Posts

Posted on

#BlogchatterA2Z A – what to and what not to

Qualities in A
Qualities in A

The letter A has a lot of qualities that describe a person say affectionate , adaptable, attentive, agreeable and so on. A also has anger , annoying and arrogance which we should also teach them how.it would sound and how people with those qualities are often not preferred.

What to teach

Affectionate – Affection is often termed as physical expression of feeling. Most oftenly this particular quality is most evident and is clearly seen when showering love to infants. This affection often is directly proportional to the development we see in infants. More of affection sure is to help them grow in a loving environment. Also helps in their well being. When being shown affection, they also learn that it is good too be affectionate towards fellow beings.

Adaptable – Being adaptable is the adjusting nature of the individual. Bringing up the toddler in a way that they are capable of adjusting be it the place or the facilities available is a great trait. Kids these days should have this trait that makes it easier for them to survive when they have to experience change in what they are usually exposed to.

Attentive – Being attentive makes shrewd and aware of what is happening. Attention to details is even more better. This would make them be alert in all situations.

Agreeable – Being agreeable means the ability to be pleasing. It can also be taken that the child is pleasant to accepting changes or decisions.

What not to teach

Anger – one such quality where a person looses temper and erupts. This has to be corrected during initial stages for the child. The child when doesn’t agree to certain things needs to be explained patiently rather than having to say that they are angry.

Annoying- Annoying behaviour is termed as certain verbal or physical expression that isn’t liked or doesn’t seem to be pleasant. A child cannot be allowed to do something verbally or physically that causes displeasure to others.

Arrogance – Being arrogant is being firm in what they stand though they’re aware that it isn’t fair. The child should be able decide or deduce what is right and what is wrong at least at their level of maturity and agree to it rather than standing to support something that is not right.

The above said could be taught at various stages and not at one shot. It takes time.

Posted on

#blogchatterA2Z Theme reveal . A to Z of what to and what not to teach toddlers

Teaching your toddler
Teaching your toddler

Bringing up a child involves a lot of effort not only from the parents but also the people whom the child interacts during early years.

I’m still in the phase of bringing up my toddler step by step but life did have other plans that destiny wants me to refine the tuning i did in bringing up baby number one. Yes I’m expecting baby number two in the next few days and I hope I get to complete this challenge as well.

Coming to what I was initially writing yes bringing up the toddler is not always an easy task that just requires you to read out from a manual and do as it says.

What works for someone might not work for you. But the qualities or traits you wish to imbibe in them can be done if bring practiced from the very beginning.

The same goes with my posts as well. I’m not going to be writing about how you bring up kids and what to do. Rather, I’d just list out the qualities or traits that we could wish to cultivate in them and if they do, you’d be satisfied and take a comfortable seat watching them grow up and handle the challenges and situations life throws at them.

I’d be writing about the qualities in each alphabet and their benefits on how it would help mould them.

Posted on

Book review : Thirteen kinds of love

BLURB
A child cares for a family of pigeons nesting in his balcony; is his parents’ relationship as diseased as the illness ravaging the baby pigeons? A man mulls over desire engendered by love and that which springs from mere lust. A couple confesses to the reader the reasons for the widening chasm between them. An intricate mesh of relationships and lives, Thirteen Kinds of Love follows the fortunes of several families living and working in an apartment block in Mumbai. This is a book about loving and losing, about trying to redeem oneself, about attempts to remake and refashion what has been torn asunder. Soumya Bhattacharya draws the reader into the narrative using his deeply evocative, distinctive prose. This is an astute exploration of how we live and love today.

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher : HarperCollins India

Book length : 200

MY REVIEW

A collection of thirteen short stories that are compiled and held together by a common thread. As the title goes the stories are themed around love. This is not specifically romance but the kind of relationship that sprouts up at different situations in life.

The common thread is that all the characters in the book live in a posh apartment in Mumbai, Imperial heights. A maid who works in these houses what would her thoughts be on, knowing the truth in each family in the midst of her married life which is already in a turmoil.

The narration and the choice of words used by the author make it an interesting read. The story is in the form of emails or text exchanges between the characters which makes it different from other short story collection.

The author glides with the narration and the transition from one story to another with such ease that makes you understand that even though the characters are residing in the same apartment there is a slight difference in the way of intertwining with each other since each of the houses have a different story. If it’s a widower bringing up her son , being an interest for someone else, or a husband trying to get back from his wife’s loss or a son who is to handle the separation from his parents who are divorced from mutual consent it all circles back to love. The magical word that could keep us together or could even take us far from the ones we love.

A special mention to the cover simple, yet captivating and makes you want to pick it up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soumya Bhattacharya is the author of five previous books of fiction, non-fiction and memoir. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald and Granta, among others. He is the managing editor at Hindustan Times and lives in New Delhi.

