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Archives: Books

Shoo, Crow! (Hook Books): It’s not a book, it’s a hook!

The crows of Rajipuram are eating up all the corn in the fields. Can Velu and Akif find a way to shoo them away?

About the Hook Book Series

In a world where children’s books often feel cut from the same cloth, Hook Books stand out as a vibrant blend of imagination, humour, and heart. Crafted as a bridge between picture books and early chapter books, this series delivers stories that spark joy and wonder, while remaining rooted in age-appropriate learning.

Hook Books keep the fun going with:

  • Short, digestible bits of text (perfect for budding readers)
  • Bright colour illustrations that pull kids into the story
  • Themes that speak to the everyday lives of children—plus a sprinkle of whimsy!

From fantasy tales to those that touch on more advanced ideas, Hook Books ensure that young readers are always in for a treat, no matter their reading level. Even better, these books take children on journeys through different parts of India, giving them a taste of the rich diversity of our world through local flavours, landscapes, and cultures. Whether the story takes place in bustling cities or quiet villages, Hook Books make every setting feel like home.

The Nutmeg’s Curse

Before the 18th century, every single nutmeg in the world originated around a group of small volcanic islands east of Java, known as the Banda Islands. As the nutmeg made its way across the known world, they became immensely valuable – in 16th century Europe, just a handful could buy a house. It was not long before European traders became conquerors, and the indigenous Bandanese communities – and the islands themselves – would pay a high price for access to this precious commodity. Yet the bloody fate of the Banda Islands forewarns of a threat to our present day.

Amitav Ghosh argues that the nutmeg’s violent trajectory from its native islands is revealing of a wider colonial mindset which justifies the exploitation of human life and the natural environment, and which dominates geopolitics to this day.

Written against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, and interweaving discussions on everything from climate change, the migrant crisis, and the animist spirituality of indigenous communities around the world, The Nutmeg’s Curse offers a sharp critique of Western society, and reveals the profoundly remarkable ways in which human history is shaped by non-human forces.

The Dream of Revolution

Few figures in modern India have enjoyed such acclaim and adoration as Jayaprakash Narayan. And yet, he has been equally vilified for all that went wrong in the unfinished post-colonial movement for freedom and democracy. Jayaprakash Narayan, or JP as he was universally known, epitomized the Marxian and Gandhian styles of political engagement, and famously brought a powerful government to its knees. Throughout his life, he channelled an emotional hunger for transformative politics, jettisoned easy options, shunned power and incubated revolutionary ideas.

A comprehensive study of JP’s life and ideas-from the radicalism of his thought process at American university campuses in the 1920s to his political coming of age in the 1930s and subsequent disenchantment with Gandhi’s leadership; from his infectious confidence about the future of socialism to his seemingly naive plans to outmanoeuvre powerful forces within the Congress; from his fractious friendship with Jawaharlal Nehru to his relentless crusade against the stifling of dissent-The Dream of Revolution, Bimal and Sujata Prasad’s rigorously researched biography of JP, dispenses with clichés, questions commonly held perceptions and pushes the limits of what a biographical portrait is capable of.

Rich in anecdotes and never-before-told stories, this book explores the ambiguities and ironies of a life lived at the barricades, and one man’s unremitting quest to usher in a society based on equality and freedom.

Fantastic Creatures in Mythology

The most fun rendition of the deities and demons found in our epics!

Did you know that a celestial elephant oncehid in the ocean after causing mischief ?
What happened when Rama and Lakshmana encountered a one-eyed headless demon?
Why did Ilvala turn his brother Vatapi into a goat and serve him to passers-by?

Find answers to these and meet many strange and wonderful creatures in this hand-picked collection of legends. Delve into the exploits of gods who took on magical avatars, birds and animals with superpowers, and demons and demonesses who were once good souls.

Bestselling children’s author Bulbul Sharma’s deft prose accompanied by bewitching illustrations will transport you to the fantastical realms inhabited by the Hindu pantheon. This book is sure to leave you spellbound!

Featuring 10 of the most fascinating magical creatures from Hindu Mythology. Told in simple language and contains beautiful illustrations, this book is a great introduction to mythology for children of all ages.

Burning Bright

The true story of the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’ who fasted for 16 years against AFSPA

Ten innocent people were mowed down by security forces in Malom, a village near Imphal, in November 2000. The perpetrators were not punished, protected under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act which empowers military and para-military personnel to arrest, shoot, even kill, anyone on the grounds of mere suspicion. In response to this tragedy–one among many such atrocities–Irom Sharmila, a young Manipuri, began an indefinite hunger strike. The government arrested her and force-fed her through nasal tubes. She was released and re-arrested innumerable times, but she stood by her demand. In July 2016, Irom brought her sixteen years of hunger strike to an end, and decided to contest the elections.

Burning Bright is a hard-hitting account of a people caught between the crossfire of militants and security forces; of a once-sovereign kingdom whose culture has been brutally violated; of the many voices of dissent-from underground groups to the Meira Paibis, a women’s movement opposed to all forms of violence whether by the state or insurgents and a moving portrait of ‘the Iron Lady of Manipur’.

You Are Simply Perfect! A Mindfulness and Self-Awareness Guide for Tweens and Teens

A self-help guide-cum-journal for self-exploration

Jealousy. Bullying. Anger. Anxiety. Body image issues. Selfies and social media addiction . . . Are you grappling with any of these?

