World Dyslexia Awareness Day: Let Every Child Enjoy What They Love

   

“Let children with dyslexia too enjoy what they love. Let their interests, imagination and strengths have a place alongside their challenges.”

October 8 is World Dyslexia Awareness Day. We often talk about what children with dyslexia find difficult. Reading, Spelling, Writing and Keeping up with classroom work. But perhaps we should also ask a different question:

What do they love?

Do they love listening to stories? Drawing? Building things? Music? Dance? Animals? Sports? Puzzles? Cooking? Making things with their hands? Then let us give them the space to enjoy those things. A child should not be defined only by what he or she finds difficult.

Different ways of learning

Dyslexia is a learning difference that can affect reading, writing and spelling. But children with dyslexia are not all alike, and difficulty in one area does not mean a lack of curiosity, creativity or ability. Sometimes a child who struggles to read a page may happily listen to an entire story. A child who finds spelling difficult may have wonderful ideas to express. A child who does not enjoy conventional classroom exercises may be completely absorbed when drawing, creating, playing or exploring.

The way a child learns may be different. The joy of learning should not be taken away.

As a blogger, what can I do?

I may not be a teacher, therapist or specialist. But I am a blogger. And a blogger has something powerful — a space to speak, share and start conversations.

So, on World Dyslexia Awareness Day, perhaps my contribution can begin with these simple questions:

Are we listening to children? Are we noticing what they are good at? Are we giving them enough opportunities to enjoy learning in their own way? Are we celebrating their interests instead of constantly reminding them about their difficulties?

I can use my blog to create awareness without making a child feel like a problem that needs to be fixed. I can share stories, books, activities, resources and experiences that encourage inclusive reading. I can recommend children's books that can be enjoyed through listening, looking, discussing and storytelling, not only through independent reading. And I can remind parents, teachers and other adults that encouragement matters.

Let books be a source of joy

As someone who writes about books, this is especially close to me. Reading should not become a source of fear simply because a child reads differently.

Let us read aloud. Let children listen to audiobooks. Let them look at illustrations. Let them talk about a story. Let them retell it in their own words. Let them draw their favourite character. Let them act out a scene. Let them choose a book because the subject interests them. And most importantly: Let us not make every reading experience a test.

Sometimes a book can simply be a book. A story can simply be a story. And reading can simply be joy.

Who should we address?

This message is not meant only for parents.

It belongs to all of us.

To parents:
Notice your child's interests and strengths. Encourage them without comparing them with other children.

To teachers:
Create opportunities for children to participate in different ways. A child's contribution need not always come through writing a perfect answer.

To librarians and reading communities:
Make reading spaces welcoming and inclusive. Encourage children to explore stories in ways that work for them.

To authors and publishers:
Continue creating diverse, engaging and accessible reading experiences for children.

To bloggers and content creators:
Talk about dyslexia responsibly. Share awareness, useful resources and positive stories rather than stereotypes.

To all of us:
Be patient. Listen. Encourage. Never make a child feel less capable because their learning journey looks different.

And what can I do through my blog?

Perhaps my contribution need not be huge. It can begin with one blogpost. One book recommendation. One story shared with a parent. One activity suggested to a teacher. One child encouraged to pursue something they love. One conversation started. One misconception corrected. That is also awareness. And if my words reach even one parent or teacher and make them pause and think differently about a child, the post has served a purpose.

A small message for every child

Dear child,

You don't have to love everything that everyone else loves. You don't have to learn exactly the way everyone else learns. You don't have to be good at everything.

Find what makes you curious. Find what makes you happy. Find what makes you want to learn more. And please don't stop enjoying it. Because your difficulties are only one part of your story. They are not the whole story.

This World Dyslexia Awareness Day

Let us move beyond “What can't this child do?”

and ask: “What does this child love to do?” Then let us help them do more of it.

Let every child with dyslexia discover, enjoy and celebrate what they love.

That could be our message this World Dyslexia Awareness Day.

Five Cookbooks That Stayed With Me

As a blogger since 2016, I have come across many cookbooks. Some were interesting for a while, some gave me ideas for a post, and some were simply books I read and moved on from. But every now and then, a cookbook stays with you.

Not necessarily because it has the most recipes. Not because it is the biggest or most beautifully photographed. Sometimes, it is because the book has a very clear idea of what it wants to say—and says it exceptionally well.

Over the years, through my reading and reviewing journey, I have come across five such cookbooks. Interestingly, all five came to me through NetGalley, and I had the opportunity to read and review each of them. At first glance, they could all be placed under the broad label of cookbooks. But that is where the similarity ends. Each one has its own personality, purpose and approach to food.

