Best of 2010

It has been an eventful year at Saffron Tree. To end this year, we are presenting a selection of books, across various categories, by our contributors. These highlight some of the interesting books that we have come across this year. Enjoy! Have a great year ahead.

Ages 0 - 8

Funniest

The Silly Story of Bondapalli by Shamim Padamsee & Ashok Rajagopalan
Gajapati Kulapati by Ashok Rajagopalan

The Silly Story of Bondapalli and Gajapati Kulapati were the Artnavy staples this year. From Tulika, these books were enjoyed, read and gifted. While Bondapalli celebrates being round and fat and happy, Gajapati was a cumulative tale in rhythm about an elephant who could not help sneezing. Awesome illustrations, low word count, cheerful narratives endeared these tales to my five year old.
-ArtNavy



Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement

The simple lesson that you are great the way you are, delivered in a hilarious manner. Full marks to the delightful illustrations for aiding that tricky task. Definitely a book for keeps.
-Chox

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey and Don Wood

Had reviewed it on ST a while ago. We love the illustrations and it is rather reassuring to know that even a king can be silly!
-Chox

There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Seuss

When it came to one that the two have enjoyed together - it had to be There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr.Seuss! It stands true to its claim of being a 'book of ridiculous rhymes' and in that it transcends ages and sexes. It is our funniest pick for the year, mostly because it seemed bountiful when it came to laughter and giggles!

-Meera







My Grandson is a Genius by Giles Andreae

It is a hilarious book which also oozes with the warm and affection of a grandpa towards his grandson. The pictures and the text are completely contradictory, providing the amusement ! While the text speaks of a grandpa''s pride on his baby grandson's little achievements, the pictures speak of some other mischief on the part of the baby. We can all relate to it, since we hear our own parents speak with pride and joy about their grandchildren !

-Ranjani

Too Many Bananas by Sringeri Srinivas

This book has already been reviewed here at ST. This book continues to hold a charm especially for my 4 year old daughter.The simplicity, gentle humour and great illustrations are the reason for the popularity of this book in our house. -Ranjani

Most Impressive Illustrations

The Monster Who Ate Darkness by Joyce Dunbar & Jimmy Liao

The Monster Who Ate Darkness by Joyce Dunbar and illustrated by Jimmy Liao was the best in terms of visual appeal and drama and the story was moving as well.
-ArtNavy

Favorite Chapter Book/Series

Rainbow Magic Fairy series (Scholastic)

Fairies, fairies and more fairies. What started innocently as one weather fairy book has now taken a deep root and seems to be the pulse of the girls' imaginary play. They have a fairy for every occasion, need and want. Over the past 8 months we have read some book from the Rainbow Magic Fairy series from Scholastic for bed time. For the six year old, it is an easy read, she breezes through the book by herself in 30 min flat and for the four year old, the magic of fairies and simple language keeps her engrossed. I have request for a set of Rainbow Magic books and fairy cake for celebrating their birthday. Need I say more?
-utbt

Stanley's Christmas Adventure in Flat Stanley series by Jeff Brown

The 6 year old voted for her (Flat) Stanley chapter book - Stanley's Christmas Adventure by Jeff Brown, as her most favorite chapter book. We actually picked this one up a few months ago, well before Christmas, but it feels good to be celebrating the book now. In this book, Mr.Christmas (Santa) is grumpy while the elves of Snow City are busy wrapping gifts. He has decided to not deliver gifts this time, since he thinks he is no more appreciated. And because there are too many bad things like bombs and wars going on in the world. Sarah, his daughter, wants him to meet some of the good people so he can reconsider. Stanley and his family are the chosen ones. When Santa pulls out their letters from his files, he excitedly hops on to the sleigh with loads of gifts! I read the book myself after seeing my daughter read it countless times. And when we talked about it later, we both agreed on the letters being the best part of the book!
-Meera


Favorite Toddler Books

Ten Terrible Dinosaurs by Paul Stickland

Ten Terrible Dinosaurs was very much loved and read over and over again. The things that stood out in the book for us was the countdown instead of counting up, dinosaurs acting goofy and silly, with some of them being taken home or reprimanded. While it is a counting book, it could be expanded to talk about colors, patterns, actions, and to play Guess Who's Missing!
-Kodi's Mom



The Little Engine That Could retold by Watty Piper

My 2 year old came up with a long list when I tried to find out "what we leally leally like". But for the record, we thought we will go with the classic that we thoroughly enjoyed all year - (the complete, original edition of )The Little Engine That Could, retold by Watty Piper. A long train is stranded and is looking for help to be pulled, to deliver goodies to children. But passersby like Shiny New engine, Passenger Engine, Big Engine, Freight Engine and Rusty Old Engine, all refuse, giving a variety of excuses. Finally, the last one chugging along, Little Blue Engine, tries and succeeds. I am not sure if the morals of optimism and hard work reached home, but we unfailingly rooted for our Little Engine, chanting along with her, I think I can. I think I can. I think I can, every single time!
-Meera


Favorite Early Reader Book

We Both Read series (Treasure Bay)

We discovered We Both Read series this year, an early reader series which encourages my 5 yo to read independently, without compromising on the familiarity and comfort of me reading to him. On one side of each page is text for the parent to read and it stops mid sentence, to continue on the other side, with larger font and simpler words, toned down to the child's reading level. The reader is so caught up in the story and eager to find out what happens next that he tends to read naturally without any hesitation. The series ranges between fiction and non-fiction topics, stories have plots appealing to the 5-6 year old. Some of the stories we read were similar to the Panchatantra tales, with lessons laced with humor woven between engaging plot lines.
-Kodi's Mom