Let’s be honest, juggling school, extra classes, home, friendships and new relationships can be hard. It’s difficult to find balance and really, really tough not to get affected by the ‘happy’ content we see online. But what is genuine happiness vis-à-vis short-term pleasure? Are we even looking for it in the right place?

Written by a renowned psychologist, this beautifully illustrated book is divided into five parts that will help in easing everyday anxieties. Learn to make friends with yourself, your body, mind and feelings, and to deal with difficult emotions and situations.

You Are Simply Perfect! will equip you with life-changing tools to find contentment–in school and outside. Find your own quiet spaces inside this book with journal pages left for you to write and reflect.

CREATE YOUR OWN POTION OF CALM

· Guided step-by-step wisdom solutions
· Empowering prompts and meditation practices
· Interesting anecdotes
· Plenty of mindfulness exercises to encourage self-reflection
· A perfect gift and keepsake

Kathmandu Dilemma

‘…unmatched in its meticulous and careful research into the wellsprings of a truly unique relationship between two neighbouring states.’ SHYAM SARAN

‘Ranjit Rae’s portrayal of India-Nepal relations from the Indian perspective is meticulous, nuanced and insightful.” S.D. MUNI

‘Ranjit Rae breaks down the paradox of India’s very intimate yet troubled relationship with Nepal.’ C. RAJA MOHAN

The first two decades of the new millennium have witnessed a dramatic socio-political transformation of Nepal. A violent Maoist insurgency ended peacefully, a new constitution abolished the monarchy and established a secular federal democratic republic. Nevertheless, political stability and a peace dividend have both remained elusive. Nepal is also buffeted by changing geopolitics, including the US-China contestation for influence and the uneasy relationship between India and China.

As a close neighbour, India has been deeply associated with the seminal changes in Nepal, and the bilateral relationship has seen many twists and turns. Partly a memoir, this book examines India’s perspective on these developments, in the context of the civilizational and economic underpinnings of the India-Nepal relationship, as well as issues that continue to prevent this relationship from exploiting its full potential. Though there are several Nepalese accounts that deal with this subject, there are few from an Indian point of view. Kathmandu Dilemma fills this gap.

Dinosaurs, Pandas and Pals Activity Book

From prehistoric dinos and bugs to pandas and sharks, the numerous animals inside this quirky activity book provide hours of creative fun for kids.

Jam-packed with colouring pages and fantastic activities like interactive puzzles, dot-to-dot, spot the difference and playing peek-a-boo with animals, Dinosaurs, Pandas and Pals Activity Book is the perfect companion to keep young minds engaged.

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER WAY TO PLAY AND LEARN!

KEY FEATURES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· Children can follow mazes that feature prompts for problem-solving along the way.

· They can trace the path to the desired end, colour in the pictures, use the colour by number prompt to create a mystery picture, find the differences between two pictures, complete the drawings, connect the dots, learn to draw a simple picture, match the identical objects, find and circle objects, order the events, and much more.

· Gorgeously packaged with over 40 fun activities.

· Suitable for parent-child association.

· Each activity also offers an opportunity for introducing core concepts, such as counting, colours, and animal and bug names.

· The entertaining activities encourage children to develop problem-solving skills as well as strengthen hand-eye coordination as they handle writing instruments.

· Carefully researched, these books aim to build vocabulary through picture-word association for toddlers, pre-schoolers.

· Full of bright, colourful pictures to make learning easy, accessible, engaging and fun.

· A must for every library; in school or at home.

Princesses, Mermaids and Unicorns Activity Book

From mermaids and princesses to unicorns and fairies, the fairyland brought alive inside this quirky activity book provides hours of creative fun for kids.

Jam-packed with colouring pages and fantastic activities like interactive puzzles, dot-to-dot, spot the difference and playing peek-a-boo with fairies, Princesses, Mermaids and Unicorns Activity Book is the perfect companion to keep young minds engaged.

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER WAY TO PLAY AND LEARN!

KEY FEATURES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:
· Children can follow mazes that feature prompts for problem-solving along the way.

· They can trace the path to the desired end, colour in the pictures, use the colour by number prompt to create a mystery picture, find the differences between two pictures, complete the drawings, connect the dots, learn to draw a simple picture, match the identical objects, find and circle objects, order the events, and much more.

· Gorgeously packaged with over 40 fun activities.

· Suitable for parent-child association.

· Each activity also offers an opportunity for introducing core concepts, such as counting, colours, and animal and bug names.

· The entertaining activities encourage children to develop problem-solving skills as well as strengthen hand-eye coordination as they handle writing instruments.

· Carefully researched, these books aim to build vocabulary through picture-word association for toddlers, pre-schoolers.

· Full of bright, colourful pictures to make learning easy, accessible, engaging and fun.

· A must for every library; in school or at home.

What It Takes To Be Free

This book is for people who also believe personal freedom is the most important thing in life.

In our free world, we can do what want, spend time with people we like, and have a career that gives us joy. And yet, we don’t use our freedom. Why is that?

The problem is that we’re held captive by ourselves. On a deeper level, we all strive for the same thing: To be free. It’s in our nature.

Every human has the desire and the need to be free. What It Takes To Be Free will lead you on the path to personal freedom. It’s a highly practical guide that’s based on timeless wisdom and personal experience.

You’re the ruler of your own kingdom. You can do anything you want, spend time with people you like, and have a career that you love. If you’re willing to do what it takes, you will be free to do those things.

Are you ready?

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