This book review is part of the blogchatter book review program.

Posted on

Holiday camp 2019 by British Council

Children these days are not only required to be academically proficient but also would need an all round development.

This Christmas vacation give them a gift of grasping life skills, they will thank you forever. The British Council in Chennai, has come up with Holiday camp for children aged 7-14 years.

The short term courses are designed to equip them with 21st century life skills which focus on overall personality development through hands on English learning.

People who regularly visit the British Council, would know about the safe and children friendly place, they have to offer that any kid would be ready to become a bibliophile.

These courses are spread over a duration of 4 days from 27- 30 December. Each day comprising a 2 hour learning and half an hour of activity supporting the same.

A specialised curriculum that is designed to increase retention and learner output through Interactive modules that are personalized is definitely something useful that each and every child needs to learn.

What would the child learn ??

✔️ Gain confidence in English
✔️ Enable and enhance their creative thinking through fun activities
✔️ Critical and problem solving skill enhancement
✔️ Cultivate a love for collaborative learning

The course is structured at 5000/- for non-members and at a 15% discounted amount of 4250/- for the members.

Janaka Pushpanathan, the head of South council briefed us about the camp and also about British council Chennai. The session was interactive, engaging and I found that she was open for including newer suggestions during discussion that could be added to the programs they currently offer.

The library tour later by their staff Mr. Vallavan was great , which showed us the different sections the campus offered to different age groups.

A cultural hub that now has something for everyone not only offers books but also conducts learning events.


Other initiatives for young learners

  • Reading challenge – This year the theme was space for kids to choose books and read from.
  • Courses like summer programme, primary plus were conducted in partnership with aardman animation.
  • Many events for primary and secondary schools planned in future.

Initiatives in the library

  • Art of storytelling – Nuances of powerful storytelling being taught through workshops by UK storytellers.
  • Talks, workshop, poetry – for different age groups.
  • An upcoming fair for those aspiring to study in UK.

If you are looking to get yourself a membership , the book lovers would find this place as a haven having access to

Physical library

  • Unlimited access to best selling authors book and award winning accomplishment.
  • Booker prize collection of last 50 years
  • Book clubs
  • DVDs


Online library

  • Access to 16000 comics and graphic novels
  • 1800 plus audio books.
Posted on

Review of Our Song by Milan Vohra

BLURB
‘People will leave. Even the good ones do. The music will stay.’ This is what life has taught Ragini. A struggling music composer who left the world of Hindustani classical music in Delhi to do her own kind of music in Bangalore, Ragini is impulsive, emotional and often a little lost. The typical creative type – or so Andrew thinks. The head honcho at a mega Pharma company, Andrew is half-British, half-Indian and a full-on ‘propah’ pain. Even if he’s gorgeous. The typical corporate type – or so Ragini thinks. He needs her to compose a song for the company’s silver jubilee. She needs him (well, just his project really) to be able to keep doing her music. They can definitely do without the sparks they set off in each other. Or the highs and lows and all the conflicting notes that being together seems to bring. Because love is off the table for him. And music is her only love. Can two stubborn people from such different worlds ever find harmony together?

BOOK DETAILS

Publisher : HarperCollins India

Pages : 240

MY REVIEW

First of all the cover gives you a great impression about the book and never gives you a second opinion of choosing the book.
Secondly it combines two good elements music and romance into a good amalgamation.
Loved how both contrast characters need to come together for the project.
Ragini who wants to continue music and Andy who wants her to compose a song for the silver jubilee of his pharmaceutical company.
Loved how Milan vohra weaved both the characters.
A fast paced , witty plot that’s sure to keep you engaged with reading the book.
The romance has been penned in a not so cheesy way that’s another feature that stands out .
Loved the way how the author kept the language simple but has given a great book. A sure to entertain read that could unfold itself as a feature film before your mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Milan Vohra is an advertising consultant and also Mills & Boon’s first Indian romance author.

This review is part of blogchatter book review program.

Posted on

#childrensday Things I learnt from my child

Quite often we take kids just as they are. They are often considered as cute cuddly play things and a little human.

We fail to notice them as little humans with heart and mind just as us elders. They do have things to teach us. Yes you heard me right. Things that might help us see the world in a different perspective, a different notion of what we used to perceive is been taught to us through them.

A lot of things which I grew up watching now seem different and a whole new window through what she sees the exact same things as I did. Though it might be the same things to me and my parents, the way it’s been described and being approached by my daughter makes things even more merrier.

