Some books demand to be read at reading programmes. Lucky Girl, with its exploration of poetry. Hungry to Read, with its reading challenge. Book Uncle and Me, with the need to save a lending library.
And Bookasura, with its book-eating asura.
Bala loves books. He devours them. Not literally, of course. The problem, however, is his baby sister Meera, who actually likes to eat books. When Bala meets Bookasura, a book-eating demon, he sees a strong resemblance between Meera and the asura. What can he do to defeat Bookasura? What weapon does he have to destroy this book-loving monster?
Bookasura is a fun, funny book about a boy fighting a villain who is bigger and stronger. He uses the skills he has – his stories and his wit. Imaginative and thrilling, I know this is the perfect book to read next with my book club!
Raghu Thatha tells Bala the story of Bakasura. Is that what makes Bookasura enter Bala’s life? Maybe. Maybe not.
But naming an asura can be fun! What other asuras can you come up with? What terrible things do they do?
Now, more than at any other time, being outdoors is precious. Bala spends time on a farm, throwing stones at mangoes, looking at jackfruits and lemons, and making a compost heap.
If (and that’s a big, big ‘if’) the children in their respective cities can step out of the house and pick up something from nature, I would love for them to talk about it. Alternatively, we’ll look at what grows in our homes apart from humans and pets.
How does it look? How does it smell? Does it make a sound?
This could be a leaf, a twig, a pebble – anything. I’m going to begin by showing them the orange saplings I’m growing!
We’ll play a little book game together, just like Bala from Bookasura. Following that, we’ll talk about books. How many of Bala’s books have you read? How many books would you need to take on holiday? Do you take care of your books?
REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS PROGRAMME. The next edition of the programme will be held in August.
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