Read Aloud session 3 : Dragon Loves Penguin by Debi Gliori

Read Aloud session 3 : 'Dragon loves Penguin'

Children don't want to wait ; they want the story right away!

Why we chose this book?

Valentine's Day just went by! And you just cannot restrict the information and visuals 5-8 years receive and process from their environment. Roses and hugs and kiss and all that jazz around the 'Valentines Day' establishes a very skewed up image of the word Love. We wanted to read to them what other aspects of love could be. The 'unconditional' aspect of it. And celebrating our differences.....and to be kind even to the unkind! and that the greatest gifts of all is 'Time and Love'.

About the Author - Debi Gliori

Debi Gliori is a Scottish children's books writer and a mother of 5. She has a great fan following including that of J K Rowing. With more that 75 books to her credit, she has also received rave reviews about her book 'What’s the Time, Mr Wolf?'. Her personal favorite and what she is proud of is "No Matter What" - a Book about unconditional love between a 'parent and a child'.

About the Book

A book that was bought last year but is picked up again and again from the book shelf by my daughter is ‪#‎dragonlovespenguin‬ by ‪#‎debigliori‬. This books talks about how people who are radically different from us can also be loved unconditionally. It conveys how its not always blood relation that matters.A brilliant story about unconditional love. Absolutely lovable illustrations and a lovely flow with very little text. Children just love to flip through its pages again and again.

About the Read Aloud Session
Dragon loves Penguin was a very exciting session. Children had so much to add to the story & of course they had cute questions! About Antarctica and Volcanoes and about bed-time stories!

A new feature that we have started is 'book rating' by the children on the scale of 1-4, 4 being the highest rating. They must back up with reasons as to why they gave that rating.This book got - 4,4,3,4 ( rated by 4 children). We had to use the talking pillow to avoid overlapping thoughts and give enough scope to the less vocal ones to speak.

Some of the reasons to like and dislike the book are summarized below:

1. I like the entire book , the story and the pictures, so I don't know which part to say was nice. (Rated 4)
2. It's OK for them to quarrel like sometimes we do with our friends. I like the 'little one' the most. Because she was brave and kind.(Rated 4)
3. I am giving 3 because I don't like the little one getting teased. (Rated 3)
4. (Summarized the entire story) and says ' I like When the little one found an egg. I was happy when little one found an egg. It was so cute ( the story). Awesome! (Rated 4)

And 'After-craft' is now a mandatory ritual. A little physical takeaway of the story! All the mini dragons breathing fire was indeed a exciting part for all of us. You will feel all the fun in the pictures. 
Click here for more pictures
Book review here

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo

I walked into her room when I saw my 7 year old lying down , eyes closed and tear drops rolling from her eyes. She sensed my presence and opened her eyes. I didn't need to ask anything. 

"Mumma! Winn-Dixie is lost" 

"I know!" 

"Then tell me if they will find him ever, sob! sob!"

"You will have to read that for yourself" 

She obviously didn't like my answer.  

Scene change - Day 2 - in the car. 

"Mumma! Keep looking outside that window, and you will get a surprize." 

"What is it that u want to show me?" 

"Wait and watch, You will be able to see it!"

"why don't you tell me what is it?" (loosing a little patience)

"Mumma! If you won't tell me if Winn Dixie would be found or not.... Then why should I? Wait and see it for yourself!" 

..................................

Because of Winn- Dixie - By Kate Dicamillo 

An emotional and enchanting read, this book is the first publication of the author. 

Apart from it being a Mesmerizing story it also talks about not going with the popular opinion about people. You must always make your own opinion. And that each one of us is lovable. And sometimes people make friends in a roundabout manner. And that age is just a no. And .... 

Honestly speaking , quite a many takeaways from the book. And a very beautiful and lovable real life like story. Beware, if your child is the fairy tale types then it may be a little heavy for them. You can expect a few giggles here and there as well. We would have loved a few illustrations but, I guess ,imagination played its role in the absence of it. 

We haven't seen it, but it was converted into a motion picture in 2005. 