1. A book inspired by Chinese bakery — Moon Cakes and Milk Bread by Kristina Cho

This was one of those books that introduced me to a world of baking that felt different from the usual cookbook experience. Moon cakes and milk bread, inspired by Chinese bakery traditions, brought together recipes and ideas that made me look at baking from another cultural perspective.

What stayed with me was not merely the recipes. It was the concept behind the book—the way a particular bakery tradition, its flavours and its techniques could be presented through a cookbook. Food becomes a wonderful way of travelling without actually travelling. And sometimes, a cookbook can take you to another part of the world simply by opening its pages.

2. The Southern Living Party Cookbook: A Modern Guide to Gathering by Elizabeth Heiskell

This book moved beyond the idea of what to cook and concentrated on how to gather. Elizabeth Heiskell's The Southern Living Party Cookbook: A Modern Guide to Gathering looks at food in the context of occasions, people and togetherness. That distinction made the book memorable for me.

A party is not simply a collection of dishes placed on a table. There is planning, presentation, hospitality and, most importantly, the people who sit together and share the food. The cookbook therefore felt like a guide to creating an experience around food, rather than merely following recipes.

3. The Essential Cook's Kitchen by Alison Walker

Some cookbooks impress you through a particular theme. Others appeal because they are useful. The Essential Cook's Kitchen by Alison Walker belongs to the latter category for me.

It reminded me that cooking is not always about elaborate recipes or special occasions. A good kitchen also depends on understanding ingredients, methods, equipment and the practical side of preparing food. There is something satisfying about a cookbook that wants to make the cook feel more comfortable and confident in the kitchen.

4. The Visual Guide to Easy Meal Prep by Erin Romeo

As its title suggests, this book takes a visual approach to meal preparation.

And that itself makes it stand out. Meal preparation can sometimes feel like a chore, especially when there are several things to organise at once. A visual guide can make the process easier to understand by breaking it into manageable steps. What I remember about this book is its focus on simplicity and organisation.

It is another reminder that cookbooks do not always have to inspire us to cook something extraordinary. Sometimes their greatest contribution is helping us make everyday cooking a little easier.

5. Cooking with Judith

And then there was Cooking with Judith. This book, too, found its own space among the cookbooks I encountered during my blogging years.

What makes a cookbook memorable is often difficult to explain. It may be the voice, the presentation, the idea behind it, or simply the feeling the book leaves behind after you have finished reading it. For me, Cooking with Judith became one of those books.

Five cookbooks, five different journeys

Looking back at these books, what strikes me most is that they cannot really be compared with one another. Yes, they all belong to the cookbook category.

But one takes us into the world of Chinese bakery traditions.
Another explores the art of gathering and entertaining.
One concentrates on the essentials of the kitchen.
Another makes meal preparation visual and manageable.
And another brings its own identity and approach to cooking.

That is what I enjoy about books—and cookbooks in particular.

A cookbook is not always just a collection of recipes.

It can be a cultural document, a guide, a visual experience, introduce us to a tradition, teach us how to organise our kitchen, Or it can simply make us want to enter the kitchen and cook.

From NetGalley to my bookshelf of memories

All five of these books came through NetGalley, which has been one of the sources through which I have discovered books over the years. As a blogger who began writing in 2016, I have read and reviewed quite a number of books. Yet, years of reading have also taught me something important:

Not every book stays with you. And that is perfectly fine.

The special ones do. These five cookbooks stayed with me because each found its own path and followed it exceptionally well. They reminded me that even within one category, there can be enormous variety. And perhaps that is the beauty of books.

A label may tell us what kind of book it is.
But the concept, voice and experience tell us why it deserves to be remembered.

For a blog called Book Food Language, cookbooks naturally find their place somewhere between books and food—and sometimes, they even tell us a little about culture, people and the way we live. These five certainly did that for me.

WHEN WATER, MILK AND AIR CHANGE

    

Travel is not just about changing places. It is also about adjusting to changes that we cannot always see or immediately understand.

When we travel to a new destination, three things we often take for granted—water, milk and air—can suddenly feel different from what we are used to at home. The taste of water may change, milk may have a different flavour or texture, and even the air may feel different on our skin and in our breathing.

These small changes are part of the travel experience. How do we enjoy them without constantly comparing them with what we have back home?

 

 

Water – the first change we notice

Water is perhaps the easiest difference to notice. The taste of drinking water can vary from place to place because of its mineral content, source and treatment methods. The water we drink at home may have a familiar taste, while the water in another city can taste completely different.

