Varsha Seshan's Official Website

  • Home
  • Published Work
    • Books for Ages <5
    • Books for Ages 7-10
    • Books for Ages 10+
    • Reviews
  • Workshops
    • Calendar
    • Book Clubs
    • Creative Writing Programmes
    • School Visits
  • About
    • About Me
    • Recognition
  • Blog
  • Contact

© Copyright 2013 - 2025
Varsha Seshan

Puppy Trouble

June 4, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Amit wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. He wants a puppy. But his parents refuse. For me, that was the hook. And thanks to my […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: Bijal Vachharajani, books for ages five and six, Hook Books, Puppy Trouble, Rajiv Eipe, reading, review

Red, White and Whole

May 20, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Red, White and Whole has been on my wishlist for ever so long. I kept dithering. Would I enjoy the book? Would I not? I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Middle Grade, novel in verse, Rajani LaRocca, reading, Red White and Whole, review

Starfish

May 14, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

On nearly any list of “must-read” verse novels for middle-graders, I come across Starfish. I finally read it, and I completely understand why it’s on so many lists. There are […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for tweens, Lisa Fipps, Middle Grade, novel in verse, reading, review, Starfish

Ottoline at Sea

May 11, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

As far as possible, I try to source books from independent bookstores for my book clubs. And so, when Eureka Books informed me that Ottoline Goes to School was out of stock […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Chris Riddell, online workshops for children, Ottoline at Sea, reading, review

Where the Heart Should Be

May 10, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I love historical fiction, and I love novels in verse. And I love Sarah Crossan’s books. When all three come together, the chances of my not liking the book are […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for tweens, novel in verse, reading, review, Sarah Crossan, Where the Heart Should Be, Young Adult

In the Beautiful Country

May 9, 2024 by Varsha Seshan 2 Comments

Verse novels are beautiful. I love how sparse and hard-hitting they are, and I’ve been reading them all the more because I’ve been writing verse too. Uncontrollable came out last […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: books for tweens, In the Beautiful Country, Jane Kuo, Middle Grade, novel in verse, reading, review

Lucky, It’s Summer!

May 7, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

A story told from the point of view of a Cocker Spaniel–what’s not to love about it? As a book club read, Lucky, It’s Summer! is perfect in so many ways. The […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Lucky It's Summer, Nalini Sorensen, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading

The Golden Eagle

May 6, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Krishna Bala Shenoi’s artwork is stunning. From the black-headed stork to the green pigeon, the pelican to the doves – the illustrations leap off the pages making The Golden Eagle a visual […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, Deepak Dalal, Feather Tales, online reading programme, reading, review, The Golden Eagle

Ottoline Goes to School

May 5, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

We read Ottoline and the Yellow Cat at my book club last year, and it was such fun. I enjoy silliness of this kind so much that the book was on my […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Chris Riddell, online reading programme, online workshops for children, Ottoline Goes to School, reading

No Talking

May 4, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

No Talking is such a fun book! I’m often wary of ‘Boys vs. Girls’ stories because I don’t like books that reinforce stereotypes. No Talking does the opposite; in fact, rather too […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: Andrew Clements, book club, bookish activities, books for ages nine and ten, No Talking, online book club, online workshops for children, reading, review

A Giant Leap

May 3, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I read and reviewed A Giant Leap three years ago. Since then, I’ve been thinking about introducing it to my book club, but it’s shorter than the books I usually […]

Filed Under: Books, Children, Workshops Tagged With: A Giant Leap, book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Nakashi Chowdhry, online reading programme, reading, review, Thomas Scotto Barroux

The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella

May 2, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella is the sixth book by Asha Nehemiah that we’ll be reading at my book club! And it promises to be just as much fun […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: Asha Nehemiah, book club, books for ages nine and ten, online reading programme, online workshops for children, reading, The Mystery of the Silk Umbrella

Ostrich Girl

May 1, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

I love introducing children to brand-new books, hot off the press! I read Ostrich Girl written by Lesley D Biswas and illustrated by Anupama Ajinkya Apte, and I loved the possibilities […]

Filed Under: Books, Workshops Tagged With: book club, bookish activities, books for ages seven and eight, Lesley D Biswas, online book club, online reading programme, online workshops for children, Ostrich Girl, reading

What Happened to Grandpa

April 11, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Books spark discussion. As a book club facilitator, I know only too well how a story can lead to conversations about fear, wonder, belonging and so much more. And that […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: Aditi Anand, books for ages five and six, books for ages seven and eight, Nandini Nayar, Picture Book, reading, review, What Happened to Grandpa

How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide

April 10, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

It’s voting season, the best time to read How to Win an Election: A Most Unreliable Guide! I would argue, however, that any time is a good time to read […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for tweens, How to Win an Election, Menaka Raman, Middle Grade, reading, review

Under the Bakul Tree

April 9, 2024 by Varsha Seshan 1 Comment

Optimistic, even idealistic, Under the Bakul Tree was a heart-warming read. To be honest, I started reading the book prepared not to like it. It seemed like it would be […]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Mrinal Kalita, Partha Pratim Goswami, reading, review, Under the Bakul Tree, Young Adult

Sky Hawk

April 7, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Even as a child, I loved stories about the environment, especially stories where children make difficult decisions to save an animal. So many books I’ve recently read fit the bill […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for ages nine and ten, Gill Lewis, Middle Grade, reading, review, Sky Hawk

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

April 6, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

Recently, I reread The Girl Who Drank the Moon and then looked through my blog to see what I’d written about it the first time I read it. That’s when […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for tweens, fantasy, Kelly Barnhill, Middle Grade, reading, review, The Girl Who Drank the Moon

I Won’t Wash My Hair

April 4, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

What an utterly delightful book! I love books that make my jaw drop on the very last page, and I Won’t Wash My Hair by Aparna Kapur and Ogin Nayam […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: Aparna Kapur, books for ages five and six, Chapter Book, Hook Books, I Won't Wash My Hair, Ogin Nayam, Picture Book, reading, review

Ostrich Girl

April 2, 2024 by Varsha Seshan Leave a Comment

How well can you imitate bird calls? I used to (and sometimes still do!) imitate cuckoos, parakeets, bulbuls, and lapwings. But would you mistake me for a bird? Probably not. […]

Filed Under: Books, Children Tagged With: books for ages seven and eight, hOle books, Lesley D Biswas, Ostrich Girl, reading, review

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • …
  • 36
  • Next Page »