Favorite Non Fiction

Where's Hanuman?
Same and Different by Manjula Padmanabhan

The most engaging visual activity books were Where's Hanuman? and Same and Different. One needs to figure out the the chosen one or the odd one in each of these books- very challenging fun even for adults.
-ArtNavy

Favorite Audio Books

Little Vinayak by Karadi Tales
Kutti and the Mouse by Karadi Tales

Little Vinayak and Kutti and the Mouse from the Mouse series from Karadi were a hit not just with us but among a lot of friends as well. The former was sort of like Giraffes cannot dance and the latter was an old Tamil grandma's tale retold. The books that went with the audio were well illustrated and the tales gripping. Vidya Balan and the Evam group were both apt choices and very competent in their narrations. - ArtNavy

Favorite Pop-Up Book

12 Days of Christmas by Robert Sabuda


SABUDA! Need I say more?! If you insist I’ll say this - his interpretation of the carol into paper engineering is nothing short of brilliant.
-Chox

Most Thought Provoking

One by Kathryn Otoshi

One left an impact with us that cannot be described. One is about standing up for self, an important lesson that begins at preschool and continues through adulthood. The clever wordplay and bright colors convey the message in bold strokes.
-Kodi's Mom







Ages 8+

Funniest

Phani's Funny Chappals by Sridala Swami and Sanjay Sarkar

Phani's Funny Chappals, which combines spare text with expressive illustrations in its tongue in cheek account of a boy and his delinquent footwear.
-wordjunkie

Terror on the Titanic by Samit Basu

Take the Titanic (James Cameron's version, that is, complete with star crossed lovers, wicked moneybags fiance and a priceless jewel)), throw in a rash of aliens, two mysterious agents and a series of imaginative encounters between some or all of the above - and that, pretty much, is Samit Basu's hilarious Terror on the Titanic, first in a series of books about the mysterious Morningstar Agency and its motley crew of employees with singular talents.
-wordjunkie

Favorite Series

Judy Moody Series by Megan McDonald
Pippi Lambemoze (Tulika)

Books we constantly return to at home are the Judy Moody series,a laugh riot by Megan McDonald, about a girl who is startlingly similar to the Imp, with her unpredictable mood swings, obsession with role models, passion for collecting stuff, and her misadventures with school projects. Also Pippi Lambemoze, Tulika's Hindi translation of the much loved classic Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. The Imp loves her tall tales and wildly exaggerated claims to super strengths.
-wordjunkie

Favorite Anthology

Diwali Stories (Scholastic)

The anthology is awesome in its variety - many of the shining stars of kid-lit in India have contributed a story and have covered many issues between them - will do a detailed review soon. Highly recommended for an older child.
-Chox

Favorite Science Fiction

The Beast with Nine Billion Feet by Anil Menon

The Beast with Nine Billion Feet by Anil Menon, also nominated for the VC awards, is a thought-provoking look at an India of the future, bristling with smart tech solutions to practically everything, but also still grappling with that age old issue - the extent to which science should be allowed to tamper with nature. Oh, and idlis will be as universally eaten as ever.
-wordjunkie

Favorite Graphic Novel

The Secret Science Alliance and the CopyCat Crook by Eleanor David

Much to my surprise, my son does not love graphic novels. He is irritated with the format and he keeps complaining that it is not easy to understand. But, this is one book he devoured with a great enthusiasm. It is a classical story of nerdy kids whose ideas get stolen by a dangerous professor and the three friends plot and retrieve their wonderful inventions back.

-Sathish

Favorite Historical Fiction

The Grasshopper's Run by Siddhartha Sarma

The Grasshopper's Run by Siddhartha Sarma, winner of the Vodafone Crossword Book Award for Best Children's book this year, which follows the adventures of young Gojen Rajkhowa during the Second World War, as he sets out to avenge the death of his best friend at the hands of a vicious colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army.' Grasshopper's is grim reading - troubling in its premise , unflinching in its depiction of violence - yet swept me away with its spare language, meticulous research and its remarkable young hero.
-wordjunkie



Most Thought Provoking

Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew by Michael Morpurgo

This book is a combination of essays and stories. The essays based on Morpurgo's real life experiences are very thought provoking and inspiring. They definitely make us introspect a little into our own lives. The stories mostly based on the war talk of the ravages that war can cause in people's lives.The stories are very touching and some heart breaking. But I would definitely recommend this book for 10 + years children, since children should know the effects of war and the lasting damages it can leave in the lives of the people. It is these impressionable minds that are going to be the future citizens of our world. What better way to know through well written, sensitive stories. -Ranjani

Letters From Father Christmas

Letters From Father Christmas
J.R.R.Tolkien

Ages 4+

Houghton Mifflin, 2004

It is a collection of letters written by Tolkien to his children (as Father Christmas, and sometimes his Secretary Ilbereth) every year, from 1920 onwards for nearly twenty years, till about 1943.

The first letter was for his then 3-year old son John, and as the years passed the letters were addressed to his three sons John, Michael, Christopher and his daughter Priscilla. "Cheer up, chaps (Also chaplet if that is the feminine)." says Polar Bear in one of his postscript scrawls. In one of the letters, Father Christmas asks the children to give his love to John who has stopped writing back, thus letting us learn a little about John, the eldest son.

