Tag: thatmadrasmom

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

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

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.
Posted on

Review of N for Nourish by Pooja Makhija #myfriendalexa

BLURB

Do you know why eating right is so important? Because it’s food that makes you zip through classes, tear across the football field or win that game of chess. The right diet influences your mood, your thoughts and even your ability to have fun.
With the aid of innovative models and striking visuals, this book will help you understand the components of a healthy diet, what makes the five fingers of nutrition (and how they turn into a power-packed punch) and the importance of sleep, water and exercise in your day-to-day life. Not only does this contain the ABCs of nutrition but also a series of amazing facts about how food can change your life.
N for Nourish will make you look at yourself and what you eat in an absolutely new light!

Review

MY REVIEW

Been a fan of her after eat delete and eat delete junior.
Was eagerly waiting for N for nourish.
First thing when I got my hands in this. I knew I could have solutions for fuzzy eating problems.
🍉 Five fingers of nutrition – Carbohydrates ( simple and complex) , vitamins,minerals, proteins and fats . The chapter describing the importance of each element and how to be consumed.
🍒How to eat -Making fist( meal having five fingers), eating at home, every two hours, to know the friends(categorising food as friends) great concept of classification. Knowing right proportions to eat.
🍓What happens when- the I’ll effects of skipping breakfast, too much of junk or sugar consumption, not having good sleep, not having enough water , not doing much of exercise.
🍑the food world and the food alter egos – talks about environmental exposure to food.
🍊- eating for future – talks about eating for exams, sports happiness.
🍇H for help- explains about the nutritional facts and the food labels that explain them.
🥥On the whole a book that teaches you goodness of food and also ill effects of having junk and sugary foods. The exercises at the end make the book even more interesting.
Loved the colorful illustrations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pooja spends most of her time telling adults what to eat-adults like Shahid Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor. But she also counsels children like you and her two daughters, who are about your age. She teaches children about the wonder and magic of food, and she finds that giving them the right tools at the right time helps them reap lifelong benefits. And even though she’s strict about her kids eating right, she is-by her own account-a fun person to live with. Pooja resides in Mumbai but eats everywhere.

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

Review of Ginormous Joe – book 1 & 2 #myfriendalexa

About The Ginormous Series

Through The Ginormous Series children learn how to communicate their problems and work through their feelings. Loving, engaging adventures that follow pets discussing their ‘life handling’ problems and how they solve them together.

In ‘Ginormous Jo’s Silly Bullies’, ‘Ginormous Jo’s Welcoming Arms’, ‘Ginormous Jo’s You Are Special’, ‘Ginormous Joe’s Broken Bark’ and ‘Ginormous Joe’s Annoying Friend’ the animals chat about lots of ‘stuff’. Bullying, recycling, welcoming new members to a family or classroom, feeling alone, listening, learning and caring for others. A great addition to any child’s home or teacher’s read-aloud library. Encouraging thought-provoking conversation between adult and child.

Series Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RN8JY24/
US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RS4XLVN/

Ginormous Joe’s Broken Bark

by S C Cunningham
Illustrations by Scarlett Raven & S C Cunningham

Can a dog be saved by the love of a family?

Can he find his bark to save them from the local thief?

Meet Joe. He’s got the worst owner that dumps him by the road where he is found by the Tuttle family. They take him in, even though he has no bark at all. But he is a very large dog which should help protect the family from the recent break-ins around the neighborhood. But Joe loves to sleep. He stretches out and snores loud, barking while he dreams of chasing rabbits. He just can’t bark while he is awake
.
Will he save the family when a burglar enters the house? Will Joe find his bark to warn them in time?
This delightful story is the first of a series of stories featuring Ginormous Joe. It shows how he becomes part of the Tuttle family. It’s a great read-aloud for families that have recently got a dog and teaches a lesson on how everyone has a purpose.

REVIEW

It’s always great to have a dog as a pet. The amount of love they show on you, the care they take , the little tail wagging as a sign of gratitude all that makes your heart chirpy.

