Ask Amma

Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

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Diaper-Free Reading List

In Books on 3 April 2013 at 8:25 am

When he wets or defecates, she may laugh, and as she is seldom alone, so do her companions, and she holds the infant away from her as quickly as she can until he finishes.  It is a sort of game to see how fast she can hold him away, but the laughter is louder when she gets the worst of it.  Water sinks into the dirt floor in moments and excrement is cleared away immediately with leaves.

Jean Liedloff, The Continuum Concept, p. 55

Though I was surrounded, as a young mother, by people who, like the indigenous people Liedloff described, did not use diapers, I got key support for going diaper-free from online sources.  Why rely on internet help to get back to nature? Read the rest of this entry »


Do your kids forget what they read?

In Books, Yes / No on 23 August 2012 at 3:49 am

I was wondering whether this problem is with my own kids or is it more generic. We keep forgetting what we learned few months back, especially in science. We did periodic table quite thoroughly maybe 8 months back, now we can only remember a few things. Of course if we quickly brush the topic we will probably recollect them. My kids say there is so much to remember in science, how are they supposed to remember?  Is this something to be concerned about or am I being just paranoid?

– mother of two from Bangalore

Just to get it out of the way, let us start with the counter-question, Do you forget what you read? If not, do share your techniques. Who among us would not like to improve our memory?

When you ask whether you are paranoid, I guess you are wondering whether your children’s rate of forgetting is average or above? Perhaps you would be interested in this article: Knowledge Taught in School: What is Remembered?  The author quotes Harry Bahrick, who found that “much of the information acquired in classrooms is lost soon after final examinations are taken.”  I doubt this comes as a surprise to anyone. While school teaching methods have undergone various changes in the decades since Professor Bahrick did his study, to the extent that classtime is devoted to exam-prep, this conclusion would probably still hold. Read the rest of this entry »

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Art of Fermentation

In Books, Recipes on 18 August 2012 at 1:55 pm
The art of fermentation : an in-depth exploration of essential concepts and processes from around the world
As any toddler will tell you, fermented food, when made at home, gives rise to fundamental questions, like who made the first yogurt?  It also brings us in touch with our neighbours, like when we need to borrow a spoon of yogurt because somehow we forgot to make our next bowl of yougurt before finishing our last one.  It also takes us down to the microbial level, and keep our forces of friendly bacteria strong.Can anyone offer a plan for peace?  It seems that among its many other roles, Sandor Katz’ “The Art of Fermentation” may be that as well as inspiration to make new discoveries in the kitchen and on our taste buds, and reconnect with the “hand taste” that goes into food made with love.  And, because fermented food begs to be shared, it may carry us away from the grid of the cash economy.

Michael Pollan says that “Katz would have us renegotiate the terms of our relationship with the microcosmos, and The Art of Fermentation is an eloquent and practical manifesto showing us exactly how to do that…”
An idea whose time has come!   I am typing with this book in my lap, struggling between the urge to share the good news about this book with you and the urge to read more and actually try out some of these fermentations myself, just to see what happens!
     Book
Title: The art of fermentation : an in-depth exploration of essential concepts and processes from around the world
Author:  Katz, Sandor Ellix, 1962-
Publisher, Date:  White River Junction, Vt. : Chelsea Green Pub., c2012.

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Remembering Maurice Sendak

In Books, Wit on 9 May 2012 at 3:34 am

Extra! for Kids just say the darnedest things!

“How much does it cost to get to where the wild things are? If it is not expensive, my sister and I would like to spend the summer there.”

– an 8 year old child who wrote a letter to Maruce Sendak, quoted in today’s New York Times.

Amma remembers Maurice Sendak:  Maurice Sendak came to the Boston Public Library to read from We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy and I had the pleasure of hearing him talk about some of his conversations with young people.  One was a terminally ill child whom he visited in the hospital. He told us that during his visit, the young boy was stroking the arm of his mother, as if to comfort her.

I can’t help thinking that his understanding presence helped to make this poignant moment possible. There are so very few writers today who respect the experiences and insights of children.

 


Books for Baby by Indian Authors ?

In Books on 18 February 2011 at 3:59 am

I was looking at your library for book suggestions which I could get for Disha. All the books are by foreign authors. I was wondering if you have any suggestions about books which are locally available by Indian authors?

– Chetana, mom of a 10-month old in Bangalore.

Before we get to books, I would like to say, first-hand experience should take priority over books and media. To explore the world and stir the imagination, experience through all five senses is vital. Secondly, storytelling is more precious than reading aloud. Of course in the early years you may add while reading anyway, especially if you are translating English books into your own language.

National Book Trust and Children’s Book Trust publish a good range of children’s titles in the major Indian languages as well as English. Mango, Tulika, Eco-Tales are some exciting new sources of quality children’s literature in India. Anveshi has published a series called Different Tales, available in Telugu, English and Malayalam.

Regionally there are a number of recommended bookstores featuring children’s books, such as Manchi Pustakam in Hyderabad, Other India Books in Goa, and Tulika in Chennai. In villages groups like AID are running children’s libraries. In cities, private libraries circulate books for a fee. Selection is small but if we patronize them it may improve. Bookworm in Goa grew through popular support and dedication of the proprietor, who encourages similar efforts in other cities. Ah to be a kid in Delhi and have access to Children’s Book Trust Library!