Age Recommendation- 7+ 

No. Of Pages - 159

Publishers - Walker Books 

Published in - 2000

Author - A very adorable - Kate Dicamillo 

Who won the Newberry honor for this book and some others as well. Not that it matters to me but she is New York Times best selling author. This book has been translated into 30 languages. 

Goodreads rating - 4/5

Common sense media - 5/5

Our Rating - 5/5

The Crazy Tales of Pagla Dashu and co.

Pagla Dashu - by Sukumar Ray

Translation : Crazy Dashu 

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy 

Age recommendations : 7+ 

Pages : 194

Collection of 25 short stories

Translated into English by Sukanta Chaudhuri along with Jadavpur University Translators Collective

First published in Bengali in 1940. 

English translation published in 2012.

How correctly Mahithi Pillai puts it " Mischief is Timess and isn't limited by language. 

Pagla Dashu is a clever and mischievous, fictional character,  created by Sukumar Ray. He is a popular character in Bengali literature. He is often used as an idiom in popular language. He is a round eyed, curly haired boy. That cleverly mischievous boy that we have all had in our school. Very believable, yet Special, and adorable. And these stories, from the first one itself makes u fall in love with this crazy little fellow. 

In one of the stories, how Dashu plays with the fact that "too much curiosity not a good thing". The stories have a real life feel and tickles the true emotions of the children. 

It has Wisdom cleverly wrapped in Wit. Some may question whether a Bengali schoolboy conceptualised a century ago would be relatable to the modern kids of today. 

Yes, it does! 

And that is why Classics are classics! 

And in this case, mischief is timeless. 

As told to times of India, 

The biggest challenge before the group was to retain the humour while translating the colloquial dialogues written nearly a century ago. As the book's prologue admits: 'Pagla Dashu is too Bangla and to Pagla to be translated.' The book also features rare illustrations by the father-son duo of Sukumar Ray and Satyajit Ray. It also features the original cover of the book published in Bengali. 

The Bengali readers may not enjoy the English translation as much. They may find it stripped of its original Bengali colloquial content. However, for non Bengali readers it is still a good view into the world of Sukumar Ray.  

The book is available here

http://youngindiabooks.com/bookrev/crazy-tales-pagla-dashu-and-co

And here 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/9350095416/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1453972402&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=crazy+tales+of+pagla+dashu&dpPl=1&dpID=41%2Bc7C2HTYL&ref=plSrch

GoOPy gYNe BaGHa bYNe... A Classic By UpendraKishore Ray Chowdhury

GoOPy gYNe BaGHa bYNe... 

A Classic By Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury

Highly Recommended 

Age group 6 - 100.

Genre - Comedy, fantasy, adventure

Language - English, (Obviously read the bengali one if you can read in bengali)

Introduction 

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne is a famous comedy fantasy adventure Children's Movie in Bengali made by the Renowned Satyajit Ray. In-spite of not being a Bengali myself I have seen the movie several times. This Children's Classic that was released in 1969 (i wasn't even born then) won critical acclaim and International awards of repute. 

They say "Don't Judge the Book by its Movie" but what happens if you pick up the book because you have loved the much acclaimed Movie. 

I picked up this book " Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne" by Upendranathkishore Ray Chowdhury. The book obviously is originally in Bengali. I picked up this book which is a English translation of the book. And yes, I cant read Bengali yet in-spite of being in Bengal for more than 2 decades and marrying a bong. YET! They say the true essence is lost if you read Bengali text in English. I have no choice. But here I am with a lovely book. 

It has a foreword by Ruchir Joshi. I generally find myself skipping the introductions in my haste to get to the book itself, BUT, this time I read it and its a very Interesting foreword. 

The two absolutely funnily lovable characters Goopy and Bagha are singer and drummer. They undergo some very comic fantasy adventures. It has 'comedy'; it has 'magic', It has 'fantasy' ; and it has 'adventure' seamlessly  intertwined in the finest manner. The story displays Passion and Aspirations. It shows Persistence of following your dreams in a funnily comic manner. You will fall in love with absolutely adorable Goopy and Bagha.