Even the water used for bathing and washing our hair may feel different. Instead of immediately saying, “This water is not like our water,” perhaps we can look at it as one of the little things that tells us, “I am somewhere else.”

Of course, drinking water is one area where we should not compromise on safety. When travelling, use safe, treated or bottled drinking water as appropriate for the destination.

Milk – a familiar food with a different taste

Milk is another interesting one. The milk available in different places may differ in taste, richness and consistency. Depending on whether it is fresh, pasteurised, homogenised, toned, full-fat or locally sourced, our morning cup of tea or coffee may not taste exactly the same. And for those who are particular about their coffee or tea, this can become an instant topic of discussion!

But isn't that also part of travelling? A cup of tea prepared in a different place may not taste like the one we make at home—and that is perfectly fine. We can enjoy the local version for what it is instead of expecting it to reproduce our familiar taste.

Air – something we cannot carry from home

And then comes air. We cannot see it, pack it or carry it with us, but we certainly notice it. The air of a coastal town can feel very different from that of a hill station. A dry region feels different from a humid one. A city surrounded by traffic feels different from a quiet village or a forested destination.

Sometimes, the first thing we say after stepping out of a vehicle is:

“The air feels so different here!” That difference can actually become one of the most beautiful parts of travel. Take a slow breath. Notice the temperature. Feel the breeze. Observe the fragrance of trees, soil, flowers or even the sea. Instead of asking, “Why isn't this like home?”, we can ask: “What is this place telling me through its air?”

Don't make every difference a problem

One of the joys of travelling is discovering that our way is not the only way. We may have a particular kind of water at home, a favourite milk for our morning coffee and a familiar climate that our body is accustomed to. When we travel, our surroundings change—and our body may need a little time to adjust. So, rather than resisting every difference, we can give ourselves time.

Drink safe water.
Eat sensibly.
Stay hydrated.
Dress according to the climate.
Allow yourself to slowly adjust.

And most importantly, don't spend the entire trip comparing everything with home.

Travel is also about adaptation

Travel teaches us many things without announcing them as lessons. It teaches us that food tastes different in different places. Languages change. Customs change. Weather changes. Water changes. Milk changes. Air changes.

And yet, we learn to live with these differences—sometimes for a few days, sometimes for weeks. Perhaps that is one of the quiet lessons of travel:

We don't always have to make the new place become like home. Sometimes, we simply have to learn to become comfortable with the new place.

So the next time you travel and notice that the water tastes different, your coffee isn't quite the same, or the air feels unfamiliar, pause for a moment. Don't rush to judge it. Taste it. Feel it. Observe it. Adjust to it. And enjoy the experience. Because these little differences are not interruptions to our journey. They are part of the journey.

 

Custard Apple: The Fruit That Announces Its Season

  

    

Yesterday, there were so many custard apples in the market that it felt as though a whole farm had been placed right in front of me. The season has started, and these greenish-white fruits, with their distinctive knobbly appearance, are everywhere—ready and waiting for customers to buy, take home and enjoy.

A fruit that is different

Custard apple is one of those fruits that cannot really be compared with many others. It has its own appearance, texture, aroma and way of eating it.

In India, it is popularly known as sitaphal in many parts of the country. In Tamil, it is commonly called seetha pazham. The fruit has a greenish skin made up of many segments. When ripe, the flesh inside is soft, creamy and sweet. And that is perhaps where its English name comes from—the flesh is almost like a custard in its softness and texture. The fruit may look a little unusual from the outside, but once opened, it is quite a different experience.

Custard apple in South India

Custard apple is grown in several parts of India, including the southern states. It does particularly well in warm, relatively dry regions, and Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are among the important growing areas. In South India, the fruit is familiar in local markets when the season arrives. Depending on where you live and the local climate, the availability and timing can vary.

For many of us, seeing piles of custard apples in the market is itself a reminder that the season has arrived. There is something lovely about seasonal fruits. They don't remain available throughout the year in the same way. You wait for them, notice them when they arrive and make the most of them while they last.

The pleasure of eating a custard apple

Eating a custard apple is not like eating an apple, banana or orange. You cannot simply take a bite and finish it. First, you have to open the fruit and separate the soft flesh from its numerous seeds. The seeds are hard and should not be eaten. What remains is the delicious, creamy pulp. Its sweetness is distinctive—rich, soft and almost melt-in-the-mouth.