The elaborate world Tolkien created for his children, with Father Christmas in the North Pole, his chief assistant North Polar Bear, and even his Secretary Elf Ibereth, along with drawings and paintings, is quite an interesting read. The imagination, creativity and facility with which Middle Earth was created is hinted at in this collection of intimate and delightful letters.

The book reproduces many of the original letters and paintings, transcribed in print to make it easier to read the spidery old writing. A Goblin attack leading to an almost never-was Christmas, reindeer running loose, accident-prone North Polar Bear creating mini disasters everywhere and everywhen he could, all make for a magical experience many children today learn to dismiss and disbelieve.

I fell in love with this book at first read. And after reading a few of the letters, looks like it is exercising its charm on my five-year-old daughter as well.

[image source: tolkien.co.uk]

When Mommy Was Mad

TITLE: When Mommy was mad
AUTHOR: Lynne Jonell
ILLUSTRATOR: Petra Mathers
AGE GROUP: 3-5 yrs
PUBLISHER: G.P.Putnam's Sons
Picture: fantasticfiction.co.uk

Don't some of us, sometimes, hang up on an annoying telemarketer and carry over the frown to the innocent one demanding a snack? Or nod in affirmation to an interrogative from the little one while we are pensive or depressed. Or realize we just said yes to using the permanent marker while we were busy playing back in our head an incident from work! For a multitude of reasons, and sometimes not involving kids, we just don't seem to be our usual selves. And to make it worse, we are made to realize this by our own children.

Picture books are wonderful when the child can relate to it. This book accomplishes that and more - it actually makes the parent and child exchange perspectives. While it can be difficult to see how parental moods impact children, it can also be important for children to see how it can be a struggle for parents to suppress situational emotions and act normal.

I fell in love with the stick-figured illustrations in crayon coloring, outlined and framed with sharpened color pencils I suppose. It complements the child-centric incident with ease. The text, kept simple and casual, works in unison as well. For the issue dealt in this book, I would imagine it would be hard to stay away from a serious tone or a counseling approach. But neither happens here. The text, font inclusive, works well with the voice and mind of a child.

She burned the toast. She banged the pots and pans. And she forgot to kiss Daddy good-bye.

The book introduces Mom as not being in her usual mood. And her boys Robbie and Christopher are quick to sense that. The little ones are often the first to sense and react to aberrations in the household. And this book lightheartedly discusses the discomfort that children face when parents are just different at certain times or certain days.

Now, Robbie, the younger one, questions his own behavior. Guilt is one of the primary emotions. Having crossed that out, Robbie and Christopher try to impress Mom, who still seems retracted. The boys are confounded. After a while, Robbie gets frustrated and turns cranky himself. Mom's mood is rubbing off on him. But not for long - his funny ways finally win Mom over. She smiles and jokes - Mom is back! She even plants that overdue kiss on Dad when he walks in sullen that evening.

Normalcy is almost a need for growing children. And as parents it can be harder for some of us, to remind ourselves that the effect of our moods (or body language) can extend and encompass those in our aura. I liked this book because of how the emotions, while still being naked and honest, seemed lighter and upbeat in spirit. No tensed drama or drudgery. A book-next-door (book) if I can say:)

More of Robbie can be found here, on Lynne Jonell's website here.

The Giver

Title : The Giver

Author : Lois Lowry

Publisher : Harper Collins

Age : 12+

This is a story of a young lad Jonas, who is eleven now and is quite apprehensive about the upcoming ceremony where all Twelves of the community will be assigned an occupation, a job, a position in the community. Jonas is a member of a 'perfect' community where everything is same, in order, under control, as per the rules in the great rule book - the only book accessible to people of the community. The houses are exactly the same, the dresses of people are alike, each family unit comprises of a mother and a father and they can apply for one male and one female child. The community is unaware of any kind of emotions or feelings - happiness, sadness, sorrow, love, affection, suffering. They have not even heard of things like hills, mountains, snow, sunshine and even colors. This is because long back, the people of this community had chosen 'sameness' for themselves.

Even the terminology in the community is fixed and cannot be changed - children younger than one are called 'newchildren', same age children are 'groupmates', and weak, elderly, diseased or people who break rules three times are being 'released'. There is a set pattern to everything. The children at eight begin their volunteer hours where they are observed by the elders who later assign the children their roles in the community at Twelve. On the crucial day of assignments, Jonas is selected as a new 'Receiver of Memories'. He gets this unique responsibility owing to his intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom and capacity to see beyond. The elder Receiver becomes the Giver now and needs to pass on the memories of the past, of all the feelings, emotions and truth to Jonas.

While on the journey to receiving memories from the Giver, Jonas as an intelligent student realizes that their 'perfect' world is not so perfect in reality. People have no freedom of whatsoever - what to wear, what to eat, which profession to chose or even selection of a partner - everything is decided or assigned to them as part of the community rule.

Through his training as Receiver of Memories, he experiences how there is so much more to the world and to the life which has been completely eradicated from their worlds. After having experienced the best of memories of being loved in a family setup to the painful memories of war and sufferings, Jonas decides that he must do something to bring in the change for himself and for his people. He sets on a journey to the 'elsewhere' land with whatever little reserve of memories he had received from the Giver over one year.

I really liked the subtle way how Lois Lowry described the perfect world yet bringing the feeling of uneasiness about the whole setup. The narrative had a wonderful flow to it but found one thing lacking in it - the Giver never mentions why exactly people chose the 'sameness' for themselves and how it happened. The end is a little mysterious leaving the readers wanting for more. A wonderful and completely out-of-the-box plot and executed with excellence.

