3 books that will spark your child’s inner genius
Including one you might be tempted to steal yourself
“I was always envious of kids who grew up in homes with lots of books.” This throwaway comment in a TV show I was watching hit me like the first bite of a ripe Alphonso mango. A memory of being sprawled on the floor of the living room, reading How to Do Just About Anything from my Granny’s treasured hoard of Reader’s Digest hardbacks. Every afternoon, I’d select my post-lunch treat from a towering bookshelf, digest its contents over a leisurely hour, followed by a nap that allowed me to live out what I’d just read in dreamscape. One chapter in that ultimate How-To is probably what triggered an irrational fear of quicksand.
Sonam Mantri understands this love for immersive books that provide edu-tainment for children. When she was dissatisfied with the available options for her two kids, she set out to create a company herself, offering premium products that explore the Indian context with a modern voice. Reviving knowledge of our forefathers and sharing our rich culture with the next generation.
“Reading about our historic past will evoke a sense of pride in our legacy and identity,” Mantri believes.
3 Yug books every Indian kid’s library should have
Yug People – APJ Abdul Kalam
Among the selection of stories on modern heroes, we particularly loved the story of APJ Kalam, India’s scientist president. The book even featured in Tweak’s second hildren’s activity box. Balancing an easy narrative with compelling illustrations, this book will spark a sense of curiosity and a love for science in your child.
Yug Stories – My Colour Crew: Fold Out Book on Emotions & Colours
A sharp left from the school of ‘children should be seen, not heard’, is the millennial approach to parenting. Therapy has taught us we need to encourage kids to find healthy ways to express their anger, and we think a stencil of a multicoloured monster is the perfect tool to achieve that. As protagonists Meera and Raghav celebrate Holi, they explore their emotions through the use of colours, creating associations that will facilitate communication.
Yug Games – Art of Ancient India: Jumbo Colouring Sheet
If your child is a regular Amrita Shergill, channel their creative energies away from your precious walls and onto this colouring sheet. It features various Indian art forms like Gond, Madhubani, Thanjavur and Phad, and will train your little one’s motor skills along with sharpening their creativity. We won’t judge if we find you stealing it for your own evening unwind rituals…
Shop the Tweak Children’s Activity box here.