A bit of unsolicited advice for parents of young readers.

Our children are at an impressionable age. They are like sponge, they soak in everything around them. Surround them with good books. They deserve better than Wimpy Kids, Geronimo Stilltons. Give them an eye to the world.

Geronimo is a fun read. Like cartoons. But books are also a way to encourage empathy, live other lives vicariously through characters and to subtely nudge them towards desired qualities like fortitude and perseverance while developing a love for language and words.

Spend some time finding them books. Read reviews. Search beyond what they normally read. We as parents owe them that. I will share in a few of my favourite children's books and authors. Feel free to add more.

This book is about a poor kid in Malawi, Africa who builds a windmill for his village and changes their fortunes. True Story.

Our kids who grow comfortably in cities need to learn how the not so fortunate kids grow up in poorer parts of world. And yet inspire us.

Ruskin Bond is of course a favourite. Among all his books, I will suggest this one. Simple story about desires, greed and how excess of everything is bad.

This book has two parallel stories based in Sudan. Conjoined by their need to walk a long way for water. Kiddo had learnt some hard lessons on our trip to Kenya. And this helps teach kids gratefulness and fortitude. Has a triumphant ending

I cannot praise this book by @sanjeevsanyal enough. So badly needed given the horrible lies in NCERT history books. Suggested for around teen years. Unless you are reading (which I am) to kids

Sudha Murthy has written beautiful books with stories from Hindu mythologies. Written in simple and engaging language, Kiddo has taken to them like fish to water.

These "Horrible Geography"/Science series of books are a joy to read. Hilarious , engaging and informative, they surely know how to get young minds get even more curious.

Cant say who loves Roald Dahl more, me or the kiddo... We have finished all his books ever written including his autobiography. Dahl's quirky and witty books have lovely illustrations from Quentin Blake. Should be a case study on how to write books for kids.

I think i have recommended this book more than a couple of times. Who knew the genius scientist Stephen Hawking was also a great story teller. It blends fiction and science beautifully to create a masterpiece.

My second last recommendation is for two authors. E B White and Eva Ibbotson. Not very well known in India, but they are classical children's writers from early 19th century. Their books are loved equally even 100 years later.

My last recommendation is for our Mysooru man, R K Narayan. Get your kids this lovely (albeit overpriced) special edition of Swami and his friends. Colourful and beautifully illustrated, this is a collector's edition. Hopefully kiddo will remember me one day through these books