Kids Book Review: Ninja Nani Series

A few years ago, we decided to buy only books as gifts for my Dubai based Sisters kids. As with most kids living in Dubai, there is no toy or dress that we can buy that they can’t find in Dubai or the extensive list of countries they travel to. Even with books, the Geranimo Stilton’s get guzzled down easily. But finding books that are set in India and have meaningful messages but at the same time are interesting become a tough find! In addition to the above if you want a series then there is very little choice.

In one of those treasure hunts for books with all of the above criteria, we came across the Ninja Nani series by Lavanya Karthik. Our 3 year old has a Pratham title from the same book, so we decided to give it a shot

Deepu and his Nani live under the same roof, but hardly know each other as people.  This is not uncommon, elders are supposed to be venerated and kids are supposed to be impish. We rarely transcend the boundaries that these narrow role definitions confer on us. 

There is a fight for the remote over cookery show vs a Ninja Dragon MoriMori show. Suddenly Grandma is transformed into a Ninja Nani and flies out of the window. Deepu follows and thus begins an adventure. Through the course of the adventure, they get to know each other more and surprisingly Deepu becomes the conscience keeper while Nani tends to show off her super powers even more.

The language is simple and it can be easily introduced to an 8-year-old kid.  But I believe it can it can be read by anybody. Here is a confession; every adult in our house read it too!  The illustrations are beautiful and capture the spirit of the book and make it a fun read. If only they were in color!

Since this is a super hero series set in India, it is almost unparalleled. There are three books in the series and fourth in the making. We love the fact that it is set in small town India, Gadbadnagar, beautifully capturing the spirit of an Indianan small town. Our nephews both love super hero series. We hit the jackpot! What is even better is that our nephews’ Grandmother has just started living with them. We thought it might be a great opportunity to make them bond with her more! 

We highly recommend it for kids who have a penchant for guzzling superhero stories. (I have read all Geranimo Stiltons! Now what!) . Since winter break is almost here, these could be a good pick for the season 

Role Models & Attitude Portrayal: 5/5 ( In fact we recommend this book, because it explores the way Grandparents and Grandchildren relate to each other)

Educational Value: NA

Age Band - broad band : 8+ years

Publisher : Duckbill books Written & Illustrated By: Lavanya Karthik

Books in the series:

Ninja Nani & The Bumbling Burglars

Ninja Nani & The Zapped Zombie Kids

Ninja Nani & The Mad Mummy Mix - up

About the Reviewer:

G.K. :  City Dweller, Nature Lover| Father to an 4 year old|  Avid Reader| Loves to watch and Play Cricket| Day Job at a Start Up

Kids Book Review: The Cat in the Ghat

Living in a city, I feel a deep urge to take nature breaks to recharge my batteries. Many years ago, when we were trekking in the southern Western Ghats, we saw a very different cat. Having grown up in the region, I figured that we were very lucky that day.  Because we may well have seen Pogeyan, the legendary cat that comes and goes like the mist.  We were elated. We were lucky enough to have seen it! Many who live close to the jungle had not been this privileged. 

When I came across the children’s book , “the cat in the ghat”  Kids Book Reviews quite by chance at a bookstore, I decided to pick it up .  This is a story of a wildlife photographer, Sandesh Kadur, in search of the cat Pogeyan. 

Sandy, always the dreamer, had seen the Pogeyan once in his life and decides to revisit the Western Ghats to photograph it. Along the journey, he meets fascinating animals. The Bengal Tiger, nonchalant, about another cat, since he is the Top Cat  .  The herd of Asian elephants who promise him that they hadn’t seen the cat. The Lion Tailed Macaque who guides him to the location of Nasikabatrachus  ( yes it’s a real species ) . This strange creature with a stranger sounding name guides him to a man who has seen the Pogeyan .  Sandy meets Krishna; does Krishna guide him to the Cat?  Read the book to find out.

The narration of the story is funny and many of the sentences rhyme. The accompanying illustrations are quirky and they beautifully support the narrative style. This is a great book to buy for kids who like animals and nature!

Educational Value: 5/5

Age Band - broad band : 7+ years

Publisher : Pratham Written By: Ambika Rao  Illustrated by : Ruchi Shah

About the Reviewer:

G.K. :  City Dweller, Nature Lover| Father to an 5 year old|  Avid Reader| Loves to watch and Play Cricket| Day Job at a Start Up

Children's Day 2018

Children's Day is celebrated across India to increase awareness of the rights, care and education of children. It is celebrated on 14 November every year on the birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru also called 'Chacha Nehru'.

The nation is celebrating the 130th birth anniversary of the first prime minister of independent India, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. Pt Nehru, who was born on November 14, 1889, was known for his love for children and was fondly called Chacha Nehru. He once said: “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country”.

Before 1964, Children’s day was celebrated in India on November 20, which was observed as the universal Children’s Day by the United Nations. But after Nehru’s death in 1964, the nation decided to celebrate his birthday as Bal Diwas (Children’s Day) to honour his memory.

On the birth anniversary of the great Chacha Nehru whose love and chemistry with children was unparalleled, introduce your child to one of the most historical speeches made by him.

Learn More: https://www.ekdali.com/product/education-posters-charts-history-independence-day-speech
#ChildrensDay #Poster

Book Review: Stories From Kathasaritsagara

Kathasaritsagara is a collection of 11thcentury India Fairy Tales and legends retold in Sanskrit by SomaDeva.  It means “ The Ocean of Stories” and rightly so because there are 18 books with about 124 chapters each.  Stories are themed around love, loss, intrigue, bravery and wisdom. 

“ Stories from Kathasaritsagara” by Devika Rangachari are a collection of 10 of the best from this vast ocean of stories. They have been retold in a simple and lucid manner in simple English.

The first story is about a man called Putraka who founded the city of Pataliputra. The plot is filled with twists and turns. Putraka escapes an assassination attempt by his own father. He comes in possession of magic flying shoes, a vessel that makes food on its own and stick that can bring to life whatever one writes with it. Putraka falls in love with a princess Patali and creates the city of Pataliputra in her honor.

Sample another one. The Abandoned Children about the story of how a brother and sister are lost in a forest and what becomes of them. This is an Indian version of the much more recent Fairy Tale Hansel and Gretel.

As with any work of literature pre-dating our times, if the book is to be read to a younger audience, parents might have to modify it a little and suit it to context. But, for older kids the stories can be read as is,  and will provide a great insight into the cultural ethos of the time and place they were set in. Some stories have a moral take away, some don’t. But the plots are almost always twisted and the kids are likely to read through it as it will be pique their curiosity.

Buy your copy at just INR 88 here

Educational Value: 5/5

Role Models & Attitude Portrayal: 4/5 ( Characters have to be given a leeway because they are part of a different social context)

Age Band - broad band : 12+ years

Publisher : CBT

Retold by : Devika Rangachari

About the Reviewer:

Roomana Basha: Mother to a book lover  | Founder and CEO ekdali.com | Loves books - Currently reading Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick | Fitness Freak | History Buff