BOOK REVIEW: Petu Pumpkin -Tooth Troubles

Winner of the 2015 Crystal Kite Award

The second book in the Petu Pumpkin series...


Petu Pumpkin's friends form a Gap Club.  But Pushkin (Petu's real name) is ineligible to be a member for he doesn't have a 'gap' in his teeth.  If only he could lose a tooth, then he could be part of the Gap Club too.

Meanwhile, one of the Gap Club members, Jatin, challenges the proud fourth-graders to a football match because they call the Gap Club members "babies". Unfortunately, the Gap Club only has a plastic ball to practice with.  They desperately need a football.

Clever Pushkin makes a pact.  "If you let me join the Gap Club now, I'll ask the tooth fairy for a football when my tooth falls."

The offer is too tempting for the Gap Club to resist.  They are full of ideas and try different ways to make Pushkin's tooth fall - suggesting hard things to eat, tying a thread around his front tooth and pulling it and even aiming their plastic ball at his jaw!  But nothing works.

Then Pushkin remembers his Thatha (Grandpa) being worried about losing his few teeth when Paati (Grandma) offered him hard snacks like murukku and chikki.  Pushkin eats a mound of them and succeeds in making his front tooth loose.

The tooth eventually falls.  But Pushkin's request to the tooth fairy for a football is not granted.  Two, not one, baby teeth are needed to earn a football from the tooth fairy!

Pushkin must loose a second tooth.  With a second front tooth already dangling, he has no problem losing it with some assistance from his friends.

The football is finally granted and the club members begin their practice!

During the match, the fourth-graders take an immediate lead.  But when Pushkin takes over as referee, does the fate of the Gap Club change?  Will the snickering fourth-graders continue calling them "babies"?  To find out, read the book.

I liked the first book in the series - Petu Pumpkin: Tiffin Thief, but found this one even better since the theme is about something most readers would have dealt with -  loose baby teeth.

Although meant for younger readers, this book does have some hard words like "sympathised" and "extricated" and phrases such as "tails between their legs".  But what's the use of a book if it doesn't add to your vocabulary and knowledge of the language?

Some scenes such as Pushkin watching his loose tooth in the school toilet mirror while eating his lunch and whistle-hating dogs going after Pushkin and his friends, were particularly humourous.

Overall, an enjoyable read for kids 7+.

BOOK REVIEW: "My Teacher is a Monster. No, I Am Not!" by Peter Brown

We all have our favourite and not-so-favourite people in the world.  So do children.  And that’s what this book is about.

Bobby dislikes his teacher at school.  She is always roaring, stomping and keeping children from going for recess.  To Bobby, she is a monster!

In his free time, Bobby loves to visit his favourite spot in the park.  But one Saturday morning, he is in for a “terrible surprise” when he gets there.  The monster is there too! 

The unexpected situation brings about an uncomfortable silence, then a few words.  But soon a gust of wind blows over to the rescue and helps change the awkwardness of the situation into something 'normal'.

The monster and Bobby spend the rest of the morning together enjoying each other’s company.  By the time Bobby heads home for lunch, the monster seems more like a lady.  But will it be the same when he gets back to school the following week?

Illustrated in colours of green, blue, black and brown, the pictures reflect how Bobby’s perspective of his teacher changes from the beginning to the end.

The story brought back memories of my childhood when I’d tag along with my mother to the market and unexpectedly meet a teacher.  As the adults would chat (about me), I’d wish that I was invisible.  Of course, my teacher was no monster!  But if I met a school friend, it was a totally different ballgame.

I liked this book because of its simplicity - both in story and illustrations.  I think it is a good story to read to children to put them at ease about their teacher and to tell them that teachers are just like other grown-ups.

This book is appropriate for ages 5+.