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Category: Monday Musings

Are we listening? And enough? #MondayMusings

Sep 11, 2018 the bespectacled mother

A couple of years ago, I lost a friend. She chose to part ways because she felt I was consumed by my joys and sorrows

A leaf out of holidays #MondayMusings

Aug 13, 2018 the bespectacled mother

I like to stay at home. There is nothing new in this as I keep shouting about it from my rooftop. I do not like

“Is my foot getting whiter?” #MondayMusings

Jul 30, 2018 the bespectacled mother

“Why am I not white?” This was the question from last week. It was surprising for me, at least, because having lived all alone by

Things I fail to understand #MondayMusings

Jul 23, 2018 the bespectacled mother

There are many things in the world around me which I fail to understand. I try to ignore them or accept them and when I

Random realizations #MondayMusings

Jul 16, 2018 the bespectacled mother

I am back after a gap of 2 weeks. The last 2 weeks were a bit of a struggle on account of health troubles and

10 not-so-brainy questions #writebravely

Jun 25, 2018 the bespectacled mother

For Day 2, let us play a fun game. I will pretend to be a not-so-brainy Derek O’Brien and you pretend to be the quiz

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Welcome!

I am Anamika Agnihotri, mom to a free-spirited boy, Dhruv. While he is growing up to be a ‘Big Boy’, I am growing up too. I love to live in the world of books – ‘Picture Books’ to be precise.

Read our growing up tales and children’s book reviews on this blog.

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Posts being read today

Celebrating my 5th Blog Anniversary with gratitude #MondayMusings
Let's take a tour #WordlessWednesday 29
13 Questions on books – A Book Lover’s Tag #MondayMusings
Green Eggs and Ham
A green treat #ThursdayTreeLove
Colour blast at Saat Taal #WordlessWednesday 28
Toto by Ximo Abadia #PictureBookReview 26

Say no to plagiarism

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#picturebookreview Books - (1) Lil's Cupcake Delivery. (2) Milo goes to the seaside. Author - Rachel Jane Illustrator - Jamie Flack Age group - 3 - 7 year old My review – Both the books in the Red Hatch Campers Series are absolutely adorable. They tell the tales of 2 happy go lucky Camper Vans – Lil and Milo in a rhythmic fashion which can be musical to the ears if little sound effects are added. Lil’s story of cupcake delivery is sweet and charming. Milo’s story is adventurous and fun. The illustrations are extremely attractive with bright yet soothing colour schemes. If we could have laid our hands on these books a couple of years earlier when Dhruv was obsessed with vehicles, these books would have been a part of our everyday bedtime reading routine for weeks together. I am completely gushing over them. These books make to my list of all-time favourite picture books for 3 – 7 year olds. Read the complete review on the blog. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/02/08/red-hatch-campers-book-series-picturebookreview-25/ *Link also in bio* #picturebook #childrensbooks #kidsbookstagram #childrenbookstagram #bookstagram #picturebooklove #kidlit #bedtimereading #campervan #readaloud #raisingareader #bookreviewer #theyellowbookshelf @racheljaneauthor

#kidlitbookreview #middlegradebooks Book - Thomas Wildus and the book of sorrows Author - J.M. Bergen Book Blurb – Seven years have passed and Thomas hasn’t forgotten. He hasn’t forgotten the blue of his dad’s eyes either or the tickle of beard on his cheek as they hugged goodbye. Last moments together are memorable, even if you don’t know that’s what you are having at the time. Now, with his 13th birthday rapidly approaching, Thomas’s search for magic is about to take a radical and unexpected turn. At an out-of-the-way shop filled with dusty leather books, a strange little man with gold-flecked eyes offers him an ancient text called The Book of Sorrows. The price is high and the rules are strict, but there is no way Thomas can resist the chance to look inside. With the mysterious book guiding the way, a strange new world is revealed – a world in which Thomas has a name and destiny far more extraordinary than he ever imagined. But time is short. Even as Thomas uncovers his secret family history, enemies emerge, threatening to end his rise to power and destroy everything he holds dear. My review – Let me just begin with accepting I am not a fan of fantasy or magical realism genre. Thus it took me a long time to finish reading this book and even more time procrastinating over it. I would have put it down midway if I wasn’t required to write a review for it. Thankfully I kept at it because it did get interesting after the midpoint. Read the detailed review on the blog. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/01/31/thomas-wildus-and-the-book-of-sorrows-kidlitbookreview-24/ *Link also in bio* #bookreview #childrensbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #fantasy #magicalrealism #magic #teenageprotagonist #bookseries #book #booklr #bookblogger #theyellowbookshelf

#PictureBookReview Book - The Five Frogs on Biscuit Bay Author – Tommy Piolata Illustrator – David Cuccia Release Year – First published in August 2018 Age group – 5+ years My Review – This book is one of a kind for a children’s book where a detailed character sketch for each of the 5 frogs is given at the beginning of the book. This works for the story. The story treads at a fast pace without slowing down a bit on account of establishing the characters during the process of storytelling. The frogs are relatable with their human characteristics and all of them have appropriate nicknames. The story teaches us the values of courage, perseverance, teamwork and also families who stick together can accomplish anything. Stories for young children have to be feel-good. This is taken care of by the presence of the guardian spirit of the forest who is constantly protecting the frogs from danger though they are themselves brave to face and fight the enemies and circumstances. Illustrations deserve a special mention for this book. With bold strokes using colour pencils, they are highly appealing to the sight. The best picture is of the Biscuit Bay. It is beautiful and it has pink. My verdict – The story is fun and a long one. It is suitable for fluent readers above the age of 7. The detailed character sketches can be helpful in understanding character development when it comes to writing practice. For the younger children less than 7, the charming illustrations can be used to make a shorter version of the story or the book can be used as read-aloud. The detailed review is available at 👇 https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/01/25/the-five-frogs-on-biscuit-bay-picturebookreview-23/ *Link also in bio*

