Rahul and Luffy read

Luffy didn't read this book but I still want to include it because I loved it. I read this book at The Bookshelf Library a few weeks back but Preeti didn't think it was age appropriate for Luffy yet. I read it again last Sunday and I still like it. The book revolves around five "ugly" animals, and how they band together because of their ugliness. In the end, their children greet them and shower love on them, telling them how beautiful they are. The Ugly Five is by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler , whose work we have written about multiple times in the past. See for example The Gruffalo or the Snail on the Whale . And this was one of those rhymy books by Julia Donaldson so it was fun to sing it out loud. P.S. I hope Luffy picks this up and reads it at some point in the future - not for the lesson on physical beauty - but for the simpler lesson on the animal kingdom and evolution!

I don't have a gambling addiction but second-hand bookstores will likely bankrupt me. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler is one of the second-hand books that I bought at a book store next door. You know, the place  I usually visit to get a printout for 10 Rupees but end up spending 100s to 1000s of Rupees on books. The sea snail slithered all over the rock And gazed at the sea and the ships in the dock. And as she gazed she sniffed and sighed. “The sea is deep and the world is wide! How I long to sail,” Said the tiny snail. I think this is the fourth or fifth book by Julia Donaldson that we have read and it's a little surprising how versatile an author she is. And unlike some of the earlier books, this is a rhyming book and it sounds great to read aloud. This isn't something Luffy is capable of doing or appreciates us doing at the moment but that day isn't too far. I'll have to start looking for Indian books or books in local...

I came back home after traveling out of city and the first thing I notice in our house are a couple of second-hand books from the book store nearby. I knew they were second-hand books because I had already come across one of the books (which I didn't w ant to buy) when I combed through the childrens' books section in the book store. The good pick was Night Monkey Day Monkey by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Lucy Richards . Julia Donaldson should be familiar name to the readers of this blog. Good book. Luffy likes it and finds parts of it funny. An interesting example of evolution from the book is - the "night monkey" wonders why the moths were wearing make up, to which the "day monkey" responds that they're butterflies. Butterflies operate during the day and because it is bright during the day, it makes sense for them to expend energy creating elaborately colorful wings (helps with mating). On the other hand, moths operate at night and because it'...

Regular readers of this blog should be familiar with The Bookshelf Library and their collection of work by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler . We had already picked out three books last Sunday and we were on our way out when Luffy picked up a lift-the-flap book near the exit. I went back inside to return one of the other books that we had picked up but the librarian let us take the additional fourth book. And boy have Preeti and Luffy been enjoying the book. Rabbit's Nap by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler is a book about a Rabbit that keeps trying to Nap but keeps being disturbed/prevented from doing so. It's a lift-the-flap book. For example, in this book, lifting the flaps reveals what/who is causing the noise that is preventing the Rabbit from taking a Nap. Lovely book, as expected from Julia and Axel. Solid recommendation for kids. I wish I knew about lift-the-flap books sooner.

Luffy and I are back with another Julia Donaldson book this week - The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler . It's a good book, especially because this is the first time (I think) Preeti is singing from a book to Luffy. The Giant keeps singing to himself throughout the book, with every event adding a new verse to the song. The book also introduced Luffy to "What's the matter?" - which is now one of his catchphrases. Like with a few earlier books, this book was also borrowed from the bookshelf library in Hyderabad, India . We just returned this book back to the library today. We didn't pick up any of Julia Donaldsons' books this time but I loved reading The Ugly Five (same author and illustrator) while we were there. Preeti thinks that Luffy isn't at the age yet to understand The Ugly Five so i'll eagerly wait for that time. Until then, there are a lot of other childrens' books to go through.