One such story here in this book is that Joe here is a cute , white fluffy dog. Initially with nasty Nik, who doesn’t care a bit for the dog eventhough how much love the dog shows on him. One fine day Nasty Nik drops him off on the highway. Joe unable to react due to the shock. He loses his bark. Nasty Nik mocks at this and leaves.

Joe is devastated and goes on without food water and struggles which is when the Tuttle family finds him and decide to keep him

Joe is best friends with Mary, the little girl but they do not feel bad that he cannot bark. Mrs Tuttle is happy that Joe will be a good watch dog eventhough he doesn’t bark. Will he save the day ? What happens ?

A lovely tale for the little ones. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I’m sure the little kids will also do.

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005U5EAL0/
US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005U5EAL0/

Ginormous Joe’s Annoying Friend

Written & Illustrated
by S C Cunningham

Do you have a child that has trouble talking to people? Or expressing their feelings?

Here is a story about dogs with the problem of communicating their feelings, and how they solve it together. The Tuttles enjoy walking their dog, Ginormous Joe. But one day, they bring home a new friend, another dog named Mo. Joe and Mo don’t seem to hit it off. She is always ignoring him and not wanting to play. One day, Joe realizes that all he needed to do was reach out and talk. This gave Mo a chance to tell him why she never would play with him. She was shy. The awkwardness between them evaporates, and they become friends, all from finally being brave enough to tell each other their feelings.

This is a great book to show children how to communicate to solve their problems and work through their feelings. It will make a great addition to any child’s home collection or teacher’s read-aloud library.

MY REVIEW :

A good book that shows importance of communication, eventhough if it’s between dogs. Communication plays key role in conveying emotions at the right time.

Joe is the sole owner of all the love at Tuttle’s home. But when aunt decides to go away on a trip, Mo makes her entry which makes Joe sad that he has competition.

Mo tries to impress him in every possible way, but to Joe it appears as interference. So he wishes that she goes away sooner.

But he soon changes his mind and wishes for her to comeback sooner. What incident made him think that way ? Read on…

I loved the illustrations and brief narration which was easy to comprehend.

Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RCZH6TJ
US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RCZH6TJ

About S C Cunningham

Owning 3dogs and a cat, Cunningham normally writes suspense thrillers. As respite from her crime novels, she creates children’s picture books, each with a theme to gently teach our precious young, and help open up conversation. The Ginormous Series is based on Cunningham’s beloved family pets – Joe, Muttley, Dali (Jo), Tom and Vinnie.

She is an ex-model, British born of Irish roots that married a rock musician and has worked in the exciting worlds of music, film, sports celebrity management and as a Crime Investigator and Intelligence Analyst for the Police. She supports causes for: Veterans, MH, Child and Animal Protection.

Social Media Links –
WEB
https://www.sccunningham.com/the-ginormous-series-by-s-c-cunningham.php

TWITTER
@sccunningham8
@ginormousjoe

FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/pg/GinormousSeries/posts/

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

Posted on

Review of Dear people, with love and care your doctors #myfriendalexa

BLURB

From time immemorial, medicine has remained one of the most respected professions. Trust formed the unshakeable foundation of the doctor-patient relationship and, for long, doctors were treated next to God.
In recent times, though, this sacred relationship is suffering from an erosion of faith. We often hear discouraging stories of doctors being abused and hospitals vandalised. The narrative is gradually turning negative-a dismal reality for both doctors and patients. We tend to forget that there are many great things happening in the medical world. Today, we are living much longer, we have managed to eradicate many diseases, we have vaccines that prevent our children from dying, life-saving surgeries are being performed while the baby is still in the womb, and we can give the gift of life to someone by transplanting vital organs. Medical miracles are happening every day in hospitals worldwide.

This book is a collection of heartfelt stories by doctors and patients from across the globe. These are stories of triumph, empathy, positivity, loss and, sometimes, failure. It goes one step ahead and captures the experience of people who surround a doctor-the mother of a doctor, a surgeon’s husband and an acid attack survivor-stories that underline that a doctor too is a human being after all. Human resilience can often break barriers, and these stories serve as inspiration to both patients and doctors alike.