Many controversial topics are being touched in the story - infanticide, suicide, euthanasia, sexual arousals (stirrings). These issues have made this book a little controversial and I understand that in some US states, this book was banned for some years but now it is part of sixth grade curriculum in some schools. I feel there is a lot of scope of discussion about these issues through this story and good way to understand how young adults feel about the differentness, uniqueness and sameness.

10 by Marion Bataille

10 by Marion Bataille
Publishers- Albin Michel

Indian Edition- Tara Books
For All ages

This new pop up book 10 by Marion Bataille was released in September in France and has been published by Tara Books in India, in association with the French Embassy, under Tara's new series- French Focus.

The superbly executed book holds the joy of counting numbers 1-10 forward and backwards. In this pop up, like in ABC3D, Bataille uses only black and white. The striking combination ensures that the readers' focus stays on the amazing transitions - on how a number morphs into another. The book comes in a rich red slipcase with die-cut front and back, that reads 01 or 10 depending on one's perspective.

View the official video published by Albin Michel to see the sheer visual drama, as each page unfolds. Watch with wonder as each number literally dissolves into the other.
While it looks simple in execution, it must have been a gargantuan task to design the numbers to transform into each other just so. The book took two years for the author to create.

A small book with a really large magical appeal. And not an expensive book if you look upon it as a sophisticated work of paper engineering art- which is what it is. Ten on Ten, we say!

**************************************

Should we call Marion Bataille an artist, an author, a visualiser, a designer, a story teller, a master craftswoman or an engineer- well maybe all of those and more. Presenting a crisp Q& A with the inspiring lady herself!

How did you decide that this is your field?

I worked on animated book systems for a long time just for my pleasure and at one point,when I had a finished project (ABC3D) I presented it in a gallery in Paris, "les Trois Ourses". They show artist books that I really liked, and they accepted to show mine as well.

What kind of training does one need to become a pop up book artist?

I trained myself by observing and practicing. Since ’86, I had been experimenting with the pop-up technique. I trained myself by observing and with pop-up manuals, and in 2004, the project of a pop-up alphabet book took shape.

How do you arrive on your subject- the alphabet or the numbers...what next? .Any plans for pop up books based on stories as well?

I am a graphic designer, so typography was a subject matter before I did animated books. The succession of pages in a book itself tells a story, a list of letters in alphabetical order tells a story, there is no need to add to this.

In the book 10, is it 5 pairs of numbers in terms of the crafting that get repeated, since it has to work both ways. Would that be a right way of putting it?

Yes, like we have two hands, and that is the origin of our numeration.

Somehow ABC3D seemed more varied and complex. Would you agree?

Yes, each letter is different but every figure is part of the same counting system. In both books I wanted to see how the structure of the book and the structure of typography could meet. In ABC3D each letter is unique, and the regular succession of pages creates a rhythm that is contradicted by the dialogue between letters. In 10 all the figures are part of one single system. I imagine a relationship between the shape of figures and finger counting. The form of the book plays its role too.

Why was Tara chosen in India? Are there more such collaborations across the globe outside of France?

Tara chose to publish Abc3d and 10 in India. The printing and manufacturing process of a pop-up book requires that they should be published in big amounts to reduce the price of a copy. Abc3d was published in 11 countries and "10" in 8 countries apart from France.

What are the steps and people involved in a pop up? We understand it would take more than a writer and an illustrator and of course, a publisher.

It depends on how the author works, some work in collaboration with a paper engineer. But personally, I like to do engineering, it is part of the pleasure.

Please tell us a bit more on the manufacture of pop ups. Is each copy handcrafted or machine made? Is the glue a special kind? Any other interesting trivia?

It is very much like dress making, you build a construction in paper, and put it flat, draw a pattern and adjust several times until it moves smoothly. The glue is the one one uses in bookbinding. You need few more tools : one to mark the folds, for this one can use a used ball-pen. A cutter, a ruler, sellotape for adjustments.

Certainly adults find the thought/ logic that goes into the design intriguing and children would delight in the movement and the surprise. In that sense pop ups are truly universal in appeal, aren't they?

Yes you have a technical yet playful object, and intimate as a book can be.

Can you share with us your list of must have pop up books and why?
I like "the elements of pop-ups" by David Carter and James Diaz very much.

Do look up the Tara blog for more Q&A with Marion Bataille.

Tacky and the winter games - Winter Sports II

TITLE: Tacky and the winter games
AUTHOR: Helen Lester
ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger
AGE GROUP: 4-8
PUBLISHER: Sandpiper
Picture: Amazon.com

Penguins in training for the Olympics. Of course it has to be the winter Olympics! Add loads of wit. And we have an entertaining, educational and athletic package!

Some of us are probably familiar with Tacky - Tacky the penguin. And this one belongs to the same series of books. It begins with Tacky's friends declaring The winter games are coming, we must must must be in shape to win win win.And that's when the riot starts! The next few pages show fluffy creatures with sharp beaks jumping ropes in a row, lifting weights, and even doing sit-ups. But not Tacky. He is digging into his junk food and watching too much TV while his counterparts are loading up on 'training meals' and good sleep. Its soon time for the opening ceremony and the athletes walk in with their chests thrust out. The anthem is played (which by the way goes With our beaks held high and our bellies held low...) And the medals are on display - not bad, pretty good, big winner.

