Have you ever seen children playing outside in the
summer with faces of sheer joy and happiness, as they laughed? Because kids
just want to have complete entertainment and freedom from their tedious school
homework for some time. It's pretty clear to everyone that kids on summer break
want to focus on only one thing and that is just FUN!
You can't blame them for their attitude in the summer
holidays of having complete fun, because it is very much obvious. After months
of working on math problems until numbers come pouring out of their dreams, mugging
up science formulas, remembering historical dates and events, digesting
homework with the greatest of stomachaches, and painstakingly filling out
reading logs, home works, and assignments, summer is a much-needed break from
school for every kid.
On the contrary, it's true what people always say:
"Use it or lose it." Kids who stop reading over the summer tend to
lose some reading skills, whereas the kids who do read in the summer tend to do
better in school next session. Obviously, no parent will ever want that their
kids won’t perform better in their school. So, now the question is how you can make both things happen i.e., fulfilling kid's need for summer fun along
with making them keep reading during the summer?
It's quite simple: By making your Kids Read fun
books. Buy those books for kids that bring laughter and smile on their
faces, that keep them the pages turning, and that make them plead for more at
the end. Spend some time with kids and read good books together with them, even
long after a child learns to read without help. Help an unwilling child get
started by reading the first few pages of an interesting book aloud and then
encouraging him or her to go on reading by himself/herself. Then, read an
interesting book for yourself, as the kids who see their parents or older
siblings enjoying reading are more likely to enjoy reading themselves.
Summer is also a strange time in the publishing world
— most publishing companies keep waiting to publish their marquee books in the
summer, heading back to school and into the holiday season with their weighty
novels and other titles.
To help you get started, we have compiled a nice
collection of a few old and new favorites, about a variety of topics including
summer vacation itself. Indeed, a good summer book can be of any type, whether
it be a mystery,
history,
fantasy,
biography,
science
fiction, or adventure
written for
children, as long as it holds their interest and keeps them reading.
But, if you and your children are in the search this
summer for a chuckle, a grin, a belly laugh, or a heartwarming story to touch
your soul, our selection of good reading books is a good place to begin with. Think
about sharing a few of these books at a time with your kids and then letting
kids choose themselves which ones to read. Persuade kids to look for and find
books that interest them on their own, too. Soon you will see that look of great
summer pleasure on your child's face while he or she is reading these fun and
knowledge building books.
Who could have set fire to Mr. Hick's cottage? The
suspects include a tramp, and even the housekeeper, Mrs. Minns. The Five
Find-Outers and Dog aim to solve the mystery before Mr. Goon, the grumpy
policeman!
The
Mystery of the Disappearing Cat by Enid Blyton
Luke was working in the garden when Lady Candling’s valuable cat was stolen. But could it have been the cat’s carer,
Miss Harmer, or even Lady Candling’s companion Miss Trimble? The Five
Find-Outers and dog are on the case!
The
Mystery of the Secret Room by Enid Blyton
Fatty astonishes Mr. Goon with his wonderful disguises,
while he tries to discover who is using Miss Crump’s old house
- and why. Inspector Jenks will help the Five Find-Outers again, and there's a
surprise for Mr. Goon!
Someone is sending spiteful letters. Gladys and Mrs. Moon
are terribly upset. There are lots of suspects. It could be gossipy Miss Title or Old Nosey, a
very curious man. The Five Find-Outers and dog will find the culprit!
The
Mystery of the Missing Necklace by Enid Blyton
Fatty's disguises are better than ever. No one recognizes
him as a balloon seller, or as the man in the village. Burglaries are going on
and the police are baffled. It’s a new mystery for
the Five Find-Outers and Dog!
The
Mystery of the Hidden House by Enid Blyton
Mr. Goon's nephew, Ern has disappeared on the road to
'Harry's Folly'. Does the gatekeeper, Mr. Peters, or Mr. Holland know anything
about it? The Five Find-Outers are determined to solve the mystery.