About the Author

Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a person with multiple talents. He was a famous Bengali writer, painter, violin player and composer, printing technologist and entrepreneur. He is the Father of the Famous writer Sukumar Ray.  And he is  the Grandfather of the even more famous Satyajit Ray  - who made the much acclaimed movie! 

Yes! 

Oh! and who didn't know that!! 

Well, I didn't!! 

More about him here

The Book

Coming back to the book which is publish by Penguin/Puffin. It has been translated wonderfully by Swagata Deb. Though the recommended age group is 9+, my almost 7 year old is totally enjoying the book , giggling all the way. It has 200 pages and is published in 2015. 

Description of the book by the publishers : 

This book is a selection of the best of stories by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, and the most fascinating of his characters: Goopy and Bagha, dedicated but unsuccessful musicians who are cast out of their homes because their music drives their families and neighbors crazy; Tuntuni, the little bird; the clever fox; Majantali Sarkar, the cat; the intrepid Granny Hunchback; and many others. Swagata Deb s vibrant translation brings Upendrakishore s unique magic to a wider audience, giving a new lease of life to these evergreen tales.

The book is available in Starmark and Eurekabookstore (here) and Amazon (here) 

100BooksPact 1/100 - George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl

We finished reading George's marvellous medicine yesterday. Book was taken from her cousin sister who also is an avid reader.

The book seemed a little horrid in the beginning. All the fun came towards the end. Didn't quite agree with the final outcome when the grandma was ignored by her own daughter. Aren't we supposed to be kind to our aging parents however horrid their behaviour might be?

Words like "Old Hag" have been used for grandmother which i found kind of unacceptable.

17 MUST READ FOR KIDS RECOMMENDED BY A 6 YEAR OLD

List of favourite books by my 6 year old Daughter Sumedha. She couldn't stop at 10 so the list became of 17 books. The list comes with an unedited one line review from the reader herself. 

1: Where the wild things are (Story and pictures by Maurice Sendak): "This book is a very funny book".

2: There is a wocket in my pocket - (Dr. Seuss) : "This book has funny rhyming.After I read it I start laughing very loudly" .

3: Cinderella (by Om Kids) - "It makes me learn kindness"

4: Snow White (Disney book) - "it's a princess book so I love it"

5: Sleeping beauty (Disney book) - I love this book.

6: Winnie the Pooh (Disney book) : "It's a jungle book. In the story there was a donkey who lost his tail.

7: A Lion in Paris (Beatrice Alemagna, Katha world library) : (starts reading the book)- the lion was very lonely and curious in his Savannah so he reached Paris without his luggage.
8: Thumbelina (Lady bird book) - she is a girl who had married the prince.
9: The Little Lion king (Disney book) - There was little lion cub who's name was Simba.

10: Jack and the beanstalk (Ladybird book) : it was a tale of a boy who went up on the beanstalk for three days.
11: The very hungry caterpillar (Eric Carle) : this book makes me learn about hungryness(!)
12: Good night buster (Rod Campbell) : buster was a good boy.
13: Captain coconut & the case of Missing Bananas (Anushka Ravishankar & Priya Sundram) - was a cleaver man.
14: Moin and the Monster (Anitha Balachandran) - Moin had monster. Monster said 'I am a monster' but Moin heard ' I am a Bonster'.
15: The Folk of Faraway tree (Enid Blyton)- It was a very good book and I love this book. ( hugs it). I like land of Giants.
16: The adventures of wishing chair (Enid Blyton) - I want to have a wishing chair and I love this book.
17: Naughty Amelia Jane  (Enid Blyton)- Amelia Jane was a naughty doll. She did bad tricks.

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• Tanushree Sinha and 28 others like this.

• Comments

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    Sunila Kulkarni Gupte she is awesome...!
    

    Unlike · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs
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    Sonali Jain Way to go lil doll. Keep up the good work mommy
    

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    Divya Daryanani A fantastic collection!
    

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Diary of a mother who's child wants to be a writer..

My munchkin is in love with Enid Blyton writings. The love was confirmed yesterday when a Geronimo Stilton arrived in the parcel. 

Geronimo Stilton ?? 

