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Tag: Life in UK

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

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3 things I do not miss about India #MondayMusings

May 28, 2018 the bespectacled mother

Last week, I shared my list of 5 things which I miss dearly about India. This week, I have put together a list of 3

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5 things I miss about India #MondayMusings

May 21, 2018 the bespectacled mother

Life moves on, inevitably. Life moves irrespective of the fact whether you want to move on or not. Things, circumstances, and situations change as a result

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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 from Preston, England and children’s book reviews on this blog.

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Are you ready for my hugs today? #MondayMusings #MondayBlogs
Charlie and Me: 421 miles from home #KidLitBookReview 29
A bookworm’s treasure #WordlessWednesday 32
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Are you ready for my hugs today? #MondayMusings #MondayBlogs
Charlie and Me: 421 miles from home #KidLitBookReview 29
#MicroblogMondays 1 : Best friends
13 Questions on books – A Book Lover’s Tag #MondayMusings
Red Hatch Campers Book Series #PictureBookReview 25
A bookworm's treasure #WordlessWednesday 32

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Patanjali Pizza? Anyone?
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5 lessons I learnt as a mother #MondayMommyMoments
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#picturebookreview Book - Ned The Nuclear Submarine Author/Illustrator - Demetri Capetanopoulos Age group - 7+ This is the story of a newly commissioned nuclear submarine, Ned. Ned has to venture out on his first voyage in the ocean for which he is unsure, untested and unprepared. Ned sets off on his maiden adventure. He goes through numerous experiences on his adventure. He sails back to his home base with confidence ready to tell his story to the world. A story of valid fears and challenges, a story hardly believable. Review - Ned’s story and the science involved in the working of a nuclear submarine took repetitive reading to sink in. After a couple of reads, Dhruv and I, both were able to appreciate the beauty of the story of Ned’s maiden voyage. The scientific aspect has been educative and a curiosity builder. Good for children in the age group 7 and above. Read the complete review on the blog. Link also in bio. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/03/08/ned-the-nuclear-submarine-picturebookreview-28/ #picturebooklove #childrensbooks #bookreview #kidlit #kidlitbookreview #bookblogger #booklr #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #kidsbooksofinstagram #reviewersofinstagram #submarines #nuclear #nuclearsubmarine #maidenvoyage #taleofcourage #courage #overcomingfear #science #theyellowbookshelf @cbuspublishinglab

#picturebookreview Book - Toto Author/Illustrator - Ximo Abadia Age group - 3 - 100 Could a donkey ever become an astronaut? Toto has bigger plans for his future than to carry bags up and down the mountainside. He longs to become an astronaut and visit the moon… But, a donkey could never do that, could he? My review – I picked up this book on my visit to the city library. This book caught my attention for – 1. its name which is unique and spells out nothing of what’s there inside the pages of the book, and 2. the bright yellow coloured hardcover with a stark blue spine and the book title engraved on it in the same blue colour. I looked into the book and the more enchanted I got with the illustrating style. I felt the choice of character for telling this story of following one’s dreams could not have been more appropriate. Who else would depict as a perfect metaphor for staying stuck in a rut, being destined for it even though he/she is someone who dreams of making it big? Such is the story of Toto which might have been any of ours too. Toto is a bold and inspiring story about following your dreams. The illustrations are simple, clutter-free and eye-catching. They are laid against the background comprising of striking primary colours. The paper quality is quite thick unlike usual books thus adding to the overall reading experience. Read the complete review on the blog. Link also in bio. https://thebespectacledmother.com/2019/02/15/toto-by-ximo-abadia-picturebookreview-26 #picturebooklove #childrensbooks #bookreview #toto #kidlit #kidlitbookreview #bookblogger #booklr #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #kidsbooksofinstagram #reviewersofinstagram #donkey #donkeytales #followingonesdreams #astronaut #nodreamistoobig #theyellowbookshelf @ximoabadia

#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*

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