The
Mystery of the Pantomime Cat by Enid Blyton
The theatre safe has been broken
into and Boysie, the Pantomime cat, is top of the list of suspects. But could
his friend and fellow actor, Zoe be the real thief? PC Pippin is on the case
with the Five Find-Outers and dog.
The
Mystery of the Invisible Thief by Enid Blyton
Who is the mysterious robber that
disappears from the scene of the crime without a trace? Can the Five
Find-Outers and the dog discover the thief's identity before Mr. Goon does?
The
Mystery of the Vanished Prince by Enid Blyton
A prince has disappeared and it
seems that twin babies are the only clue! Is the prince being held against his
will? The Five Find-Outers and Mr. Goon's nephew Ern, intend to track him down
and rescue him.
The
Mystery of the Strange Bundle by Enid Blyton
What was in the strange bundle
that Mr. Fellows was seen carrying when he fled his house in the dead of the
night? And who else is trying to get hold of it? A new puzzle for the Five
Find-Outers and Dog!
The
Mystery of Holly Lane by Enid Blyton
Money has been stolen from a
bungalow called Hollies, and now all the furniture has also gone too! Who could
the thief possibly be? Fatty and the gang are hot on the trail but so is Mr.
Goon!
The Mystery of the
Strange Messages by Enid Blyton
Who is responsible for the
messages that keep turning up for Mr. Goon? Are Mr. and Mrs. Smith involved and
does Mrs. Hicks know more that she appears to? Fatty and the gang are
determined to find out.
The
Mystery of the Missing Man by Enid Blyton
A dangerous criminal is on the
run-and he is also the master of disguise! Could it be Mr. Tolling? Or do the
Fangio twins know the culprit's real identity? The Five Find-Outers and dog aim
to find out... with a little help from Eunice.
Mystery
of The Banshee Towers by Enid Blyton
Wailing banshees are
not the only mystery at the Banshee Towers - It hides other secrets too! Does
the Turnstile man or the owner know anything about them? Buster and Bingo - as
well as the Five Find-Outers are hot on the trail.
The
Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage by Enid Blyton
The tenants of
Tally-Ho House have vanished - along with a priceless painting! Have the
Lorenzo's gone for good? Could the Larkin's of Tally-Ho Cottage to be blamed?
The Five Find-Outers and dog are soon on the thief's trail... with a little
help from Ern.
China
A History by John Keay
An accessible, authoritative
single-volume narrative history of China, from the earliest times to the
present day, that will both engage the general reader and challenge the
horizons of the China specialist.
Most histories of China appear to
have been written by sinologists for sinologists. As China rejoins and perhaps
comes to dominate our world order, the need for an authoritative yet engaging
history is universally acknowledged.
Modelled on the author's India: A
History, China: A History is informed by a wide knowledge of the Asian context,
an approach devoid of Eurocentric bias, and acclaimed narrative skills. Broadly
chronological, the book presents a history of all the Chinas – including those
regions (Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Mongolia, Manchuria) that account for two
thirds of the People's Republic of China landmass but which barely feature in
its conventional history.
The book also examines the many
non-Chinese elements in China's history – the impact of Buddhism, Islam and
Christianity; the effects of trade; the nature of 'barbarian' invasion; the
relevance of many imperial dynasties being of non-Chinese origin. Major
archaeological discoveries in the last two decades afford a chance to flesh out
and correct much of the written record. 'China: A History' will tell the epic
story from the time of the Three Dynasties (2000-220 BC) to Chairman Mao and
the current economic transformation of the country.
Explore world history with this
definitive encyclopedia, spanning continents and eras. Take a journey through
thousands of years from the time when humans first walked on the earth to the
age of space travel. Amazing photographs and illustrations capture how the
world has changed.
What caused Hurricane Katrina? What's inside an Eygptian
Pyramid? How did the Vikings wage war? This book provides answers to these
questions and more. It also covers events including the Asian Tsunami and Human
Genome Project.