A small simple thing like the sun rising or the cock waking us up with a cock a doodle doo might seem like a usual phenomenon to me. But waking up to these things with so much excitement to peep from the windows and look at the hens and chicks and ask why do they make noises that early and who makes them sleep early raises the question in our minds too. Many a times she makes me think deeply on why I didn’t come up with them . Or maybe I was destined to be asked these by my daughter.

Thoughts like why should I not eat with my left hand. The only thought that’s being said is that you eat with your hands why not the left is a question we found it slightly difficult to answer. I strongly believe in not making her change but to accept her as she is.

Making them learn colouring just the way we see things is something like tying up their imaginative horses. Colouring them differently gives their imagination a new perspective. Not only that also a fresh feel to us who are used to seeing things in the same routine way.

How the sun sets Eve and the moon rising up to light up the night sky, was brought another new thing that the sun went home to rest and moon has come to relieve it. Certain things needs to be done only when the sun is out brought up such awe in me.

I really enjoy this beautiful journey of me learning things all the way in a new manner and just to take a break from our routine lives and start thinking their way.

Makes me realize life was much more fun when we were kids.

The children’s Day blog train is hosted by http://www.prernawahi.com and http://www.vartikasdiary.com.

Posted on

Review of The speaking stone

BLURB

Mumbai, December 2016: A young man found an ancient-looking piece of stone with strange images and Sanskrit inscriptions. A quest to know the origin of the stone brought him to the distant part of the country. Chandannagar, December 2016: A young vivacious historian woman read an old book on a century-old secret story about a little known part of the country. Her curiosity got the better of her as the book disappeared mysteriously before she could complete it. She reached a sleepy quaint state of the country to satiate her curiosity. Eventually they both met and their search began from the city museum to a far-flung rock mountain which revealed a century-old story of a seductive danseuse, her enigmatic lover, a string of her admirers, a painter with a photographic memory, a bird that could speak in many voices, a benevolent king and a gruesome conspiracy. And the most important clue to decode the final secret was with the missing part of The Speaking Stone But in the process of unearthing old secrets their lives were also in danger… To know more read… The Speaking Stone

MY REVIEW

A historic fiction that keeps you glued till the end. Loved how the author kept varying the narration between two periods.

Saikat, a rich boy who loves to spend comes across a vendor on the roadside selling artifacts. He is taken aback by a half stone that the vendor was selling and decides to buy.
Upon further research comes to know that it has ancient history and wants to find out the remaining part.
The stone traces its origin to Tripura. Shuvasini , a girl who is also researching ancient history is fascinated by Tripura’s ancient discoveries.
She along with Saikat decide to find the mystery behind the stone. The stone belongs to ancient period and involves story with a King , danseuse and many more.
The stone has various scriptures which are to reveal much more information about the ancient period.

The narration was simple and lucid and keeps suspense till the end. A very good plot equally supported by good illustrations and narration makes it a great read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ratnadip Acharya is the author of two successful novels, Life is Always Aimless… Unless you love it and Paradise Lost & Regained. He is a columnist for the Speaking Tree in The Times of India. He contributed many write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Sophia and son, Akash. He can be contacted via the following channels Website: http://www.ratnadipacharya.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheRatnadip Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ratnadip.acharya.5, Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ratnadipacharya Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RatnadipAcharya

Posted on

Review of Izzy’s magical football adventure

BOOK DETAILS
Target Age: Children 7+

Genre: Sports / Female Sports

Tour Dates: 12th – 16th October 2019

Publication Date: 16th September 2019

Formats available: Mobi, Epub or Paperbacks

Standalone story

BLURB

Izzy is a seven-year-old girl who lives in Ireland and loves all sport, especially Gaelic Football.

She has three brothers, David, Patrick and Robert.

Izzy plays football with her brothers on a regular basis in their back garden and dreams of playing for her county in the All Ireland Ladies Football Final in Croke Park when she is older.

One day, Izzy puts on her great grandmother’s bracelet, which is made of old All Ireland medals that her great grandmother won a long time ago, and something unexpected and magical happens, which may make Izzy’s Croke Park dream a reality sooner than she expected…………….

This book is aimed at readers from age seven onwards starting to read independently. It is based around the themes of promoting strong girls, encouraging girls to play sport and girl’s ability to play sport at a high level, while also having a fun magical theme. It is 32 pages long, about 1,700 words and has lots of lovely illustrations.

REVIEW :

A very short read picture book that sure is to be useful and be giving goals for all ages though it mentions the age as 7+.

Izzy a little girl who loves the ball and has dreams of being a good player. A book that helps you by giving the push to follow your dreams and live up your goal.

She puts on her great grandmother’s bracelet which has medals from all over Ireland that she had won. What Izzy didn’t know was that she would be transported to a magical world of future of what would her life be like if she followed her goals.

