Notes from Storytime

Shapes

Before children learn actual letters, they are aware of shapes. Talk to your children about shapes you see in books or out in the world to focus on what’s alike and different. That will help them to distinguish differences in letters later on.

Staff Picks 4 Kids

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

This book made me hungry for Indian food. One of the things Nisha loves to do is prepare food, which she does with Kazi, who is her family’s cook. Kazi also happens to be Muslim, while Nisha’s family is Hindu. Nisha never thought about this before, until suddenly India is being split into two countries– a new India for Hindu people and Pakistan for Muslim people. Gandhi doesn’t think this is right, and neither does Nisha. The book is told through diary entries that Nisha addresses to her mother, whom she never knew. Her mother was Muslim, which also makes Nisha feel conflicted about her identity. This is a well-written and interesting historical fiction.  The narrator has an authentic voice and the story tells about a part of India’s history with which many kids may be unfamiliar.

Book reviewed by Erin E., Youth Services Programming Coordinator