World history, from prehistoric
peoples through ancient civilizations to the early twentieth century, focusing
on the varying cultures, art, and daily life of civilizations throughout
history.
This colorfully illustrated
volume provides a simple introduction to world history from the first
civilizations to the early 20th century. Each civilization, period or event is
described in short, highly visual chapters that provide a stimulating starting
point and insight into the history of different peoples and cultures around the
world. The geographical time chart shows what was happening in different parts
of the world at similar times, and there is an extensive index and a list of
suggestions for further reading.
This book The Usborne Little encyclopaedia of History features
simple text, beautiful illustrations and photographs to make each of these
books a fun learning experience for young children. With fully updated internet
links.
Have you ever wondered who
invented the Internet or your Ipod? This book explores the fascinating history
of events that shaped the world. It takes the reader through the Eureka moments
- from the discovery of fire to modern day research into genetic engineering. A
timeline puts events in context, and feature-boxes explore the more significant
inventions.
Little Known Facts about India is a set of two books, packed with vivid, act filled descriptions focusing on historical, social and cultural features of India. These books cover amazing and unknown facts hidden in every nook and corner of India. Beautiful and colorful pictures make the book more attractive. Discover the beauty and the magic of the land of all seasons. This set is must have for all inquisitive readers.
This book consists of simple illustrated guides to answer
children's questions about history and invite comparisons with life today. This
particular book deals with the Romans, their cultural development, traditions, customs, rituals, people, social
setting etc.
The birth of a prince in medieval
India was usually followed by grand celebrations. Camped out in the wilderness
when the news of Akbar’s safe delivery reached him, Humayun could only enjoy a
quiet moment of thanksgiving. He broke a musk pod and as the fragrance wafted
all over the camp, the new father hoped his son’s fame would similarly spread
across the world. Akbar-emperor, warrior, statesman and thinker-is acknowledged
as one of the most charismatic personalities in Indian history. Crowned the
king of Hindustan at the age of thirteen, his empire went on to include the
farthest corners of the country. Yet he was not just a conqueror. A humanist,
his deep interest in literature, architecture, art and his inclusive vision of
religions at a time when such thoughts were not in fashion, set him down as one
of history’s most remarkable men. In this story of his life, as exciting and
thrilling as any adventure tale, the author describes Akbar’s rough, difficult
childhood spent on the run; his consolidation of the empire through war and
diplomacy; the myriad interesting and entertaining people who made up his court;
the strong women of the Mughal household; and finally, the intriguing
circumstances under which the crown passed on to his son, Jahangir. Accompanied
by many vignettes of information about the Mughal Empire and the world in the
16th century, this book is a fascinating introduction to the life and times of
a ruler who still rules our imaginations.
‘However infamous the conduct of
the sepoys, it is only the reflex, in a concentrated form, of England’s own
conduct in India . . .’ —Karl Marx 1857 was a defining moment in the history of
the British Empire. As native troops in India ‘rebelled’ against their colonial
masters and were joined by a large number of local chiefs, civilians and
princes, the Empire almost lost its most prized territory. A hundred and fifty
years later, scholars, academics and historians still argue about the exact
nature of the uprising and the appropriate nomenclature for it: the First War
of Independence, the Great Indian Mutiny, the Sepoy Rebellion. Debates still
rage over its causes. Did it really originate from a dispute over greased
cartridges? Was it premeditated? Not surprisingly, the ‘uprising’ attracted
both local and global attention and produced a massive archive of documents.
