It’s that time of year once more
You’re probably wondering how to keep your kids busy and engaged at home during the upcoming summer vacations, especially with the temperatures rising every day.
So, here’s a curated list of 16 recently released children’s books, all of which have been tried and tested by a real mom and a group of fantastic kids ranging in age from five to thirteen
The books cover a diverse range of topics, including inspirational women, values, mountain tales, mysteries, and fantasy worlds. We hope you find them useful and that they entertain your children!
Meena Harris’s Kamala and Mayan’s Big Idea, illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez (5+ years):
Kamala and Maya, two young sisters, have a big idea: to turn their empty apartment courtyard into a playground. Despite their disappointments, the two girls persevere and, with the help of their community, transform their neighborhood.
Maya Harris, a lawyer and policy expert, and Kamala Harris, a United States senator from California who later became the country’s vice president, went on to achieve great things.
Ilina Singh’s The Brave Girls of Science (9+ years):
The Brave Girls of Science (9+ years)
A book honoring the lives of 11 notable women scientists, including meteorologist Anna Mani, botanist Janaki Ammal, mathematician Raman Parimala, and cytogeneticist Archana Sharma, as well as the significant contributions they have made to science. Through personal anecdotes, poems, artwork, and fun facts, the book tells the stories of these strong role models, particularly for women in STEM.
Who’s Afraid of Z? Not Me! by Lubaina Bandukwala, illustrated by Allen Shaw (4+ years)
A funny story about a strange letter (Z) that no one takes seriously until the protagonist realizes that without it, we couldn’t make so many words (“zigzag,” “zombie,” “zero,” “zap,” “zebra,” zipper,” “zoo”) This book, told in rhyme, reminds me of one of the many Dr. Seuss books out there – zany but still educational.
Blistering Barnacles: An A-Z of the Rants, Rambles, and Rages of Captain Haddock by Albert Algoud (11+ years)
Fans of The Adventures of Tintin have loved Captain Haddock and his witty insults, from ‘blistering blue barnacles’ to ‘thundering typhoons,’ ‘freshwater swabs,’ and sea-gherkins,’ for eight decades. This collection is a kind of guide or dictionary that explores the meaning and origin of these inimitable curses and is a must-have book for all Tintin fans.
How to Live Your Life by Ruskin Bond, illustrated by Shamika Chaves (9+ years)
One of India’s most well-known children’s authors has returned with a new book about how to live one’s life. This book is appropriate not only for children but also for adults, as it is filled with pearls of wisdom, priceless words of advice, and anecdotes on everything from how to start one’s day, finding nature, love, luck, and celebrations. In a personalized inland letter from his Ivy Cottage home in Mussoorie’s Landour, he muses, “It’s the here and now of living that takes us forwards.” Needless to say, this is a treat for fans!