Some people love eating it chilled. Others simply scoop out the flesh with a spoon and enjoy it as it is. And perhaps that is enough. Not every fruit needs to be turned into a smoothie, dessert or elaborate recipe. Sometimes, a seasonal fruit is best enjoyed just as it is.

More than just sweetness

Custard apple is also known for its nutritional richness. The edible pulp provides dietary fibre, vitamin C and several minerals, along with natural carbohydrates that contribute to its sweetness. Like other fruits, it can be part of a varied and balanced diet. But beyond nutrition, there is something else that makes this fruit interesting. It is a fruit with character.

Its appearance is different. Its texture is different. Its seeds make eating it different. Even its name—custard apple, sitaphal, seetha pazham—changes from place to place.

A seasonal sight in the market

Yesterday, looking at those many custard apples in the market, I couldn't help thinking that they looked almost like a whole farm had arrived there. Rows and piles of greenish-white fruits were waiting for customers. Some were still firm. Some were beginning to ripen. And some were ready to be taken home and eaten.

This is one of the small pleasures of visiting a local market—the sudden appearance of a seasonal fruit reminds us that nature has its own calendar.

Custard apple season has begun.

And for those who love this unusual, creamy, sweet fruit, it is time to enjoy it before the season moves on to the next fruit.

Have you started seeing custard apples in your local market? And what do you call this fruit in your language?

World Animal Day: Making It Fun and Interactive for Children

       

World Animal Day is celebrated on October 4 every year. It is a day to remember the animals with whom we share our world and to create awareness about their well-being.

But when children gather together at school, at home, during a family function, or at any celebration, instead of giving them a long talk about animals, why not make the occasion fun, interactive and memorable?

Here are a few simple activities that can be organised with very little preparation.

1.    Guess the Animal

Start with a simple guessing game.

Tell the children:

“I am thinking of an animal. I will give you some clues. You have to guess.”

For example:

I have four legs.
I am very big.
I have a long trunk.
I love water.
I use my trunk to pick up food.

Answer: Elephant!

The child who guesses correctly can give the clues for the next animal.

2.  Make the Animal Sound

Divide the children into small groups. Give each group an animal secretly.

They have to make the sound of the animal, while the other children guess.

Lion, dog, cat, cow, elephant, monkey, rooster, frog and donkey can all make this game lively.

For older children, make it more challenging: no sounds—only actions!

3.     Animal Charades

Write the names of different animals on small pieces of paper and put them in a bowl.

One child picks a paper and acts out the animal without speaking. The others have to guess.

For older children, add another challenge:

“Show us the animal and what it eats.”

It can be both funny and entertaining.

4.     Move Like an Animal

This is especially enjoyable for younger children.

Call out:

“Walk like an elephant!”
“Hop like a frog!”
“Waddle like a penguin!”
“Jump like a rabbit!”
“Slither like a snake!”
“Stretch like a cat!”

Then suddenly call out:

“FREEZE!”

Everyone has to freeze in that position.

5.     Animal, Habitat and Food

We can also make children think while they play.

Give one child an animal. For example:

Tiger

The next child says:

Habitat – Forest

The next child:

Food – Meat

For older children, add one more:

Special feature – Stripes

It becomes:

Animal → Habitat → Food → Special feature

The same can be done with a camel, elephant, penguin, monkey, deer or any other animal.

6.     If Animals Could Talk

After all the laughter and games, it is time to make the children think.

Ask them:

“If animals could talk to us for one minute, what do you think they would say?”

A bird might say:

“Please don't destroy my trees.”

A street dog might say:

“Please don't hurt me.”

An elephant might say:

“Please leave my forest alone.”

There is no right or wrong answer. Let children use their imagination.

 One Kind Thing for an Animal

Now ask every child:

“What is one kind thing you can do for an animal?”

They may say:

• Keep water outside for birds.
• Never throw stones at animals.
• Don't disturb birds' nests.
• Don't litter.
• Be gentle with pets.
• Help an injured animal by informing an adult.
• Protect trees and plants.

You can write their answers on a board as an “Animal Kindness Wall.”

 End with a Promise

Finally, ask the children to complete this sentence:

“This World Animal Day, I promise to __________.”

It could be something as simple as:

“I will be kind to animals.”

Let everyone say together:

“Animals share our world. We will share it kindly.”

World Animal Day need not be a day of speeches and lectures. With a few simple games, children can laugh, move, guess, imagine and learn—and, most importantly, develop empathy towards the animals around them.

Sometimes, a small game and a simple promise can be the beginning of a kinder attitude towards the world we share with animals.