The Penguin 1857 Reader depicts the historic event from various perspectives:
English, Indian, European and American. Through a selection of documents of the
time, it provides glimpses into the actions across northern India, maps the
contours of dissent against the Raj and explores the immediate responses to the
upheaval in India and outside. Included here are numerous newspaper and
magazine accounts in leading English and American papers, chronicles of British
and Indian men and women who witnessed the turmoil, intelligence reports and
narratives of soldiers, the British administration’s responses, the opinions of
Karl Marx, Lord Macaulay and Mark Twain, British views on the Rani of Jhansi
and Nana Saheb, and Mirza Ghalib’s moving narration in his diaries and the
historic trial of Bahadur Shah Zafar. With a scholarly and comprehensive
introduction, this reader captures the many dimensions of one of the most
momentous episodes in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Biography
Imran Khan Biography - Indian Edition
The definitive biography of Imran
Khan, the former Pakistan cricket captain and all-rounder – the Oxbridge
graduate and vociferous campaigner; the devout Muslim whose kaleidoscopic
social life flooded the gossip columns the man who raised $60 million for cancer
research and who is now one of the most important political figures in
Pakistan. On one thing, Imran Khan's friends and enemies agree: it all began
with the leopard print satin trousers.
In November 1974, the Cricketer
International published an article about the new elite group of young talented
players, 'into concepts like fashion and pop music', and bent on challenging
cricket's eternal stereotypes. Of the five featured stars on the cover, a
superbly hirsute 21-year old wearing a tight black shirt and gaudy trousers,
with a facial expression of supreme self-confidence, stood out.
Imran Khan has always been a
controversial figure, a man who gives rise to hot debate on account of his
strong conviction and hard line views. From his achievements on the cricket
field as the Pakistan captain who captured the World Cup and the game's best
all-rounder in history, through to his racy social life – the practising Muslim
boogieing on the dance-floor of Annabel's, 'an astonishing lovemaker', according
to one overnight partner, praised by Diana Princess of Wales, close friend to
his then wife Jemima Goldsmith, as a 'devoted husband' – the Imran story is
full of colour and contradictions.
Gandhi was born November 19, 1917, in Allahabad, India, to Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru. Her life was drastically changed in 1919 when her wealthy and prominent family was visited by Mohandas Gandhi, the pacifist leader of the Indian freedom movement. Recently returned from exile in South Africa, he converted her parents to the cause of Indian independence Constant meetings and the frequent absence of Gandhi's parents deprived her of a normal childhood. Though she was spoiled by her grandfather Motilal, Gandhi later recalled she felt "insecure." She was four years old when her father and grandfather were first jailed for their activities, then the jailings, which also included her mother, became frequent. ‘Indira Gandhi’s life was part of
the unfolding history of India, intricately woven with India’s past and future.
It (became) inevitable, therefore, that politics (formed) a backdrop to her
public and often private actions.’Indira Gandhi’s life spanned over two-thirds
of a century. By the time of her brutal assassination in 1984, she had
established herself as the most significant political leader India had seen
since the death of her father, Jawaharlal Nehru. In this book, written with the
close cooperation of her subject, Pupul Jayakar seeks to uncover the many
personalities that lay hidden within Mrs Gandhi. Much more than a political
biography, the book reveals the complex personality of Indira Gandhi—her
thoughts and feelings, her hates and prejudices, her insights and her faults,
her loves and emotional entanglements.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie (7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934) was a French-Polish physicist and chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes[2]—in physics and chemistry. She was the first female professor at the University of Paris, and in 1995 became the first woman to be entombed on her own merits in the Panthéon in Paris. This Book Presents Madame Curie's
story. This title explores Marie's many firsts, including: becoming the first
woman awarded a PhD in physics and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize; her
amazing personal and professional relationship with husband Pierre Curie; and,
the tragedies that affected Marie deeply, including the loss of her mother and
brother.
