One of the fondest memories of childhood is the stories told by grandmother during the long, summer nights. Who can resist a good story, especially when it’s being told by Grandma? Sudha Murthy recreates the magic of storytelling with ‘Grandma’s Bag of Stories’.
The children are in village for the summer vacation- the time which both the children and their grandparents eagerly look forward too. The children enjoy the quiet, idyllic life in the village while listening to Grandma’s stories over long summer days and nights. The stories are aimed not only to entertain but also to educate the children. Grandma has really interesting stories to tell- of kings and cheats, bears and gods, monkeys and mice. She tells the story of the bear who was cheated of a good dessert and got really angry; a princess who turned into an onion, a man who was too lazy to put out a fire till it reached his beard, the Chinese queen who discovered silk and many, many more.
I was in a kind of reading slump and wanted to read something simple and quick. This book seemed just perfect. It reminded me of my own childhood when I would insist on listening to a story before going to bed. The book is so heartwarming and full of nostalgia.
The author has written some wonderful stories with morals without getting preachy. Moral lessons such as the importance of kindness, sharing, and working together, are all conveyed through the memorable characters and magical tales in this book. The language is simple and easy to understand, just as the language for a children’s book should be. The book is full of illustrations that go with the stories and that adds to the aesthetic charm of the book. If you are looking for an easy, entertaining book for your children or even one for yourself then go for it!
Title: Grandma’s Bag of Stories
Author: Sudha Murty
Genre: Fiction
Originally published: 2012
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Puffin Publishers
©2020 Shaloo Walia All rights reserved
I love books by Sudha Murthy. Very heart warming, simple and quick read as you said.
Yeah…simple yet touch the core of your heart.