery as well as history lovers alike, which is not to be missed. My son wonders whether there will be another book featuring Aru now :)

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 12 and above.

P.S - Another book by the same author set in rural Tamil Nadu that we enjoyed reading is “That Year at Manikoil”.

Birds are fascinating creatures. When it comes to building their nests, they have plenty of amazing skills which they employ. From stitching leaves to weaving grass and reeds to digging burrow-like formations to stealing materials from nests of others to making use of nests of other birds for free, the birds have it all. Featuring all kinds of birds from big noisy birds to tiny birds, this delightful book gives a glimpse into the different kinds of nests that they make or use. Nests can serve as a means of symbiotic relationships or even be a threat for survival for some of the birds. Read the charming book to learn interesting facts about the incredible nesting habits which showcase the skills of birds.

Bird watching is one of the most enjoyable hobbies that we as a family share. Now that our almost twelve-year-old son is also interested, it has taken a huge leap in the activities that we as a family do together. The last two months have made us get back to going bird watching at least once a week. Though I had picked up this interesting book almost 1.5 years ago, I hadn’t read it with my son. Having spotted a couple of the nests and birds showcased in the book, it was a perfect time to read and enjoy for both me as well as my son. He was happy to compare the pictures that he had clicked on his camera with what we saw in the book. It was lovely to know more about the birds that we had seen lately. We now look forward to seeing some of the other nests as well as birds sooner rather than later. The beautiful artwork and the engaging write-up complement each other perfectly. In the end, we were struggling to decide which nest was the best :) We decided to settle for the cute little Indian White-eye, which is one of our favourite birds. It was hard to believe some of the facts about it, which we hadn’t known earlier :) This is definitely a “MUST READ” for fostering a love for bird watching.

P.S - Below are the some of the nests that we have photographed while bird watching. Clockwise from Top Left - Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (burrow nest on the banks of a stream in the woods), Great Hornbill (preparing to nest in a hole in the tree), Black-headed Ibis (with chicks in its nest of twigs), Black Kite (nest of twigs, rags & odds high up in a tree), Purple Sunbird (cobweb and fibre nest), Red-whiskered Bulbul (nest of twigs in the undergrowth).

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 7/8 and above.

Where to Buy From?

The publishers Kalpavriksh here.

Narrated by young Ruskin, the book starts off with a train journey from Dehradun to Lucknow. Ruskin is travelling with his grandparents and some of their pets such as a tiger cub named Timothy, a parrot named Popeye, and a squirrel named Chips. Little do they know what lies in store for them. What starts off as an ordinary journey soon turns eventful. An unexpected and uninvited guest is found among their belongings. One who is long, slithery, and well-fed with what should have been their meal. Chaos erupts when the guest slips out of the innocuous-looking tiffin basket. Read the delightful book filled with humour to savour the charm of the master storyteller’s writing.

There is nothing like a book by the master storyteller to get out of a reading slump. The almost twelve-year-old and I had a jolly good time reading this humorous story. We couldn’t help chuckling in anticipation of what chaos would be unleashed next as we read :) Mr Bond has a magical way of making us travel to a bygone era effortlessly to experience the simple joys of a carefree childhood. Especially stories featuring his grandfather and his unusual collection of pets leading to hilarious situations. Familiar characters, charming illustrations, and a laugh-out-loud plot made this a perfect read after a reading break for us. The book is part of the Puffin Chapter Books, which are good for children who have moved on to chapter books and begun reading independently.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 6 and above.

P.S. - Some of the other books from the Puffin Chapter Books by Ruskin Bond that we have read and enjoyed are “Getting Granny’s Glasses”, “The Cherry Tree”, “Mukesh Starts a Zoo”, “Cricket for the Crocodile”, “The Day Grandfather Tickled a Tiger”, “The Tunnel”, “White Mice”, and “Animals in the House”.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to Mansi, from Penguin, for sending it across!

Wars and conflicts are not pleasant events. While we can read accounts of these events from the perspectives of people on both sides of them, there are other heartbreaking stories which get overlooked or missed out. The point in this case being the animals who found themselves caught up in turbulent times without understanding what was going on and why they were being dragged into the chaos. The book contains stories based on real events which took place since the early twentieth century to now.

The stories range from dogs being trained to sniff out bombs and deliver messages racing against time to mules being dropped from the skies with supplies strapped to their backs to animals being starved or killed in zoos and so on. Pets were donated for supporting war efforts. Most of them did not come back after the war. These are the silent, brave, and loyal companions who have stood by their humans no matter what happened. Read this book that celebrates these animals and inspires us to be kinder towards them.

The intriguing title of the book caught my fancy when I first came across it. Given that it was by Nandini Nayar, whose books have always been loved at our home, I added it to our wish list and picked it up before the year ended :) The book proved to be a powerful and heartbreaking one. However, there were moments in some of the stories that kindled hope in humanity and empathy. The timeline in the stories ranges from World War I to the present Ukraine War. Facts are interspersed in the narrative to help readers understand the background of the stories. These untold stories of the silent animals were quite thought-provoking for both me and my 11.5-year-old son. Books such as these present such fresh as well as unusual perspectives that make us take a pause to think beyond the normal. Thank you, Nandini, for writing such a thoughtful book in a sensitive manner and inspiring readers to be kinder. The book is a “MUST READ” for everyone.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for anyone aged 10 and above.

Feluda, Lalmohan aka Jatayu, and Topshe (the narrator of the story) are excited about a trip to Bombay. They have been invited there by Mr. Ghoshal, who is directing a movie named “Jet Bahadur” based on Jatayu’s latest book. Just before leaving Calcutta, a man named Sanyal asks Jatayu to deliver a package to his friend in Bombay. Believing it to be a book, Jatayu delivers the package to a man in a red shirt at Bombay airport.

Based on Feluda’s hunch, the three of them follow the man as he makes his way to a high-rise apartment building. They miss him when he takes the elevator. Coincidentally, the building has the same name as the building in Jatayu’s book and also happens to be where the film producer lives. They get to know later that a man has been found murdered in the elevator at around the time they had seen the man in the red shirt go in. The three of them find themselves amid one of their most thrilling adventures ever. Is there a connection between the man in the red shirt and the murder? What was there in the package that Jatayu had delivered? Read the timeless book to find out all of these with a hair-raising climax aboard a train during the film shooting.

Feluda is one of the most beloved characters from Bengali literature in the mystery genre. During a trip to Mumbai, I picked up this book to introduce Feluda to my 11.5-year-old son. A neatly woven plot with a fast-paced narrative meant that we zipped through the pages of this whodunnit, trying to figure out who the murderer was. All the questions that had popped up in our minds earlier were answered at the end amidst a thrilling ending. Feluda’s charming way of solving mysteries logically and having excellent observational and deduction skills make him an appealing and endearing character for everyone. Topshe, as the sidekick and narrator, adds to the charm. The book is a part of a series of twelve unforgettable adventures featuring the legendary detective. My son now looks forward to reading the other adventures :)

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.