The first event is the bobsledless race and our team is called Team Nice Icy Land. Tacky carries the team on his belly and slides down to reach the finish line in record time only to hear the official say This is bobsledLESS race. The ski jumping event follows. Picture helmet-ed penguins with frozen fish skis, and that's exactly what you will see. But Tacky, of course, is tumbling and crumbling - simply because his "skis" thawed when he was "warming up" near the fireplace right before the game. By now, we get the idea that Tacky is not helping his team win, at all, and his friends are annoyed with him. Is the riot over? Not as yet. In fact it peaks further down when Tacky actually swallows the baton during the relay race and ends up going under the x-ray machine!

But wait.
Had Team Nice Icy Land really won?
Did Tacky have the baton?
Without the baton, Team Nice Icy Land would be disqualified.

Suspense mounts and smiles fade away. Not for us. But for the little ones, it is a nail-biting finish.
Lynn Munsinger's illustrations are detailed, brimming with humor and intelligence, a combination that carries the story with ease. A light-hearted and yet glorious introduction to routines of official gaming events, training for games, the Olympics and particularly the winter Olympics. A gold winner shall I say?

Snowboard Twist - Winter Sports I

TITLE: Snowboard Twist
AUTHOR: Jean Craigbead Geroge
ILLUSTRATOR: Wendell Minor
AGE GROUP: 4-8 yrs
PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books
Picture: Author website.

I picked up this book because, considering how books on sports and outdoor activities are relatively rare to find, one that involved snowboarding was hard to pass. The little one is taking lessons in ice skating and we do live just a few hours away from some generously snow covered ski slopes. These should qualify us I thought. I also succumbed to the seasonal temptation of a book sporting icy blues and whites, with evergreens all around. The more important rationale was to expose the little girl to adventure sports - to learn and enjoy the subtler details and experiences of such a sport while we safely resorted to accomplishing this through a picture book. At least for now:)

Axel is on his way to Glory bowl in the Teton mountains with his dad Dag and his dog Grit. The place has just received heavy snowfall and it seems perfect to bring out the skis and snowboards. But fresh snow with its weak slushy older layers beneath could trigger an avalanche. Dag is a snow patrol officer in the mountains and is testing the slopes for avalanche signs before the skiers came in. Kelly, Axel's snowboarding rival joins them there. Axel and Kelly start showing off their snowboarding moves, neglecting the potential for disaster around them. Just then, an unimportant event gets a snowball rolling, setting off an avalanche. However, Grit leaps into action and ensures that all ends well.

What we actually took away from the book was an interesting insight into ski slopes, snow conditions and the science of avalanches. Just the backdrop of the tall mountains and pines, piles of slush and snow brought out through impressive artwork left us thirsty for ruggedness. However, considering how the stage was set with all the action, the text as we approached the end seemed to be lacking in zest.

Jean Craigbead George has many books encompassing nature, for children and young adults, to her credit. But she still claims - "The list is not really long when you consider that there are almost 250 million beautiful plants and animals on this earth that I could have written about." This book is third in line, following two of her other "outdoor adventures" books called "Cliff Hanger" and "Fire Storm". If I were to come a full circle and jot down one more excuse, it seemed like a good book to celebrate another amazing form of nature and how giving it is. Inspired by the book, we are now reading up more on how the sport came about and about serious snowboarding races. And we like this book for having initiated just that. Also, Jean Craigbead George, Newbery medal winner (Julie of the Wolves), has an energizing website: http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/. Now where is that backpack?

I dreamed I was a ballerina

Title : I dreamed I was a ballerina

A girlhood story by Anna Pavlova

Illustrated with art by Edgar Degas

Publisher - The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Atheneum Books for Young readers

Age group : 4+

I was browsing the bookshelves in our library, when I chanced upon this book. It seemed a precious find even at the first glance. I somehow felt that my 4 year old daughter S, would enjoy this story with the related pictures. Now after multiple readings of this book, both of us have fallen in love with this great book !

As the header mentions, it is the childhood story of Anna Pavlova, the famous Russian Ballerina. To be honest, before I read this book, all I knew about her was that she was a famous ballerina and one of the main inspirations for Rukmini Devi Arundale. This story as narrated by Pavlova herself talks about her childhood and what got her interested in ballet.

Little Anna is taken for a theatrical performance of the Sleeping beauty at the Mariinsky theatre , as a treat for her birthday. Being her first time, she is very excited and looking forward to the surprise. As the performance begins, she is enthralled and mesmerised by the graceful dance movements of the young girls and the legendary Tchaikovsky's music. It is at this very performance that the seed of being an excellent ballet dancer, gets planted in her tender heart. Her dream of becoming a world famous ballerina, does come to fruition (as we read in the epilogue) but after facing lot of challenges along the way.

The illustrations that have been used in this book are the art works of Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917). He was as passionate about ballet as a subject of his art works , as Anna Pavlova was about performing ballet. I was surprised to note from the footnotes in this book that Degas and Pavlova never met each other. Most of his ballet inspired art was much before her time. So this book is very interesting in the sense, that the art works which would best complement the text and the story have been used. They have this ethereal quality about them, which would make you want to go back again and again to admire them.

My daughter so loves this book ! Currently this is her favourite bedtime story. She loves dance and recently she watched a small clipping of Anna Pavlova's dance as enacted by the students in my son's school day programme. Each night as I read this story to her, she gets this dreamy look. May be she is transported to a ballet land full of little girls in beautiful pink dresses and swaying elegantly to the music ! May be she dreams of being an Anna Pavlova some day :-)

Note : The story is drawn from Anna Pavlova's 1922 autobiography, Pages of My Life

Look-Alikes Around the World

Look-Alikes Around the World
by Joan Steiner

Ages: 4-8

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers, 2007

We've been eying a series of "Look-Alikes" books by Joan Steiner.

