Category: blog

  • Every Dog in the Neighborhood

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    Sudarshan
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    Author: Philip C Stead Illustrator: Matthew Cordell When we got books from the library the last time, we did not get to this book for a while as I prioritized read the books with the medals and honors. Oh! How wrong I was. This book turned out to be one of the most enjoyable. A…

  • Giraffe Problems

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    Sudarshan
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    Author: Jory John . Illustrator: Lane Smith Just this morning, I was thinking that this blog has an animal problem because I was reading and writing about too many books with animals as central characters. Along came this book. Giraffe Problems opens with a Giraffe Edward who has insecurities about this long neck. How he…

  • Take your time: a tale of Harriet, the Galapagos Tortoise

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    by

    Sudarshan
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    Author: Eva Furrow and Donna Jo Napoli; illustrated by Laurel Molk Perfect read for a fast hyper stimulating world we live in. Harriet, the tortoise, goes on a vey satisfying and enjoyable adventure spanning seasons. Knowing her shortcoming in speed, she shows the value in planning ahead and leaving early, which I am very bad at.…

  • The Day the Crayons Quit

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    Sudarshan
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    Author: Drew Daywalt Pictures: OLiver Jeffers The premise is that the crayons in a little boy’s crayon box write letters to him asking him to address their points of distress (I think one does not have any distress and is a letter of thanks) . In a day and age where even explaining email to…

  • Dragons Love Tacos

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    Sudarshan
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    Author: Adam Rubin. Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri I love the ridiculous idea. I kept searching to see if the dragons are being used as a metaphor for kids. But no, the dragons really love tacos. They end up eating a few forbidden ones and they do some crazy things for humans but stuff that is on…

  • Where the Wild things are

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    Sudarshan
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    Author and Illustrator: “The OG” Maurice Sendak  This is a tribute to the wild imagination inside every child, who wants to command a army of wild things and rule them. There is a Max in all of us. The visuals draw you in bringing out child’s impishness, courage, valor , hunger, anger, enjoyment and vulnerability.…

  • Make way for Ducklings

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    Sudarshan
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    This is another book that was written in the early 1940s . I fear I might have to drop the word – “Classic”. (Read Mark Tawin’s quote on Classics and you will know the reason for my apprehension). A Mallard and his wife take you on a tour of Boston as they attempt to start…

  • The Little Engine that could

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    Sudarshan
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    This book came out in 1930. Almsot one hundred years later, it still maintains its appeal. If I showed my 5 year old a stack of books, she would clearly pick this out and ask to read it. I have even asked her why she loves it so much and she says it has trains…

  • A Visitor for Bear

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    Sudarshan
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    Santa gifted this book for the five year old for this year’s Christmas. The Book tracks the story of a grumpy lonely bear and a mouse desperate to befiend him. While the graphics landed well and she found the story enjoyable, she couldnt really get why the bear did not like visitors or friends.  

  • Help Me Mr. Mutt

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    Sudarshan
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    This is a really funny book. The therapy suggestions offered by Mr. Mutt to troubled dogs brought out waves of laughter from the five year old. I dont think she quite grasped the format. of the book but she loved the silliness and the graphics of the book.  

  • A Big Mooncake for Little Star

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    Sudarshan
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    The graphics in this book left me spellbound. Simple and beautifully illustrated on a dark background, the book creatively shows the waxing phase of the moon.  

  • I want 100 Dogs

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    Sudarshan
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    My daughter loved this book. The desire to have something lofty and through continuous discussions (illustrated realistically, playfully) the parents manage to bring down expectations to a level where both sides feel they won the day. But in the day, there is always only one winner. My daughter who is beginning to read and count…

  • Wink

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    Sudarshan
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    My five year old daughter was a little perplexed why the boy was not listening to his teacher and I do not think the theme got to her. She did enjoy the illustrations as she was telling me about how the boy must have been feeling but this book did not work for us.

  • No, David

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    Sudarshan
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    When I read books to my toddler, I am most satisfied when it brings out a smile in them. She couldn’t stop giggling halfway through No David when the kid steps out to the street and his mom is yelling “No, David”. This is a beautifully illustrated book and fully deserves the Caldecott Honor. The…

  • The Z was Zapped

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    Sudarshan
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    ” The X was X-rayed” exclaims my kindgartner everytime we read the book. This book by Chris Allsburg where each character is introduced with a sense of theatre is a suspenseful read even for grown ups as we try to guess what scene each alphabet is depicting based on the picture. I like the way…

  • Du Iz Tuk

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    Sudarshan
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    The fun fact about this book is it is written in Insect Language with English alphabets. So it is really hilarious to decipher what the insects are talking and you can let your imagination run wild. The astounding visuals on each page help your broaden that creativity. We have discussed butterfly life cycles, seasons, plant…

  • Knight Owl

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    Sudarshan
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    I read nightly to my five year old and I am reading her Caldecott medal winning books or Caldecott Honor books. We recently read the Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. The illustrations are perfect – an owl who wants to be a Knight who is perservering, clever and strong. The reveal in the section where…