To be honest, every time I sit down to write down some of the most adored and loved children’s books for you, my mind goes blank. What follows is a long, but enjoyable reminiscence of the books my family or friends have gifted me and the occasional run to the school library to read interesting stories of magic and adventure. The characters are so beautifully written that after a point, you wish you were off to a picnic with your cousins in the countryside or battling pirates and flying about, instead of attending that excruciatingly boring class taken by Miss Sophia. Sheesh!
Anyway, moving on — here are a few books to keep you busy till next month.
Tintin in Tibet by Herge`
Okay, Tintin’s adventures don’t necessarily qualify as a children’s book in the absolute sense. It could find a fanbase mostly in young adolescents. But these comics caught my attention during my trips to the library and it’s a shame if we miss out on young Tintin. Tintin is a young reporter, who along with his dog Snowy, stumble across interesting stories to investigate and meet extraordinary characters such as Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the detectives Thomson and Thompson. Tintin in Tibet is not the first of the serialised comic “albums”. I mention this particular one because it briefly features Tintin’s stint in India.
The Adventures of Mr. Pink Whistle by Enid Blyton
You know what the best part about reading Blyton’s Pink Whistle books is? It leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end and is laugh-out-loud funny. Mr. Pink Whistle is half brownie (not the edible kind!) and half human. He has magical abilities and he uses them to help people out and set things right. Sometimes, he would teach wicked people a lesson on how to treat other people right, and other times, he would just help a poor family or creature simply out of compassion. Mr. Pink Whistle’s character is a lovable mixture of mischief and kindness — the best there is!
The Unforgettable Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce
This is a wonderful story of how Julie, a girl from Bootle, England, remembers about a coat that her Mongolian friend, Chingis Tuul had left behind in sixth grade. It takes Julie back to recall the time when Chingis is introduced to the class and oddly, they immediately become friends. It is filled with delightful Polaroid shots taken by Chingis, and of little titbits that Chingis offers about his culture, customs and his brother, as bizarre as it may sound — from demons and “ovoos” to the good guide. It is a simple, charming and heart-warming story, and you have to read till the end to know if Chingis gets his coat back.
