The magic that collaborative sessions often enables participants to get creative and even lead sessions independently. So what if mistakes happen? We will learn along the way! Excerpt from one such session at the Young Readers' Club. photo for representational purposes We were about to play our customary riddles party- a time when we cook up riddles of our own. One of the young readers came forward asking if he could implement his idea for an activity based on books that we h

Is being different in some way makes us a misfit? A question that came up while reading a book together. We at the Young Readers' Club, discovered something beautiful as we attempted to answer that question. Auggie from the book Wonder by R.J Palacio, set us thinking. He looks different from the other children-- the result of multiple surgeries on his face to correct a defect that he was born with. He was homeschooled for this very reason. But that cannot be forever. He must

The cover intrigued the group. The question on everyone's minds before they read the blurb, was 'Why does this boy have only one eye?' They read the blurb and wondered more? Does this character have only one eye? What does his face look like? How do his eyes look? What could have inspired the author to write such a book? There was only one way to find out. Read the book! There was general excitement at the Young Readers' Club. No one had read a book of this kind. Most of them

As with almost any book we read together in Young Readers's Club , the theory board always gets filled with analyses and theories about the plot . Supergifted by Gordon Korman was no different. If anything, even more rejoiceful as we waited with baited breath to see if any of the theories the young readers came up, actually turned out to be right. Supergifted is the sequel to yet another amazing book, Ungifted. Ungifted was all about an impulsive character, Donavan Curtis, w

We considered a fictional scenario in which people need to be given written instructions that they can easily understand and act accordingly. One of the most useful real-life writing skills is learning to write clear instructions . We see instructions everywhere—on clothing labels, in DIY guides, or when putting together a piece of IKEA furniture! When instructions are unclear, even simple tasks can become frustrating. Now imagine a more serious situation—a natural disaster w

The Christmas Pig by J.K Rowling I have a confession to make. I don’t enjoy reading fantasy. I survived Harry Potter but that was because of peer pressure. Hence when one of my young reading companions at the book club (Young Readers' Club) highly recommended this book, I wasn’t too keen to pick this book up. But his review and reason why he highly recommended it, stayed in my mind for a long time. I had almost forgotten it, until this amazing book caught my attention, while

Have you ever noticed how reading a great story makes you want to write your own? Or how jotting down your thoughts helps you understand a tricky chapter better? That magical connection between reading and writing is more than just coincidence. It’s a powerful learning tool that can transform how you absorb and express ideas. Today, I want to share with you why combining these two skills creates a learning experience that’s not only effective but also fun and deeply rewarding

A scene in an amazing book set in motion a thought provoking discussion about dogs and safety in public spaces. A complex situation with multiple perspectives. The dog in question is a character in the book Supergifted by Gordon Korman. She could not stand by watching her favorite person get punched by another boy. She reacted by pouncing on the attacker to protect her favorite person. The boy who punched had a small bruise as a result. His parents were rightfully upset seei

When I think about the magic of reading, I’m reminded of those moments when a story grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. For children and teens, especially those between 9 and 18, developing a love for reading is more than just a pastime - it’s a gateway to confidence, critical thinking, and self-expression. But how do we help young minds unlock this treasure? The answer often lies in well-designed literature programs for children that nurture their skills and spark th

When I think back to my own childhood, I remember the magic of stories and the thrill of putting pen to paper. It wasn’t just about learning to read or write; it was about discovering a whole new world. That’s why I believe literacy development benefits go far beyond the classroom. They shape how children see themselves and the world around them. So, why is it so important for kids and teens to dive into the world of reading and writing? Let’s explore this together. Why Liter

Vocabulary building doesn't always have to be about finding the meaning and making a sentence to remember it! At the Young Readers' Club, we love words. We often play a variety of word games just to find new words or simply to talk about the meaning of words that we already know. Recently, we stumbled upon this picture and tried to figure the word that best describes the emotion. The group debated between 'strong' and 'resilient'. They eventually settled for 'resilient'. But

A lot of elements come into play to make a book engaging. In particular, the character(s) are the most elements that will engage the reader or perhaps not. We were nearing the climax in the book Ungifted by Gordon Korman. The book ended, but seeing that there were more pages left, we decided to flip to the next page out of curiosity. What we found was the excerpt of the sequel to this book, Supergifted. My reading companions were pleasantly surprised and were keen that we rea

It is hardly motivating for a 3rd grader to reach out a dictionary, spend time locating the new word, and then spotting the meaning. Needless to say, it kills the joy of reading a good book. But how then can young reader learn new words? Who doesn't love a good story? The story picks up pace, suspense is building and there comes along a new word. The word is evidently important to understand what is going on in the story. An adult would suggest reaching out to the dictionary

When you have a real unsolved case to analyze, it is definitely exciting! The tween members of the club actively participated in analyzing the case and drafting theories. Photo by DAT VO on Unsplash A YouTube video on CBS News Channel gave us all the information we needed to get started. The tween writers on the Young Writers’ Club (Jr.) don’t always take anything they read or see at face value but like to probe further. They clearly were not going to get carried away with th

Exploring Emotions in The "One and Only Ivan" By Katherine Applegate. What Ivan’s Roar Taught Us About Anger. We have known Ivan, the silverback gorilla, the hero of the book, as a gentle and kind soul. He is content with what he has. Things change when he makes a promise, which he has no idea how to keep. But a promise must be kept at any cost. Days, weeks pass by as he contemplates what he can do to keep his promise. It's not easy but he eventually comes up with a plan. As

Empowering Change: Rajalaxmi Chauhan and Her Digital Platform Avidus Rajalaxmi Chauhan, a 17-year-old girl from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, is on a mission. She noticed that many people in her town wanted to learn new things but lacked access to good books or teachers. So, she took action. Rajalaxmi created a free online learning website called Avidus . This platform covers a variety of topics, including banking, elections, taxes, civil rights, and mental health. The best part? Us

What does it take? Is it just the person who gets all the spot light or is it everyone who makes a great feat possible? A discussion at...

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lai Source: Amazon There was something about the cover that first caught my attention. My young...

Have you ever wondered how your child sharing their thoughts about a book can make reading even more exciting? Imagine diving into a...

The Young Readers' Club members had an unusual problem to solve. They were stranded in the Amazon Rainforest after having got separated from their camping team. They must move but can't carry all the supplies. Together, they had to work in teams to finalize the list of 10 items that they must carry in order to survive in the wilderness. The list of items available for them to choose from, were provided. Not an easy task! Every item there seemed important but it is impossible