The Word Route

Author: Sarvendra Vikram Illustrator : Eshita Munshi Another gem from Pratham Publication, this translated story surrounds a mango that falls from a tree and the reactions of animals after it lands on the ground. Beginning with a pigeon, a rabbit, and a squirrel, who are playing when the mango falls from the tree, to the seed of the mango lying on the ground after a cuckoo comes and eats it up, the author has woven the story sequentially. Each page contains a surprise element as a different set of animals approach the mango seed - a curious rat, an owl, a monkey, a nightingale, a duck, goat, an onlooker crow, a spider, mongoose, and a lion and a lioness that walk past the mango seed.  Rain and thunder follows, making the elephant trumpet loudly and shake a tree full of parrots. There are intricate pictorial details of a hen pecking at the seed, a leaf acting as an umbrella for the hen, and a beetle climbing the elephant's leg.  After the rains stop, the rabbi

Authors : Mala Kumar & Manisha Chaudhry Illustrator : Niloufer Wadia Grandmothers are extremely sweet and caring. I am sure you will agree that each granny is unique in her own way. All of us have sweet memories with our respective grandmothers and all vacations spent with her. Meet this lovely grandma who has a strange fetish or hobby. She loves juggling anything and everything wherever she is – be it the kitchen, office, market or grandpa’s things! Everyone around are exasperated and frazzled with her strange fetish. Inside the kitchen, she juggles pots, pans, vegetables, fruits etc. Once she even tossed grandpa’s watch, pen, spectacles, cap and even his umbrella in the air and juggled. Poor grandpa had a fit seeing his things tossed up in the air. He threw up his hands and became angry. One day, she went to the market and to the fruit seller’s dismay, she tossed his mangoes in the air and one went flying to the ground and became pulp. Onlookers were scared a

Author/Illustrator : Sorit Gupto This story is about a little girl called Bunty. She loves playing outdoors in sand, and chasing butterflies and birds. But she hates cleaning up after playing and brushing her teeth. One night she gets a dream that germs are attacking the sand castle she made and she is running away from them. Then Soap king Bubbly appears as a saviour and saves her from germs with the help of his army of bubbles. Parents can use this book to inculcate importance of hygienic habits in young children. A great book to read aloud to toddlers, it has simple language that makes it easy for kids to relate to, and understand.  Vivid illustrations from Sorit Gupto make the book visually appealing to young readers. A Level 1 book from Pratham Publications, it is highly recommended for kids aged 3+ years.

Author: Vinita Krishna Illustrator: Suvidha Mistry In the good old days, children visited their grandparents’ houses in the village during vacations. Because most villages did not have electricity and had limited “entertainment” options, it was easy to engage children in household chores. Children would help out in the vegetable garden, the elders at home in running errands, and perhaps even meeting friends in the village for a cool dip in the local pond. Aaloo Maloo Kaloo is a fun story about a boy named Maloo who is visiting his grandmother in the village.   His grandmother asks him to pick vegetables from her garden. His canine friend Kaloo also accompanies him. Suvidha Mistry’s illustrations along with author Vinita Krishna manage to create vivid images of the vegetable garden and the rural landscape, which can transport you to the countryside; an excellent book for kids to learn more about colours and vegetables. Yet another gem from the Pratham Book

Author:  Chitra Soundar Illustrator:  Kanika Nair A farmer named Falgu is on his way to the market. This beautifully illustrated story brings out vivid images of the farmer’s journey with all his vegetables to the market; the problems he encounters on the bumpy, rickety roads. The book is appropriate for children in the age group of 2-4 years. It helps the child to imagine and develop curiosity on farm commodities like vegetables and eggs and understand the ingenous problem-solving abilities of the farmer. It teaches the child not to give up in times of adversity and develop common sense and logic. Rustic village settings have been beautifully illustrated by Kanika Nair. She successfully manages to set off young ones’ imagination through her drawings of the farmer’s trip to the market. The author has managed to keep up the pace for the children as well as enable the imaginary travel to the market place. This book is a part of a four-book series and highly recomm