Riveting and absolutely unputdownable, Dear Peoplegives an inside view of the world of medicine and hopes to inspire millions to retain faith in this beautiful relationship.

MY REVIEW

📝They say we should never hide things from the doctor and lawyer. A gentle caring relationship is the one between a doctor and a patient. It is only when we open up, the doctor gets the know the complete issue and can help us heal better.
📝A book that gives you a complete picture of what is the day to day life of doctors and view of the scenario from a patient’s point of view. The book will definitely change the way we look at the medical profession.
📝The number of experiences compiled into a single book gives you a clear picture of how each case is handled by the doctors. Some give you the glimpse of struggle, some about new discovery and some about hope.
📝A number of medical terms could be learned from reading through each chapter. The lovely drawings that also give you a glimpse from the patient view.
📝A number of quotes at the beginning of each chapter makes it even interesting. Not only that in order to increase the knowledge of the reader we even have a section that gives you a did you know?
📝A compilation of 34 distinct stories from doctors of different fields of medicine, this is sure to change your perspective of the doctors.
📝The narration and language are lucid and simple making it easy to comprehend. A good book that gives you a whole new perspective of doctors and some experiences that sure would leave you emotional.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Debraj Shome is a surgeon, specialising in facial plastic surgery and facial cosmetic surgery. He is the co-founder and director at The Esthetic Clinics, which has multiple centres across India. Known for his breakthrough innovations in facial plastic surgery, Dr Shome has received many awards. He has more than 55 research papers written in top peer-reviewed international publications along with a US patent to his credit for inventing the QR 678 hair growth formulation. He was the first recipient from Asia and the youngest globally to be awarded the prestigious Davies Foundation Grant Award by the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow, in 2010. Besides clinical work, Dr Shome is the Director of the Debabrata Auro Foundation.

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker is a bariatric and laparoscopic general surgeon and practises in the city of Mumbai. She is associated with Global, Currae, Namaha, Suchak and Apollo group of hospitals. She has multiple publications and numerous book chapters to her credit. She is the managing committee member of several surgical societies and has a keen interest in clinical research. She is the co-founder of Debabrata Auro Foundation.

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

Posted on

Review of sometimes it happens #myfriendalexa

BLURB

What happens when two adults with a vast age difference fall in love?
Gautam is a twenty-five-year-old upcoming professional and Roshni, a senior management member working in the same multinational bank. More than a decade apart in age, they cannot help but feel attracted towards each other.
However, can two people with such a vast age difference be compatible?
Sometimes It Happens explores the fun and turmoil as they fall in love, get laughed at by their friends and then develop cold feet, thinking about the repercussions their age difference could have on their relationship.
They say love is blind. So, will two smart professionals decide to listen to their hearts or will they listen to their mind to avert what may be the biggest blunder of their lives?

MY REVIEW

We know that love is blind. The whole wide world we live in revolves around it. We also know that it is beyond defining boundaries.
The boundary could be religion, region, caste, creed , nationality or whatsoever. But this is an era where we have seen instances of even age and gender not being a subject of doubt.
This story is about a guy(Gautam) ,who falls in love with Roshni of 37 years.
Gautam informs Rohit about this, who explains reality of what would happen because of the age difference, which doesn’t convince him.
Though both are in love they still do have their doubts about acceptance of their relationship by parents.
What would the society be reacting for such kind of situations? Will they be accepted ? What are the challenges they face are clearly explained? I loved the way of writing and narration from the author.
I realised this is a good filmy scripting material.
A good plot that makes people look into the perspective of being open minded about these kind of relationships.
Book bring medium paced and with an interesting story line is a short read. However I felt that the cover could have been better.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After more than twenty years of working in a highly successful and popular family business in the interiors industry, Karan decided it was time to get into writing fiction books – an idea that came up when he saw his son having so much fun reading. It rekindled a latent passion for writing that he had developed during his college days.
Karan is a commerce graduate and a battle-hardened businessman. His other passions include both playing and watching cricket and football, as well as being an avid traveller.

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