This set of cleverly crafted books showcase famous landmarks, domestic settings, urban sites, even The Nutcracker ballet, holiday scenes and so on, but with a twist: they are all constructed with everyday found objects created painstakingly by Steiner, designed by Stephen Blauweiss, and then photographed by Ogden Gigli!

The tag line "The more you look, the more you see" aptly describes what the book is all about.

Take a closer look at the cover image of Look-Alikes Around the World above. While the mind abstracts and concludes Taj Mahal, the fun just starts as we spy ballet shoes, brussel sprouts, white chocolate bars and various every day objects making up this composite. The pictures are more like puzzles, and "reading" them turns into an I Spy game before long.

Not all books in the series are well-suited for children. In this interview, author Joan Steiner shares that one of the most unusual objects incorporated in one of her scenes is a hand grenade in the first book.

However, I found the three other Look-Alikes books that I've chanced upon (besides the Around the World shared here) to be a delight for the adult mind. Simple text tries to clue us in, and if we are still confounded, the Notes at the back of the book lists the items used in each picture.

While Look-Alikes Around the World is not quite as child-friendly as Look-Alikes Jr., both the two-year-old and the five-year-old had a lot of fun "discovering" pretzels, cupcakes, slices of bread, ballet slippers and suchlike in the pictures. This book is presented as a sort of travel journal with brief entries on each page forming the text, while the carefully constructed pictures are either in a postage stamp or post card format.

One of my favorites in this book is a gray socked foot with a door-stop looking uncannily like a stone statue in Easter Island.

I am in awe of Ms.Steiner's talent and hard work. The pictures certainly can fool an average adult at first glance, but best part is finding the everyday items disguised in each picture.

[image source: amazon.com]

The Animals of Farthing Wood

Pic courtesy flipkart 

THE ANIMALS OF FARTHING WOOD
Written by Colin Dann
Illustrated by Jaqueline Tettmar
Published by Egmont books UK
Ages: 9+

Farthing Wood is home to a menagerie of animals for a long time now, and they have been here for generations. Now, however, their home is being endangered by encroachments by humans. The whole heath is being dug up to build new buildings, the pond in filled up to reclaim the land, and it is no longer safe. At the end of their tether, they decide to move to White Deer Park, a nature reserve found by Toad quite unexpectedly. He had been taken away by some human children out on a nature expedition,  but had escaped and returned by the homing instinct.

The motley group, led by Fox and Badger, and including Toad ( he alone knows the way), Mole (who has to depend upon the faster animals to carry him), Hare and his mate, Pheasant, rabbits, voles, mice, hedgehogs, Adder ( who, along with Weasel, is looked upon by suspicion by the herbivores), Weasel, and Tawny Owl and Kestrel, who lead from the air, scouting out the territory ahead in case of a doubt as to safety.

The group takes an Oath of Mutual Protection, wherein all stronger animals are to protect the weaker ones, with some leading and some bringing up the rear, so that no animal is left behing or attacked by any outsiders. Adder and Weasel are most likely to break this Oath, or so it is supposed, so everyone is a bit more vigilant about their presence. But even they rise to the occasion when required.

It is a quest, an adventure, with obtacles like marshy land, a wildfire (triggered by the cigarette stub of a human being), a farmer out to vindicate the animal who has been stealing his chickens for many weeks now (obviously not our gang!), a river in torrential flow, babies being born to the mice and voles enroute, so that they have to leave the party, only to be butchered by a 'Butcher bird' (a Red-backed Shrike, a migratory visitor to Britain, considered extinct there since 1970, but found again on Dartmoor in 2010), a fox hunt, a pesticide laced field, a busy six-lane motorway and a town, before they can reach their destination. As is expected, there are a few deaths along the way, with the leaders doing their best to protect the rest.

At one point, while saving the rabbits while crossing the river, Fox is carried away, and, after a long hunt for him, considered dead. Leaderless for the while, the animals rally around Badger and Tawny Owl, in an uneasy joint leadership, and continue on their way. Joyfully, they are joined by Fox after many days, with an addition to their group, a Vixen who has helped him and accepted to be his mate.

One fine day, they finally reach the haven they are looking out for, and settle very well into White Deer Park, slowly dispersing and assimilating into the life there. But the travails they have been through together bonds them, and there are sequels that I would love to get my hands on.

I had read this book both in an abridged version as a very small child, and in the original when older. I had loved the sense of adventure it held for me then, and was a gripping, totally un-put-downable read. I was a bit aware of the message regarding conservation then, but not unduly troubled by it. I was a city-born-and-bred creature, and not very much in tune with animal habitats and such. All that was just something we learnt about at school, and the seriousness of it was not really realised then.

It proved to be every bit as enthralling now as it did then. I was, however, better educated in the POVof the animals, and it made so much more sense to me. It made equal sense to my animal-loving daughter, whom I read the whole book aloud to. A has encountered a lot of environment consciousness and conservation at an early age, at school, and I am much thankful for that.

I am also more aware of the dangers to wildlife due to roads etc. going through their habitat. When in the US and UK, we have often come across dead rabbits and such daring to cross these roads. Once we almost ran over one, and I can still remember the shriek of tyres with which we stopped just short of the animal streaking across. There are also so many examples of snakes, monkeys, etc. found in houses. What we fail to realise is that often it is us who have encroached upon what was once their home.