Kids will savor this fascinating
trip into the life and undersea world of pioneering oceanographer Jacques
Cousteau. In his quest to show off the beauty found below the waves, Cousteau
dedicated himself to developing new diving technology, inventing innovative
ways to photograph underwater life, and traveling the globe to explore
different bodies of water. His films, including The Academy Award(R)-winning
"The Silent World," opened people's eyes to a formerly unknown and
spectacular marine universe. Cousteau did more than anyone to enlighten us to
the stunning complexity of the oceans' ecology, and the importance of
preserving it. His message resonates more than ever today. With this biography,
young readers will see how Cousteau's mission began, and follow his thrilling,
sometimes dangerous adventures into the deep.
Three of American
history's most influential and beloved leaders are profiled in these new
Sterling Biographies for young readers. From the political accomplishments to
the personal lives of Lincoln, Washington, and Kennedy, these biographies
introduce a new generation to these exceptional men. Full color, Honest Abe,
The Great Emancipator, The Martyr: Abraham Lincoln was perhaps America's
greatest President. He is also deeply beloved by many, who are inspired by
Lincoln's unwavering sense of justice and willingness to fight for his beliefs.
Young readers will marvel at Lincoln's path to greatness from his humble
beginnings as a poor Illinois rail splitter up through his election as
America's 16th President, and into the dark days of the Civil War leading to
his tragic assassination. In addition to background on his childhood and his
marriage to Mary Todd, numerous sidebars provide simple explanations to
relevant historical events such as the Dred Scott Decision and the Mexican
Wars.
Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. Graduating from Harvard in 1940, he entered the Navy. In 1943, when his PT boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety. Back from the war, he became a Democratic Congressman from the Boston area, advancing in 1953 to the Senate. He married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953. In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history. Although John Fitzgerald
Kennedy's presidency lasted less than three years before an assassin's bullet
killed him in Dallas, Texas, he had a lasting impact upon the world. Youthful,
charming, and articulate, he and his sophisticated wife Jackie symbolized
hope and optimism in a time of turmoil. Young readers will find themselves
enthralled by this biography of one of America's most popular leaders, which
explores J.F.K.'s privileged childhood and tight-knit family; wartime heroism;
and political accomplishments, which began in Congress and eventually led him
to the U.S. presidency – the youngest man ever elected to the Oval Office.
Pandit Nehru’s words that night
have remained etched in the nation’s memory ever since. Born to a privileged
family in Allahabad, Jawaharlal went on to become a leading figure of the
Indian independence movement. During the struggle he spent over ten years in
prison, watched others in his family jailed time and again, and led numerous
protest marches and agitations. Working alongside Mahatma Gandhi, he helped
India keep its tryst with destiny and become a free nation. Aditi De recounts
the story of Jawaharlal Nehru’s extraordinary life in this biography for young
readers. Filled with charming anecdotes, it recounts episodes from Nehru’s childhood,
his fascination with books and scientific experiments, his student years in
England, and how he was drawn to the growing struggle for Indian independence.
Finally, she sketches his role as the first Indian Prime Minister, and how he
shaped the newly-formed democratic republic. Packed with little known nuggets
of information, and trivia about the times, this book in the Puffin Lives
series brings alive the thoughts and actions of one of modern India’s most
important personalities.
Few great figures in American history are shrouded in more misconceptions than Wilbur and Orville Wright. Their fame and popular stature is extraordinary, but their personal story is largely unknown. How did two men, working essentially alone and with little formal scientific training, solve a problem so complex and demanding as heavier-than-air flight, which had defied better-known experimenters for centuries?Certainly the brothers were talented, but the true answer also lies in their background and early experiences. Learn how these seemingly ordinary bicycle mechanics emerged to change the world. At least as far back as the ancient myth of Icarus, humans longed to fly—but it wasn’t until December 17, 1903, on the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, that the dream finally came true. And it was all thanks to Orville and Wilbur Wright, two former bicycle mechanics who built their first toy plane — a rubber-band powered rotary—when they were just children. Find out how the two brothers, working quietly and persistently, ultimately solved the “flying problem” that had grounded so many others; what setbacks they experienced as they developed and improved their machine (including a tragic crash); and what additional “firsts” followed after they triumphantly took to the skies.
