National Geographic Kids: Almanac 2011

Are you wondering that how did the dinosaurs die? Or why do the Chinese celebrate their New Year with dragons dancing on the streets? This book will tell you all -- this book has everything in it from the biggest ice-cream parlour in the world to what gadgets we will be using in the future. This book makes Google look pathetic. This book has 352 pages of superb everything stuff. This book will tell you about chemistry tables, movies realeasing next year etc. It also has more than 500 incredible pictures. I have almost used this book for a year and not needed the computer. This book is like the ultimate source of knowledge!

When Daddy Was A Little Boy by Alexander Raskin

Alexander Raskin is a very famous Russian author -- these stories were about him when he was small. In the introduction it says that the author used to narrate these stories to his daughter when she was sick. These stories are very interesting, realistic and funny. This book has a collection of stories from when Alexander Raskin was a little boy to when he was a young pioneer. These stories contain everyday scenes of his childhood -- like when Alexander had been elected as his school newspaper Editor or how he started writing poetry, or how he was late for school, or even chopped a snake into eight pieces, etc, etc, etc. These stories are not fantasy stories or fairy stories -- these stories are about Alexander's day to day life like, when he was very late for school and got scoldings from his teachers. This book was given to my Aunt by my Mother and then this book was passed on to Me. This is a very rare book and you will find it very hard to get this book because my Mother bought this in an exhibition of Russian books in 1994 and I think there will be hardly any copies left of the book. This book is my very favorite book, this book has very interesting stories and very delightful ones too. Once you read this book you can form your own book by writing your or your parents stories.

(This book review is also available on the Guardian Children's Book Website at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/may/13/review-daddy-little-boy)

The Dragons Of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams and Deborah Beale

Ever imagined a farm with dragons, unicorns etc? Tyler and Lucinda Jenkins used to think that there was no such place until their uncle sent them a letter to visit over to his farm, 'Ordinary Farm'. When they arrived at the farm Tyler and Lucinda think that it's going to be a normal farm with cows and sheeps etc, but they are filled with awe as they discover that the farm is full of dragons, unicorns, flying monkeys, cockatrices etc. but their uncle Gideon forbids them from telling the outside world about it. Tyler and Lucinda go exploring individually and find out about Fault Lines that take them to the past. They also find out a huge secret about the Farmhands who work at the farm. But their uncle is running out of money and a boy called Colin tries to help with those matters, but messes things up with some gangsters. So, now Tyler and Lucinda have to do something before the farms secrets are revealed. I like this book a lot, one of my personal favorites actually because it's exciting, thrilling and has a new adventure on every page. If you're the fairy tale type you can spot this book from a mile away.

Horrible Histories: Groovy Greeks by Terry Deary

Find history very boring? Usually our teachers teach history with all the horrible bits left out, this book has history with all the horrible bits left in it. Think the Greeks are boring? Think again, this book has all the disgusting, cool and funny facts about Greeks. Like do you know how they tested the blood, snot and urine samples you give to the medical lab today? Ewww! Puke! They TASTED it! YES! Bet you would never want to be a Greek doctor! They had a ritual of killing an ox for a sacrifice. But then, get this! They would then hold an investigation to find out who killed the ox. It generally ended with them sentencing the knife used for the sacrifice to death! CRAZY hunh? But we also have to thank the Greeks for giving us the first democracy, inventing the first flame thrower and pinhole camera too. They also played hockey and held the first ever Olympics. This book will tell you all about how the Greeks sacrificed, how they fought battles, about their states, their gods and their messengers. If you like a good horrible piece of history please get this on your list. You should read this book if you like a lot of history I also recommend this book to people who don't like history because it can make them develop some interest in history. Look out for the next in the series Rotten Romans.

This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch

Ever heard about a Tuning Fork? Oh! no! no! Not the musical Tuning Fork. I'll tell you, with the Tuning fork in his hand a chef can beat any food into any taste as long as the taster has tasted the food before. Cass and Max-Ernest have to find the Tuning Fork before the Midnight Sun's cooking comarade, Senor Hugo, does. But Senor Hugo has kidnapped Cass's mother! He wants the Tuning Fork from Cass and Max-Ernest. So, now Cass and Max-Ernest have to betray the Terces Society. The Midnight Sun are hiding in a chocolate plantation in an orphanage in Cote d'Ivoire, where they are making children work ( child labour ). Then Cass and Max-Ernest come to know that their school principal owns the Tuning Fork. So, now Cass and Max-Ernest have to get the Tuning Fork, go to Ivory Coast, save Cass's mother and the victims of child labour and stop the Midnight Sun's devious plan. This is the most intresting or I may say appetizing book of all the 3 books. In the series of Pseudonymous Bosch the writer's concepts are very good,intresting and most of all clear and mysterious.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Have you ever seen characters riding out of books? But this is what happens in this book -- the whole story revolves around a book called Inkheart. 

Mo (short for Mortimer) and Meggie, father and daughter live peacefully, when Dustfinger (an old colleague of Mo) returns and brings back some dark memories. He tells of an evil rising called Capricorn and Capricorn’s men are hunting for Mo. So, now Mo, Meggie and Dustfinger move to Elinor’s house, Mo’s-aunt-in-law. But danger is still lurking and all of a sudden a frightening thing happens; Mo is kidnapped by Capricorn’s men and their leader Basta. So, now the remaining Dustfinger, Meggie and Elinor have to go south to help Mo. They are successful in reaching Capricorn’s village, but are captured. Then, Meggie and Elinor come to know why Dustfinger has nicknamed Mo 'Silvertongue'. Mo, who has the ability to bring characters to life out of books had read Capricorn, Capricorn's men and Dustfinger out of the book Inkheart. Meggie and Elinor see the ability come true the next day, when Mo reads out and brings to life real gold from Treasure Island and Alladin. They escape safely and Elinor returns home. But afterwards, Mo is out to set things right. He has to and does find the writer of Inkheart, Fenoglio. Mo has some business with Fenoglio. 

He asks Elinor to come back, but in this time Meggie and Fenoglio get captured. 

Such breathtaking things are going to happen, you cannot even imagine. These are some pages I cannot describe. SPECTACULAR!, FABOULOUS!, BREATHTAKING! and whatever describing word is there in the world, if you got to read a book it's got to be this one.

This review has appeared on the Guardian, UK's Children's Book Site at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/apr/18/review-inkheart