This Diwali gift your kids these books to evoke their imagination

This writer believes books make for allseason gifts Picking the right book for a person is no less daunting than finding the right balance of spicy sweet and tangy in a condiment Making the most suited choice for the receiver can take hours or even days of research But once done mdash with a little note in tow mdash a book goes on to forge lasting personal experiences When exchanged on festive occasions they amplify the ambit of special memories We compile a list to help you kickstart a series of mnemonic trails ahead of the festival of lights A page from Jokhu and the Big Scare Pic CourtesyTulika BooksWhen tales come alive on the pagesPrakruti Maniyar editor Purple Pencil ProjectA dash of history some adventure some folk and some horror mdash childrenrsquos books are alive in a way most adult fiction is not Here are a bunch of stories I read this year that will create core memories for your child I promise Heroes the Colour of Dust by Amit Majmudar is a fun spin on the Dandi March It is a cleverly written book Girls of India A Chera Adventure by Anu Kumar introduces kids to an inclusive idea of India The story set in the Chola period fits the bill of being both entertaining and historically enriching Bijal Vachharajanirsquos Savi and the Memory Keeper helped me connect with our natural world I feel itrsquos important to raise a generation that is less anthropocentric and more aware of how our climate is changing Searching for the Songbird by Ravina Aggarwal is an adventure that familiarises children with different landscapes cultures and the songs and sounds of a new place It enables them to find harmony with nature Jokhu and the Big Scare by Priyadarshini Gogoi and Debasmita Dasgupta is based on an Assamese folktale of friendship and has been released in 10 Indian languages Itrsquos perfect to encourage multilingual reading among kids and adults Tweens might like reading The Ghost of Malabar by Soumya Ayar and Isha Nagar set against the backdrop of the Portuguese arriving in India it is warm and healingAn illustration by Priya Kuriyan from Beauty Is Missing Pic Courtesy Pratham BooksWhatrsquore they readingJagat Tekkatte COO Kitab KhanaItrsquos important to observe what children like reading these days Every child is different and hence their reading preferences will vary While picking books as gifts one must be aware of the receiverrsquos taste in literature Among middle readers below eight years of age there is a high demand for Tales from the World by Geeta Ramanujam The People of the Indus by Nikhil Gulati with Jonathan Mark Kenoyer and Michael Morpurgorsquos There Once is a Queen To spur mindfulness about inclusivity selfimage tolerance happiness and the need to accept different personal choices kids can be introduced to Jess Rosersquos Fantastic Frankie For young adults who are brimming with energy I would suggest book titles such as When Things Get Dark Stories inspired by Shirley Jackson and How to Live your Life by Ruskin BondAn illustration by Tanvi Bhat from My Grandmotherrsquos Masterpiece Pic courtesyPenguin Random House IndiaInspire with wordsRudramuni R Biradar proprietor Book LoversItrsquos absolutely essential to inspire young minds light them with creativity and courage at all ages Books like I came upon a lighthouse by Shantanu Naidu is a lighthearted account of the unlikely but every bit fascinating friendship between Naidu a millennial and the octogenarian Ratan Tata After the pandemic it has become imperative to instil hope and resilience in children New From Here by Kelly Yang addresses that need while opening up a new culture and its struggles to young readers I really liked My Grandmotherrsquos Masterpiece by Madhurima Vidyarthi as it helps us see everyday relations in new light Power of picturesRicha Jha author of childrenrsquos booksI have always believed that picture books are for all ages While buying books for children we lay too much stress on the takeaway Thatrsquos not the purpose of literature As long as stories warm the cockles of our hearts and can find the voice to speak with us they work just fine Paatirsquos Rasam by Janaki and Dhwani Sabesh Beauty is Missing by Priya Kuriyan Asamo is that you by Canato Jimo and Ogin Nayam can certainly charm kids Asamo is an incredible picture book that imagines both curiosity and fear from a refreshing perspective The Miracle on Sunderbaag Street by Nandita da Cunha and Priya Kuriyan shines a light on how ideas grow legs To encourage reading in Hindi I would suggest Sushil Shukla and Vandana Bishtrsquos Bhai Tu Aisi Kavita Kyun Karta Hai