There are many books from our book shelf which we keep going back to and read them again and again. There is one such book, which we have been reading over the last year and a half, ‘My Name is not Alexander’, never can get enough of it.
The book cover
I love books where the mummy is missing from the plot and the daddy is independently taking care of the child. This causes a stir in Dhruv’s mind and out pops up the question every time, “Where could be his mummy?” This leads us to explore the various possibilities with the mummy being dead (he is 5 but accepts death comfortably as long as it is not occurring in family), could have gone to work or office, could have gone to her mother’s place, could have gone for yoga class and so on. Therefore, I am fond of this book too since it is about a boy named Alexander and his interactions with his father during one whole day.
The concept of this book is ‘Just how big can a little kid dream’. Each time Alexander’s father asks him to do a task, Alexander goes back in time into the American history and comes up with a name of a great person who shaped up America.
When he wakes up in the morning, his father greets him by his name only to be told by the little boy, that “My Name Is Not Alexander…I am Theodore, the greatest, grandest President who ever was!” His father responds by saying, “Well, Theodore park yourself here and save your energy for today’s game.”
Thereafter he tells his father, at various points of time in the day, he is Thomas, Joseph, Fred, Jackie and he wants to be called Daddy too. There are numerous positive adjectives in the book like greatest, grandest, brightest inventor, proudest warrior, smoothest dancer, bravest ball player and coolest daddy. These are helpful in creating a positive self-image in the child and stretches the child’s imagination. I wish to see a book like this replete with Indian historical heroes. May be I will write one, one day.
Although we have read this book several times, this time Dhruv wanted to know in detail more about the big names and the one who interested him the most, with whom he could identify his own relation was Thomas or Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb.
Him: Did people live in the dark before Thomas Edison made the light bulb?
Me: They must be using wick lamps in their homes in those days.
Me: So this bulb in this room giving us light enabling us to read this book is ‘all thanks’ to Thomas Edison.
Him (turning his face to the light): Thank you Thomas Edison for making the light bulb and for removing the darkness.
Next day, he spoke to his Papa on the phone –
Him: Papa, do you know who makes the light bulb?
(With pride emanating from his face) Thomas Edison.
You know he makes the light bulbs and goes to sell them in the shops and then from the shops we buy the bulbs and bring them home.
Did I laugh at this? No, I did not. I was hysterical.
Papa: Thomas can no longer make light bulbs. He died long time ago.
Him: How did he die? Did he die in the hospital? Who took him to the hospital?
Papa’s most convenient answer: Ask Mummy to google about it. She will tell you.
Thus, I was prodded to do the research and to figure out a way to explain diabetes.
There is a similar book for the girls ‘My Name is not Isabella’ where a little girl Isabella imagines herself to be the greatest women from the American history.
Linking this post with #MondayMusings hosted by Corinne Rodrigues and Literacy Musings Monday
Ah! Sounds like lovely bunch of books and I like what you did there – getting him to relate to people he may know.
I’ll see if I can pick up a copy and see how it goes with my 4yo. *fingers crossed*
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The Alexander book is surely going to work for you and R because both of you will be able to relate to the father-son relationship very well in the Alexander book. Do pick it if you can.
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What a lovely book ! I am a fan when it comes to childrens’ books. Can read them all day. Even as a child I enjoyed and always treasured those books. Will definitely try this one for my 2.9yo daughter. Thanks for sharing, Anamika.
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Children’s books are really wonderful. I am glad for our children to have access to the books from around the world which was not the case when we were growing up. Thanks for visiting and taking time out to share your thoughts.
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It is such a good book. Wish I had them when the boys were younger.
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Good books, for sure. I am sure your sons have fabulous books to read at their present ages given that their mother is a voracious reader 🙂
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That must have been real fun. Kids, the way they interpret and the crazy questions they ask. Lots of love to Dhruv. I am assuming you’re still away on vacations. Have a great time! 🙂
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Our vacation got over on May 16th with both of us returning to Bangalore. The new school year started for us around mid June.
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Oh ok!
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This is so wonderful.. I’m going to keep this book in mind once M grows up..be ready to field my questions about what books I should buy for her 🙂 it amazing how children breakdown stuff and how their questions sometimes make us wonder and even see things from a different perspective
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I gave the details about ‘My name is not Isabella’ keeping you and M in mind 🙂 . I would love to take on the questions about the picture books anytime.
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I LOVE the look of these books! I am a primary school teacher, so a wonderful new book find is always a treasure. I’ll have to search these out. Thanks for the post! Linda. 🙂
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These books must be available online for sure. Thank you for reading the post Linda 🙂
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Seems like a fabulous book. It’s always fun to read with kids. They ask so many questions worth pondering.
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Questions worth pondering, true 😀 Their questions have the power to bowl us under. But, yes it is fun to read with them.
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Those books sound like so much fun and I love how Dhruv processes them! And seems like he’s got the right attitude on being grateful too. 🙂
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I was indeed surprised when he turned to the light and thanked Thomas Edison since I did not expect that.
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Sounds like a lovely book. It’seems amazing what wonderful reads are out there and yet fewer and fewer kids take to reading. Quite tragic! I loved Dhruv’s response. Brought a smile to me.
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The fact that fewer and fewer kids are taking to reading these days pain me too but they are not alone to be blamed. They have the gadgets and video games which their parents are more than happy to buy for them.
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Such books are fun and stoke the creative imagination. Love Dhruv interpretation in his own world and the questions he asks. Mommy get to do the hard work:)
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Mummies always get to do the hardwork. In olden days, they used to spend their whole day looking after the house and now they have the added responsibility of fetching out answers. Thank God there is Google 😀
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Mummies still do the hardwork, na and look at the entire house. Yeah, Google is the savior for all of us!!
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That seems like a fun and informative book for kids. Intriguing questions from your smart child too. Having Google is such a relief at such times isn’t it? 😉
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Google is indeed a big relief. For us, we have a 4 member family – Dhruv, Mummy, Papa and Google 😛
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Love the book’s concept. I’ll get it for my god daughter 🙂 thanks for sharing Anamika!
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Ah, your God Daughter! You did tell me about her when we had met. Both of these are lovely books. Gift both of them. A child needs to get both the perspectives – the girl’s as well as the boy’s. We have both of them and Dhruv somedays wants to read the Isabella book only questioning about the woman named Rosa who was an human rights activist. And there is Madam Marie Curie too in it.
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Super. She is not even two so I’m thinking I should hold my horses. Right?
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Certainly if she is just 2 😀 In this case I can suggest books with simple rhyming words or big and bright illustrations.
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Oh please, whatsapp me. I hope I can buy them at Amazon. 🙂 🙂 Thank you! I need to get her to reading. Her Mum won’t. So, it’s my responsibility.
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Sounds like such an inspirational book. Thanks for sharing on Literacy Musing Mondays. 🙂
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It is. Thank you Mary for visiting 🙂
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Loved how these books can help the inquisitive mind of a kid and help them dream big too 🙂 Loved the conversation about Bulbs
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