CLICK ON THE PIC ABOVE TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE EPISODE!
Is it important for this generation of children to know about India's freedom struggle? Lubaina Bandukwala believes it is. But how do you transport this new-age generation of kids to pre-1947 India? With a nail-bitingly thrilling story, relatable characters, and an absolutely smashing read, that's how! Lubaina Bandukwala's latest book - The Chowpatty Cooking Club is part of Duckbill and Penguin India's new series Songs of Freedom. This book will transport you to a time when Gandhiji had announced the Quit India movement and when three children -- Sakina, Zenobia, and Mehul wanted nothing more than to contribute to the movement. What inspired Bandukwala to write this story? Hit PLAY to find out!
Review: The Chowpatty Cooking Club
The Chowpatty Cooking Club is the first book in the Songs of Freedom Series -- a new line of books by Penguin commemorating the 75th year of India's independence and bringing stories of life during the freedom struggle to children today. I have always been fascinated by the work done by oral historians like @citizensarchiveofindia to document the stories of those living during India's freedom struggle and reading this book feeds that fascination.
Reading The Chowpatty Cooking Club is like going back in time and being a fly on the wall in a house in 1942 Mumbai when family conversations were peppered with talk of the freedom struggle and everyone including children wanted to be a part of the raging movement. @lubaina.bandukwala deftly weaves a tale when SOBO was still South Mumbai, when Gandhiji had announced the Quit India movement and nationalism sentiment ran high. The story is seen through the eyes of three children, friends who live in and around Marine Drive and spend their days trying to be of some use to the freedom movement. They begin to notice strange happenings around their home and decide to investigate. What happens next is a thrilling twist that puts them right in the middle of all the action!
This book has a multitude of characters, names of freedom fighters, and details of the movement but the story will strike a chord with young children because this is really a nail-biting adventure set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle. I loved that the book had all these details but never once seemed like a history lesson. I loved reading about a time when Mumbai was filled with tonga wallahs, had ladies clubs that raised funds for the Air Raid Protection, and people could still feel the breeze on Marine Drive without getting jostled. With details like the best electrical shops on Lamington Road and Blavatsky Lodge, the author almost makes the city of Mumbai a much-loved character in the book.
So, get your kids a copy of The Chowpatty Cooking Club, not only will they read a fantastic story but will also begin to understand a little more about India's freedom struggle and maybe even feel patriotic!
Perfect for children 8+
To listen to all the episodes on Tell Me A Story, simply click here. I hope you enjoyed reading this newsletter, I know I had fun putting it together for you! If you like what you read, please consider sharing it with a friend who will benefit. Help a parent raise a reader and tell them about Mother Of Readers! Who knows you just might be blessed with good book karma for life!
Rati Girish
Instagram: @Mother_of_readers
Podcast: Lubaina Bandukwala on The Chowpatty Cooking Club and writing about India's freedom struggle for Gen Alpha