Monday, July 27, 2015

Book Review - Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan

Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan by Jeanette Winter


I usually don't pick up non-fiction for Zoe, I enjoy fiction more and so does she. The only books we picked up which were non-fiction were Islamic stories. It changed recently and I'm very very happy it did.

I picked up Malala a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal a Brave Boy from Pakistan when I got it as one of the suggestions on Amazon. The book written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, it is a beautiful boom and introduces kids to 2 amazing kids. These kids rose from normal kids and they turned into heroes. Two brave hearts from Pakistan who had the courage to stand up against all something which they felt was wrong and unfair. Both were shot at, unfortunately, Iqbal died and Malala miraculously survived.

I have read about Malala Yusufzai before (who hasn't) but I didn't know about Iqbal Masih. I googled about him, after I read the book.

We loved the illustrations and the simplicity in the narration. It's perfect for 4+ years.

My little bookworm liked Malala's story a tad bit more, when I asked her why... She said "because Malala was a super brave girl and she wanted to go to school".

Zoe was also a little sad that Iqbal didn't survive, and that's another reason why she liked Malala's story better.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

A New Journey of BZM - Raising a reader ... One book at a time!


Reading Aloud is a ritual in our house since Z was born... Yes literally, I remember reading aloud The Very Hungry Caterpillar when she was a few days old. She was right there in my arms, her eyes closed, yet I read to her. She didn't respond, but I read on. 

This few days old baby turned into a few month old baby and all she wanted to do was lick her books and try to tear the pages. I let her. When I read aloud, her expressions changed, she started staring at me with her eyes wide and her mouth open. She tried to repeat what I said, and giggled when I made funny noises. 

Soon a 1 year old Z, started repeating what I said (well she tried to) and we had our conversation, she babbled and I responded, as if I understood whatever she said. She found her favourite author at around 1.5 years - Julia Donaldson had her complete attention, she sat through Gruffalo... Gasping, laughing and blabbing. For a 1.5 year old sitting through Gruffalo was strange and I wasn't sure what she gauged from the story, all I knew was she was having fun and so was I.

She started blending sounds when she was 3.2 years, and now at 4.5 years she is an independent readers, don't believe me... have a lookie (this video was take a few months back) https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=437581293072120&set=vb.257814404382144&type=3&theater

One thing I know, I won't stop reading aloud to her, yet. She has a lot to experience as far as reading aloud to her is concerned and she loves it. 

Our bedtime reading ritual has changed a little bit off late. We read at least 2 books, she reads a book and then I read the rest. One of the best thing about our read aloud sessions now-a-days are the questions she asks, after we've read a book. 

Our readings have progressed from fun colourful board books to elaborate storylines, beautiful illustrations and a whole lot of fun. We've gone from animated reading to reading and discussing the book we've read. We have moved from a couple of minutes to an hour at least. We've grown as readers....yes, WE have grown as readers. Our love for children literature grows every single day. That's just because we have read every single day. We haven't given our daily reading amiss at parties, vacations, family functions, sick days, happy days... We have read every single day, and that is something I recommend to everyone of you out there.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

The Real Mom!


We celebrated Mothers Day in May, we do that every May. For me, the best and the worst thing about Mothers Day are to 'Mother Day videos' which go viral on the internet.

I saw so many videos (I've lost the count) around mother's day, all of them were beautiful; but most of them had a little problem... Most of them showed me a mom I wish I was... How close I was to her, I'm afraid not much. 

I wish motherhood was simpler. I wish mothers weren't shown as these perfect beings who transformed into a goddesses when they gave birth to a child. I wish we didn't have access to such videos... I wish I didn't dream of becoming such a mom one day... Ahhhh! One day. And whenever I see a link to a mothers day video I just have to play it and watch it over and over again.

Frankly speaking, now that I retrospect... I don't want to be that mom... A mom whose touch is magical, a mom who looks picture perfect, a mom who always has a smile on her face. I don't want to be that, because I'm not that, and I will never be that mom. I don't know if mothers like those exist, if they do... they must be leading a pretty stressful life.

I'm an extremely simple mom. I didn't fall in love with Z overnight, I did eventually but definitely not the moment I saw her. I don't have a problem in saying sorry to her (if I'm wrong) and she knows I have my weak moments (everyone does). I don't mind shedding a tear in front of her, or correcting her if need be. I do fight with Z to have that last bit of Nutties or that last bite of a Cornetto. When I'm busy and she wants to talk to me, I ask her to go away, I make sure I check on her once I'm done... but those 'video moms' don't shoo their kids away... Do they?

Being perfect scares me, being perfect means there's no scope of improvement, being perfect means I will stop growing as a person (a mom in this case). And I want to become a better mom with each passing day, so thank God, I'm not that 'Video Mom' already, I don't intend on being one either.

I'm a slightly crazy, slightly cool, a little strict, a little child out and a very normal mom. I may not be the perfect mom, but I know one thing for sure, I'm perfectly imperfect, and I'm perfectly perfect for my little Ms. Z... That's what really matters. Isn't it?

Wild Karnataka – Experience

We were ecstatic when we got to know we were going to see  Wild Karnataka.  It was a long trip to Vega City mall, Bannerghetta Road, Benga...