#PictureBookReview Book - When I grow up Author - Jon Hales Illustrator - Paula Monteagudo Age group - 4 - 8 years My Review - Dhruv and I loved going through this book. The author’s imagination needs to be applauded for coming up with a girl protagonist who is unlike all the stereotypes we find in most of the books published in this part of the world. She is not white with blonde hair. Her name appears as Annie Chen at the end of her poem which is proof of her depiction in the illustrations. She is extremely imaginative in thinking and making her own professions thereby not settling for conservative roles. The teacher, Mr. Dove, is a person who is part weird, part funny but overall encouraging of the kids. He is made out to be an interesting character who makes up his own words, for example – he says out aloud Pish or Powww in order to quieten the class. Personally, I would have liked such a teacher in my class at school but I don’t see my class quietening down by hearing Powwwinstead they would have been rolling over with laughter. His words ‘Lazies and Jellymen’ for Ladies and Gentlemen evoked giggles while reading and are here to stay in our house for the time being. Papa may not be Jellyman but Mummy is definitely now called ‘Lazy’. Thank you, Mr. Author, for coining these words. The illustrations are in a double page spread format which I would have appreciated more in the form of a printed copy as compared to the PDF file I have. There are fine nuances in every picture aptly supporting the written words. One illustration which struck a chord with me was of Annie’s classroom rich in diversity including children of all colours and ethnicity, a reality I see everyday in Dhruv’s classmates in school. My verdict - I would have loved to have a book like this when I was a little girl. This book is for every girl who dreams big as well as for someone who needs wings to let her imagination fly. This book is for every boy for they need to read and understand more of the girls’ world. Read the complete review on the blog. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/01/12/when-i-grow-up-picturebookreview-22/ *Link also in bio*

#PictureBookReview The Christmas Button Story Author and Illustrator - Helen Hamill & Christina Ryan Age group - 3 - 8 My review - WIth The Christmas Story, the author and illustrator have stayed true to their original style of watercolour illustrations and a bite-sized book just like their first venture The Button Collection. The Christmas Button story is a unique and short crisp read. It is a joy to read aloud and to get lost in the illustrations. The creativity with which buttons are weaved into the story deserves appreciation. If the 6 stories in The Button Collection spoke to me of change, hope, and positivity, The Christmas Story speaks to me of kindness in the way how different characters contribute with their precious possessions, a button each, in order to cheer up the sad little girl and make her Christmas delightful. There is the clever play of words, oodles of alliterations (which I have come to love a lot), plenty of adjectives used as synonyms for sparkling and shiny thus aiding early childhood literacy and as a vocabulary builder. As much as I loved this book, I feel the title of the book is committing a slight injustice to the story by using the word ‘Button’ in the singular sense when there are 5 buttons involved in the story. In my view, it should have been ‘The Christmas Buttons Story’. My verdict – The Christmas Button Story is a lovely stocking filler available at £3.99. It is perfect for storytellers as well as for reading aloud as a bedtime read on Christmas and over the following holidays. Read the full review on the blog. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2018/12/24/the-christmas-button-story-picturebookreview-21/ Link also in bio. @thebuttonholepressltd

#PictureBookReview Book - Jacob's Toys - The Big Backyard Adventure. Author/Illustrator - Claudia Woods Age group - 3+ Jacob’s Toys – The BIG Backyard Adventure arrived in the mail last week all the way from Australia. As soon as the packaging was opened, we had an adorable picture book in our hands which was claimed by my 7 year old son right away even before I could have a good look at it. Story – Jacob considers himself big enough to play with his soft toys. His Mum suggests finding them a new home but only after giving them a good wash. After the washing, Mum hangs the soft toys outside in the sun on the clothesline to dry where they happily dream of a new home. It’s here that the backyard adventure of the toys begins with the weather soon turning stormy, They get blown away, get lurked upon by a nasty neighbourhood cat, meet with an accident while trying to escape on a toy car, clamber on a drain, get swept away, seek shelter under a withered umbrella to get blown away with the wild wind once again. Do the toys reach a safe place at the end? Is there nobody taking a note of their being lost or is there someone who has been missing them earnestly? My Review- The author and illustrator Claudia Woods brings to us an endearing adventure story with numerous twists and turns. As soon as the reader thinks this might be the end of it, there is another adventure waiting around the corner. The lines are rhythmic hence can be read aloud in a sing-song fashion which really works well for the younger children. There are alliterations used in the sentences which my son and I had fun identifying. The repetition of the soft toys’ names in a set sequence is sure to bring out giggles while reading. There is also a 'Look and Find’ challenge at the end of the book wherein a different type of insect has to be spotted in every illustration the names of which are given at the end of the book. This certainly increased the fun quotient. Read the detailed review on the blog. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2018/12/13/jacobs-toys-the-big-backyard-adventure-picturebookreview-20/ *Link in bio* @claudiawoods2

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