A wonderful read. Colin Dann has created a work of art with wonderful characterisation, an adventure, a wonderful example of what can be achieved as a team, with a realisation that often a team is only as storng as its weakest link. With a message of conservation.

I, Emma Freke

I, Emma Freke

Author: Elizabeth Atkinson

Carolrhoda Books

Ages 10 and above

Winner of a Moonbeam Children's Book Award

The best coming of age stories are often about great voyages and life-changing encounters, yet are really about internal journeys – about children making that first, significant step towards maturity, and away from the fears that have curbed them. ‘I, Emma Freke’ is about one such journey, and a girl’s struggle to find her place in the world.


Emma Freke is smarter than anyone she knows. Right from the opening chapters of this story about a child’s quest for family and a sense of belonging, where she bemusedly endures a school counsellor’s ham - handed attempts to boost her ‘socialization skills’, we know she is different - – knowing, self aware, and possessed of both the smarts and a wry sense of humour. And yet, she finds herself defined, and utterly trapped by the connotations of her name.


For Emma would like nothing better than to be shorter, dumber and invisible. At twelve she is, by her own admission, the “..tallest, palest and saddest girl in all of Homeport.” Often mistaken for an adult, saddled with her awkward moniker, - “My mother forgot to say it out loud when I was born”, she explains to everyone who says ‘Am a freak’ for the first time - her alarmingly red hair and mortifyingly great height (“like a target visible from space”, she rues), school is an ordeal of sniggering classmates and insensitive teachers.


Sadly, home isn’t much better - a father she has never met but whose unfortunate name she is stuck with, a cranky grandfather she often has to look after, and a flighty irresponsible mother who will think nothing of passing her daughter off as an employee in order to hang on to a younger boyfriend. Worse, her best – and only – friend Penelope possesses everything she lacks – two doting mothers, a lovely house, irresistible charm and unwavering optimism. Is it any wonder that she desperately hopes she is adopted? But though her mother manages to shatter that one illusion as well, she does give Emma something else instead – a chance to meet the Frekes, her father’s side of the family.


What follows is an account, by parts sad and funny, of Emma’s discovery of herself among the Frekes . Surrounded for the first time in her life by people as tall , red headed and obsessive about order as she is, befriended and admired at last by girls her own age , Emma finally feels she belongs . Yet all is not well with the Frekes ; not only do they shy away from the family name (Frecky, they insist. Rhymes with Becky.) and cower before the family matriarch, they seem to dislike their own freaks too – short, dark haired and very irreverent Fred Freke. It will take a twelve year old’s wisdom and spirited stand in defence of a fellow freak for the Frekes to begin acting like a family, and for Emma to realize the worth of her own.


Atkinson keeps it real, and writes from the heart – reading this book, I was drawn right into Emma’s sad and lonely world, feeling all of her pain and heartache with her. Who, after all, has not felt this keen sense of isolation at some time or other in their youth? Emma’s is also a world sorely lacking reliable adults, save for the friendly neighbourhood librarian or Penelope’s doting mothers ( a very matter fact inclusion of an unconventional marriage that had me nodding in approval as I read); yet, Atkinson’s crafting of these fumbling, fallible and very believable grown ups makes them difficult to dislike, be it Emma’s mom with her fetish for all things New Age, her elusive father or the domineering Aunt Pat. By the end, as Emma finally makes her way home and gracefully embraces her life (and name) for what it is – unconditionally her own, and defined not by other people and their ideas, but her own altered vision of herself - you realize that this simple action has changed their lives as much as her own.

Heart warming, self affirming, funny – an uplifting read for the freak in each one of us.

Thanks to Skye Wentworth for sending me a copy of the book to review.

Image.

Crocs Rock!

Bears and elephants are arguably the most popular animal protagonists in children's tales. The crocodile is more often than not viewed with distaste/ suspicion. This is reflected in fables and mythology and even Tinkle's Doob Doob, for those of you from India. But to be fair, some authors have tried to give this animal its due and some illustrators have managed to impart a degree of cuteness to the reptile.

Listed here are some of the interesting Alligator/ Croc tales/ books that we have enjoyed, some celebrating and a few defaming the reptile.



Lizzie Finlay's Little Croc's Purse from Red Fox is about a croc who tries to find the rightful owner of a lost purse. There are temptations galore but honesty prevails. There is also a lesson on Share and Save tucked in the book. The illustrations are really candy sweet and what struck me was how endearing the crocodiles looked in this book. It is indeed a good read, though the book is a tad too direct in its message.




Crocodile Beat by Gail Jorgensen from Aladdin Books, is a tale in rhythm and makes a wonderful read aloud. The animals in the jungle are having fun at a party. Each double spread has one animal making its typical sound. Meanwhile, the stereotypically nasty croc is hungry and just waking up. The resourceful lion saves the day in the most ingenious manner.



Izzie Lizzie Alligator by Suzanne Tate from Red Fox. This one is realistic and talks of an alligator whose breeding is low due to chemical spills in her habitat. Helpful Humans redeem the situation and the next time round Izzie has over 40 babies!! A very simply rendered message coaxing kids to take responsibility for the environment. This book is sponsored by Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society.


Fred the Croc by Matt Zurbo from Lothian- Fred is a tourist attraction in Australia. When he gets bored he resorts to very unusual means to turn newsworthy again. The story to me was a pot shot at fame seekers who do anything to stay in the news. Fred finds it acceptable and exciting to be notorious. Lighthearted, but it took some tough explaining on my part to my daughter, as to why Fred indulges in misdemeanours. Great colourful illustrations abound in this tale!" Yeah, it was written on two levels. One, as a kid's book. They love it. The 'CHOMP!' is, apparently, great fun to imitate. It was also a modern moral fable on the cult of celebrity" shared the author Matt, when I wrote in to him.


