A few recommendations for children’s books, from my personal bookshelf. See any favorites?
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(Bottom to top)
The Dog Who Lost His Bark by Eoin Colfer
A gorgeous, pencil-illustrated book that shows why pets should not be bought, but adopted. An entertaining and moving story that drives the point home.
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle – a fantasy-adventure novel which is a great introduction to sci-fi, for young readers. It’s not my favourite genre but this book is nothing short of terrific!
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson-
A coming-of-age adventure book you won’t forget in a hurry. Themes of fantasy, young love and coping with tragedy, make it a compelling read.
‘Malgudi‘ and ‘The maneater of Malgudi’ by RK Narayan – The television series based on this fictional village was the reason why I picked up my first book as a child. It’s been the biggest influence on my writing and I can’t recommend it enough for RK Narayan’s inimitable style and storytelling.
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie – Soon after the fatwa in his name for writing Satanic Verses, Rushdie surprised the world with his first children’s novel- an allegorical book that explores contemporary issues in the world while drawing on classic fantasy tales.
Rain in the Mountains by Ruskin Bond
A collection of stories that have a way of connecting with the reader beyond the barriers of age- by one of my favorite writers, whom I have the privilege of calling a mentor!
‘Kim’ and ‘Just so stories’ by Rudyard Kipling.
Kim – a story set in Imperial India, is one of my favorite reads from the Nobel prize-winning author, Rudyard Kipling. The intriguing characters and exciting plot make for a book that’s unputdownable- even for adults.
‘Just So stories’ is a collection of delightful tales with Kipling’s signature wit. A must-read for younger children, to exercise their imagination and develop a keen sense of humor.