Archive for December, 2006
Banned books that I’ve read and enjoyed!
Did you know that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a banned book? It was removed from a California library following a parent-teacher committee’s recommendation.
Other banned books of the year include Forever by Judy Blume and this one’s a favourite, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. Absolutely brilliant books, these!
Final Harry Potter book
The title of the seventh book has just been revealed! It’s on a puzzle on www.jkrowling.com Go figure!
My favourite books of the year
Squire Terence and the Maiden’s Knight by Gerald Morris
The first of the Squire Tales series. It was hilarious! Young Terence has spent his years living in the woods with this strange old man who can see the future more clearly than the past. In come a strapping young lad, Gawain and Terence becomes his squire. They head towards King Arthur’s court where Gawain is knighted. So Terence and he head out to have an adventure or two and along the way, Terence gets to meet his dad also.
Ages 9 and above
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
If you thought Mount Olympus was only in ancient Greece and the gods had stopped throwing lightning bolts or shooting love arrows at unsuspecting mortals, you are in for a surprise! It’s just shifted to New York city and the gods…well, they have shed their robes and wear more trendy clothes these days. And Percy Jackson? He thought he was just a kid having problems at school until he found out who he could be!
The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence
Ostia, a port town in Rome. 79 AD. Flavia Gemina, barely 10 years old and amateur detective. She has had much practice searching for all the things that her ship’s captain father misplaces! And now with her friends, Nubia (slave set free by Flavia), Jonathan (neighbour) and Lupus (boy from the streets who is a fantastic artist) Flavia Gemina embarks on solving many many mysteries.
Ages 9 and above
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
How do you resist a book that begins with “It’s not like I was trying to get into trouble.” That’s Sammy Keyes, who lives with her grandmother and can’t keep herself from getting mixed up with strange goings-on. This is the first book in the series and is great fun. So’s The Runaway Elf and The Sisters of Mercy and The Skeleton Man and The Hollywood Mummy. I’m now impatiently waiting for the 10th book, Sammy Keyes and The Dead Giveaway.
Ages 9 and above
This weekend at Chennai
Sat 23rd Dec ’06 at 9.30 a.m. : Visit to a Chocolate Factory. Rs 200/- per child ( Ages 5 – 9 )
Holidays have just begun and the first stop is a visit to Parry’s Chocolate Factory. Kids have to report sharp at 9.30 a.m. This factory is at Madhavaram. Please wear comfortable clothes with comfy shoes and carry water and snacks. Register soon as participation is limited.
Sun 24th Dec ’06 at 11.30 a.m. : Christmas Celebrations. (All Ages)
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to get into the spirit of festivities! Bring out the holly, candy, mistletoe and more and help decorate our Christmas tree!
Let’s celebrate the Christmas Spirit with fun, singing and food! There will be a small Book Reading Session about the story of Christmas, some hearty All-As-One Carol Singing. We’ll wind up the festivities with yummy Plum Cakes, … and, some hot chocolate .