Crocodile Tears by Jonathan Lindstrom & Sandhya Rao from Tulika is a lovely universal tale. It is filled with emotions- centred around the fear of losing a friend. It covers a range of attempts made by a group of animal friends who find one of their gang missing. This is for the slightly older reader as it is heavier on the word count. The illustrations are fluid and evocative, making children want to doodle.



Have you seen the Crocodile? by Colin West from Walker Books has been enjoyed a few years ago by Sandhya and her daughter A. Here is what Sandhya had to say about it- The parrot, the dragon fly, the bee, the butterfly and the frog want to play. They have to make sure that the CROCODILE is nowhere around. But search as they might, they cannot find him!
'...."Have you seen the crocodile?" asked the parrot. "No," said the dragonfly. "Have you seen the crocodile?" asked the parrot and the dragonfly. "No," said the bumble bee..........' And it goes on this way, adding a new animal to the list with each repetition. With everyone searching for the crocodile. Including us. For the illustrations lend themselves beautifully to the hunt, camoflaging the crocodile ... who is very much there in each double spread. So what happens? Read the story to its snappy ending to find out.

Vibha adds on to this cluster with Croc Talk by Zai and Nikhil Whitaker, again published by Tulika in association with Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. The book is about the very special bank which has unique kind of wealth - hundreds of crocodiles. Out of the 23 total species of crocodiles in the whole world, 14 of them are now at the Bank. The Crocodile Bank began in 1976, with the goal to conserve endangered crocodiles. This small book is full of interesting information about crocodiles and other reptiles. A wonderful guide, an activity book and a peep into the crocodile's life - all rolled into one.


The Madmomma shares with us her thoughts on Things you should know about Crocodiles: Dangerous reptiles of the wild by Steve Parker and illustrated by Steve Roberts. The perfect book for a nature crazy little child above the age of 5, it is part of a series by Miles Kelly on various animal families including Big Cats, Owls, Whales and Bugs. Each double spread deals with one type of croc and tells you what it hunts, where it lives and a little about its physical aspects. The Brat is now reeling off random facts like, Muggers steal from fishermen, saltwater crocs are the biggest reptiles and so on. The illustrations are crisp and the text is easy to follow even for younger children. It is a little fact heavy but that is to be expected from a reference book. And for a child like the 5 year old Brat who is obsessed with animals, no amount of fact is too much. What is really interesting is the way the book brings these dangerous creatures into the realm of interesting so that they inspire interest, not just fear.

The monkey and the crocodile from Karadi Tales is an interesting retelling of an old Panchatantra classic and the narrator, Naseeruddin Shah's voice makes this audio book a richer experience.

The Bird Who Was Afraid to Clean the Crocodile's Teeth by Taylor Brandon from DC Mango books really made me question my own fear of reptiles. Not to say that I am over it, but I am at least a few shades more tolerant than before. The book is a sweet tale about how appearances can be deceptive.

Pchak Pchak from Young Zubaan has been reviewed here before and if you have not read it earlier please do so!

Do tell us your favourite croc tales! And if you live in or visit Chennai, do not miss the Crocodile bank.

The Pout-Pout Fish

The Pout-Pout Fish
by Deborah Diesen
illustrated by Dan Hanna

Ages: 4-8

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

What do you do when you feel gloomy? When you think your only state of mind is perpetual cheerlessness? When your whole countenance remains frozen in this doleful expression?

That is what the pout-pout fish is experiencing when we first meet him.
Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
In a permanent pout.

Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?
Is there something he can learn
From an unexpected friend?

One by one his ocean friends stop by and ask him about it, and all he can reply is
I'm a pout-pout-fish with a pout-pout face
I spread the dreary-wearies all over the place
Blub, bluuub, bluuuub

Until, at last, a lovely shimmering fish comes along and plants a great big kiss so that now, as we close the book, Mr.Fish buoyantly shares
I'm a kiss-kiss fish with a kiss-kiss face
I spread the cheery-cheeries all over the place.
Smooch, smooooch, smoooooooch

The Pout-Pout Fish is a treat to read aloud. The rhyming text with repetitive refrain makes this ideal for the toddler in residence, not to mention the colorful and playful illustrations by Dan Hanna. There is quite a bit of drama with exaggerated expressions in the cartoonish rendering of this simple little fish and his pals. Plus plenty of opportunity to render the "Blub, Bluuub, Bluuuub" in comical tones with the little ones joining in the chorus.

While not every word in the book would make sense to a typical toddler, the underlying message that all it takes is for someone to share a hug, a kiss, a smile, a kind word to turn your frown upside down easily comes across.

Deborah Diesen's page with additional resources for this book is quite wonderful.

So, needless to say, Pout-Pout Fish has been read a zillion times over with much giggles and foot-tapping - by me and D to the kids, by Ana to Oggie, by Ana to herself, by Oggie to himself (recited, more like it), and of course by me to myself with open-jawed drool admiring how such a simple-looking book comes out of a single brilliant idea coupled with unbridled talent...

We read the recent sequel by the same team, The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark which talks about dealing with fear (of the dark) and overcoming it to help someone in need. After falling in love with the first book, I was steeling myself for a let down, but, not so at all. The sequel is every bit as wonderful!

[image source: Dan Hanna's bluebellylizard.com site]