We all have dreams and aspirations but do we all live up to it or take efforts. This bok telling you the story of Izzy will definitely make you think on that point. A great book for little readers and for everyone with a dream.

About Emma Larkin

My name is Emma Larkin, and I am the founder of “Emma Larkin Books” and “Rebel in Kerry Press”. I have recently written and published my first book “Izzy’s Magical Football Adventure”, and I hope to write many more books about Izzy and her adventures in sport. As may be evident from the name of my publishing imprint, I am a “Rebel in Kerry”! This means that I am originally from County Cork in Ireland, which is known as the Rebel County, but I moved to Kerry (another county in Ireland which neighbours Cork) in 2006 and have been happily living in Kerry since then, with my husband and four children. My husband is a Kerry native and we live in North Kerry, near Listowel, where my husband is from, and is an area which is rich is literary history!

Posted on

Book review of creative writing skills by Lexi rees

Discover the secrets to becoming an amazing author
Find your creative spark
Grow your skills and confidence
Have more fun with your writing
Packed with top tips, this awesome workbook has everything you need to know about creating colourful characters, perfect plots, dynamite dialogue, and lots more …

Purchase links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Writing-Skills-activities-children/dp/1872889247
US – https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Writing-Skills-activities-children/dp/1872889247

Author Bio –
Lexi Rees writes action packed adventures for children. As well as the Creative Writing Skills workbook, the first book in The Relic Hunters Series, Eternal Seas, was awarded a “loved by” badge from LoveReading4Kids and is currently longlisted for a Chanticleer award. The sequel, Wild Sky, will be published in November.

When not writing, she’s usually covered in straw or glitter, and frequently both.

She also runs a free club for kids designed to encourage a love of reading and writing which you can check out here https://lexirees.co.uk/kidsclub/

Social Media Links –

Website https://lexirees.co.uk/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LexiAuthor/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lexi_rees

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexi.rees/

Win 2 copies of Creative Writing Skills –
Choice of paperback or pdf for UK winners and pdf for international winners.
https://kingsumo.com/g/gw6isv/creative-writing-skills-workbook

MY REVIEW

A complete guide that helps you kickstart with creative writing. Starting with the vey basics to what is required by a complete professional the book explains each and every requirement in detail that is needed to make you a good writer with exceptional creative writing skills.

Character building, naming, description, the basics of characters firm the initial chapter.

Proceeding to description, settings, plans , themes the author goes on to explain the other needed elements in consecutive chapters.

Finally concluding with voices , dialogue and story quotes which are other equally important factors covered in the end chapters.

But what makes this the perfect guide is the number of activities that are provided in the chapters that make you exhibit your clear understanding of the subject.

Overall a great book not only for kids but also for adults as well.

Posted on

Review of words from my window: A journal by Ruskin bond #myfriendalexa

BLURB
I need a window to look at the world without; for only then can I look at the world within. A room without a window is rather like a prison cell, and the soul is inclined to shrivel up in a confined space. … Car horns, children calling to each other as they return from school, a boy selling candyfloss, several crows chasing a hawk! Never a dull moment. And the magic mountain looks on, absorbing everything.

MY REVIEW

Ruskin bond, a personal favourite right from childhood, and was a fan moment when I got the journal words from my window. 📝 A lovely collection of all his thoughts from the various windows that have shown the author some picturesque views.
📝Some that show busy streets, some on the roof with a top view, some opening to wide mountains. 📝They all have played a major part on influencing his writings which we have been reading in the past.
📝 Complete collection of a number of short verses and lovely watercolor painting to support them hand in hand.
📝A cherished possession for all Ruskin bond fans and a wonderful gift to anyone who loves books and picturesque views.
📝Loved the note signed by the author that left a personal touch.
📝The lined pages that give you a feel to compile some of our own experiences is definitely making the book a special one to combine memories from his and our lives together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruskin Bond’s first novel, The Room on the Roof, written when he was seventeen, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written a number of novellas (including Vagrants in the Valley, A Flight of Pigeons and Mr Oliver’s Diary), essays, poems and children’s books, many of which have been published by Penguin Books. He has also written over 500 short stories and articles that have appeared in magazines and anthologies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Ruskin was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, and grew up in Jamnagar, Dehradun, New Delhi and Simla. As a young man, he spent four years in the Channel Islands and London. He returned to India in 1955. He now lives in Landour, Mussoorie, with his adopted family.

Dan Williams (Illustrator)
Dan Williams lives and works in London. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1989 he has worked with many distinguished clients in the publishing world. In 2018 Dan illustrated a short prose poem by Khaled Hosseini entitled Sea Prayer. An emotional response to the current refugee crisis, it has since gone on to receive international acclaim.

I am taking my blog to the next level with blogchatter’s #myfriendalexa.