The Word Route

MOMMY KNOWS THE BEST ! “Oh, you are still breastfeeding him?” (almost speaking in hushed tones as if I was having an extramarital affair!) When I told my neighbourhood aunty that I am still feeding my then 2 year old, she nearly rolled her eyes up. She told me it is not good to feed “so long” and soon I must apply neem paste to my breasts to wean him. I bet she would have even consulted an astrologer for a weaning date! Sigh! I just thought to myself that while this octogenarian should have been appreciating me for extended breastfeeding, she was doing the reverse! This made me think of the other women in her family who probably never got to make informed choices to breastfeed their own children. I know I am hypothesizing now. But this is a reality in most families! Anyway, I just told her that my doctor had advised to feed longer for health reasons and walked off. Having been closely associated with a parenting network in the city, I get to interact (virtually and in person)

Author(s): Arshi Naaz, Kuldeep Sandhu and Susheela Illustrator: Rajeev Verma ‘Banjara’ A Level 1 book in Hindi by Pratham Publications, Mera Parivaar or my family is about the various members of a family in India.  As a level 1 book, it is a perfect book for children to begin reading books with the help of elders – more importantly to improve listening and comprehension skills. Mera Parivaar is about a small girl called Tuktuk who introduces her not-so-small, yet big family. Her family comprises of her mother, father, brother, sister, maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts and uncles, younger cousins and a small pet dog Bujo. Authors Arshi Naaz, Kuldeep Sandhu and Susheela have kept up the narration alive through the main character Tuktuk. Illustrator Rajeev Verma has sketched all the members of a typical joint family in India quite well. All of us have at some point grown up in a joint family at some point of time. Annual family reunions used to be a ritual ev

Author & Illustrator : Ashok Rajagopalan After his big sneeze in Gajapati Kulapati ( http://thebookmark.in/home/3880-gajapati-kulapati-hindi.html ) and his booming gurrburroomm in Gajapati Kulapati Gurrburroomm  (http://thebookmark.in/home/1449-gajapati-kulapati-gurrburrrrooom-english.html) after consuming tonnes of food, it is now time to see Gajapati leap and splash around in water in Gajapati Kulapati Kalabalooosh! (Hindi) . The book has been translated into simple-to-understand Hindi. So what happens when a jumbo takes that giant leap into the water? A comical scene describing where all the animals and kids (who come to cool off in the village pond) land right after the naughty jumbo decides to take a plunge in the cool waters. Tiny tots will fall in love with the cute illustrations by Ashok Rajagopalan. His narrative’s repetitive and rhythmic format helps take the story forward and describes each character’s reactions in detail. One can almost imagine oneself as a cha