"The most certain way to
succeed is always to try just one more time." That was Thomas Edison's
philosophy, and it led him to create the incandescent light bulb and illuminate
the world with electricity. But that was just one of the many groundbreaking
inventions Edison devised, many of which changed the shape of entertainment,
industry, and everyday life. Meet the Wizard of Menlo Park, and see how he grew
from a lonely, inquisitive boy who carried out experiments in his basement to
the smart, enterprising, and imaginative inventor who gave us the stock market
ticker, helped develop the phonograph and cinema, and even came up with the
first storage battery and electric car.
Born into a conservative family
in a provincial town in Haryana, Kalpana Chawla dreamt of the stars. And
through sheer hard work, indomitable intelligence and immense faith in herself,
she became the first Indian woman to travel to space, and even more remarkably,
to travel twice. In this well-researched biography, journalist Anil Padmanabhan
talks to people who knew her— family and friends at Karnal, and colleagues at
NASA—to produce a moving portrait of a woman whose life was a shining
affirmation that if you have a dream, no matter how hard it is, you can achieve
it.
‘I see God in every
human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord
himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?’ —Mother Teresa Born in a country
far from the city which she would make her home, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu dreamt
of coming to Calcutta to serve the poorest of the poor. Two decades later, she
single-handedly started the Missionaries of Charity, an organization which has
today come to embody the values of compassion and care in a world of suffering.
Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize and has been beatified by Pope John
Paul II. But it is not for this that she is remembered. It is for her love and
dedicated work which transformed millions of lives—abandoned children, those
afflicted with leprosy, the destitute and the dying—that Mother Teresa is
already a saint in the hearts of people in India and abroad. In this touching
biography, Rukmini Chawla, who has been associated with Mother Teresa and the
Missionaries of Charity from an early age, provides an intimate insight into a
truly extraordinary life, and looks at how the amazing institution she founded
continues her work.
Subhas Chandra Bose opposed
Gandhi on several occasions, was at times also a bitter rival of Nehru, and
waged war against Mountbatten. This is his story, and that of the alternative,
armed struggle for Indian independence that he came to stand for a story of the
freedom struggle that ran in parallel and that left behind many heroes. “Give
me blood and I will give you freedom.” Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s words are
deeply etched in the minds of millions of Indians. A great political thinker
and radical nationalist, Netaji played a very active and prominent role in
India’s political life. In the 1930s he was a leader of the Indian National
Congress, and later of the Indian National Army (INA), during World War II.
Read the mesmerizing account of the life of this charismatic leader whose only
dream was to see his beloved motherland free from foreign rule.
Ashoka the Great, the ruler of
ancient India’s largest kingdom, took the path of peace, tolerance,
non-violence and compassion after a fierce battle in Kalinga. He now addressed
his subjects as a father would his children, and erected pillars that spread
his thoughts throughout the land in the people’s own language. He put their
welfare above all else and worked towards that for the rest of his life. One of
the most well-known symbols from India’s history, the Ashoka chakra, now adorns
India’s national flag, and the lion capital from his pillars is our national
emblem.
On his passport he was Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi. The poet Rabindranath Tagore gave him the title ‘Mahatma’-
the great soul- but he was rather uncomfortable with that. Nelson Mandela calls
him a ‘sacred warrior’, others describe him as the ‘the saint of the spinning
wheel’ and we now declare him as our ‘Father of the Nation’. A courageous
freedom fighter, a shrewd politician, a passionate social reformer and a
staunch nationalist, Mahatma Gandhi was all this and much more. He was the most
unusual leader this country has seen, and one of the most influential
personalities whose name is synonymous with India’s independence. He was the
one who touched the lives of millions, whose ideals of satyagraha and ahimsa
inspired great leaders of the world, and who could make the entire country come
to a halt by going on a fast.
Besides the above few comics like
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Books is widely liked and read by the kids, this could also be one of the
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