Yes! It took my little one a Geronimo Stilton to realise she doesn't like it and what she likes is Enid Blyton. Over past few week she has known some little facts about Enid Blyton(ones that the little people want to know)

And then the mind is wandering...

So, Mumma , Enid Blyton is a girl?

So, Mumma , Enid Blyton is a old lady?

So, Mumma, Enid Blyton wrote her books when she was old or young? 

Mumma :Young! That is why she was able to write so many books! 

Little wandering mind : How many? 

Mumma: 1926! 

LWM: (quite for a while) I will grow old by the time I finish reading her books. Then when will I write my book?

Mumma: (gasped) We don't have to read all her books. We can read some and u can also start writing ur book whenever u want! 

LWM:how old was Enid Blyton when she wrote her first book. 

Mumma: (I quickly thought how we parents put a age tag on everything we what them to do or not do. Toys, books, growing up learning comes with age tag) You can write whenever u want. There is no age to be a writer. 

LWM: (quiet again)

The next day

The little one had decided she wants to write a book 

LWM: Mumma, Tomorrow when u come home get me a book with nothing written in it. Plain pages. 

Mumma: ? 

LWM: I will write a chapter book. 

Mumma: Ok! But you can write on plain pages or any notebook u have. 

LWM: but then it wouldn't look like a book!! 

Mumma: Once u have finished writing, it can be given to a publisher who will make it into a book. All writers do that! 

LWM: (quiet)

Saturday morning

"Mumma, wake up! It must be already noon. I can't find that diary with plain pages?"

"Which diary? Why do u want a diary early in the morning?"

"I have to write my book" 

She explains the look of the diary animatedly. 

'Off white'.... 'One line dash dash the other line plain' ....... 'This design' .... ' That thick'

I find the diary for her. And now finally it's time to write! 

She opens a fresh page. Sharpens her pencil. Finds an eraser. And there.... Now ... Thinking .... !!!

"What will be the name of my story? Panchtantra!" 

"Why, Panchtantra? Yesterday u said it will be 'the little good girl' !"

" No.. Now I don't want that name" 

" But, Panchtantra is already written" 

"(Quiet)" 

She runs to her book shelf and gets a book on Mulla Nasruddin. She opens the first chapter that read 'respect those who respect u' . She says this will be my first chapter. And I will just replace Mulla Nasruddin with Jack. 

All my dreams of having a writer child were shattered. I couldn't think of what to say. But I thought may be there is still hope. I recalled how kids are asked to copy the chapters from school books. They are asked to copy compositions from the board. May be the fault wasn't hers! Atleast she was creative enough to replace Mulla Nasruddin with Jack. 

So I gathered myself up and told her that u cannot copy from another book because that is written by another writer. Writers have to think and write new things, new stories. About things that u like. Or about activities that u like to do. I just made use of the piano that was placed nearby. I said - just the way u play new tunes on your piano. Or just the way u create new things with your Lego. She was convinced. And my hopes became alive again. 

She started writing. Erasing. Thinking. Asking me spellings of certain words. Sat here and then sat there. 

Then she came back to me again. 

LWM: Mumma, are there any publishers there in India. 

(Enid Blyton is a writer from UK ) 

Mumma: Yes! Many of them. 

She went back to her writing. Her little hands must have written 4-5 sentences and then she said " Can u write it for me, I can't write fast as I can speak". 

I had to think whether I should write it for her. And let her mind wander. May be her writing skills is becoming an obstacle in her desire to write a story. But then I played devil's advocate and asked myself.. Should parents be removing all obstacles. If she is exited enough she will learn to write faster. Should I tell her to write slowly , part by part , few lines each day. Is she going to have that patience at this age? 

I realised that I had no 'correct' answer to this situation I was in. So I thought may be I should put away the question for a while and then decide what would be best. 

By this time, she said " ok, I will write a little later, but, my writing seat ( 3 chairs joined together besides the window so that she can lie down and have fresh air coming in)and and diary and writing pencil should not be removed from here. 

I readily agreed. I knew this was my opportunity to buy time to think a little about the question in hand. 

Further developments coming soon in my next post : "Ghost-Writing"