Summer reading recommended by children’s book authors across all ages

With another summer set to be spent indoors books can offer a window of imagination curiosity and muchneeded respite for children Summertime reading also has cognitive benefits a research study conducted by the University of Tennessee revealed that kids who donrsquot read during summer lose at least two months of reading development We invited four authors of childrenrsquos books mdash Deepa Agarwal Katie Bagli Lubaina Bandukwala and Shruthi Rao mdash to share titles they feel kids across age groups should be picking up this seasonKatie BagliReading age 5When Adil Speaks Words Dance by Lavanya KarthikThe picture book recommended by Bagli is a tale of inclusivity ldquoLavanyarsquos illustrations are interesting and the book touches upon speech disability so itrsquos a learning for the childrenrdquo she saysLetters to Krisha by Parinita ShettyKrisha is unwell and away from school so her classmates write letters to keep her updated Bandukwala reckons that kids are bound to relate to this title ldquoItrsquos absolutely charming with a whole range of personalities reflected in the lettersrdquoA Saree for Ammi by Mamta NainyIllustrated by Sandhya Prabhat this book Agarwal says is a heartwarming story of a woman who weaves saris in Kota but canrsquot afford a new saree for herself So her two little daughters come up with a solutionThe Grand Chapati Contest by Asha NehemiahThis hilarious title thatrsquos fit for kids beginning to read gets Agarwalrsquos vote Itrsquos about a king who is on the lookout for a cook to make perfect chapatis mdash that should get you smiling alreadyLubaina BandukwalaReading age 7Queen of Earth by Devika RangachariThis historical fiction book on Prithvimahadevi a lesserknown queen of Odisha Agarwal shares introduces kids to a ruler who balances her roles as a woman and a leaderReading age 8 to 12All Thirteen The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boysrsquo Soccer Team by Christina SoontornvatRao considers it to be one of the best nonfiction books for children that shersquos read ldquoIt details the events of the 2018 cave rescue which arrested the attention of the entire world It is like reading a thriller whose end you know and yet you cannot stop readingrdquo she saysShruthi RaoReading age 9Unfair by Rasil AhujaAgarwal views this to be a groundbreaking book for children ldquoIt captures the emotions of a girl in her growingup years who suddenly becomes conscious of her complexion and highlights the impact it has on herrdquo she statesReading age 10Good Thieves by Katherine RundellSummer is all about adventure and in this one Vitarsquos grandfather has been swindled out of his castle on the Hudson river Plus as Bandukwala adds ldquoWhatrsquos not to like about Katherine RundellrdquoReading age 12Saira Zariwala is Afraid by Shabnam MinwallaWith a nod from both Bagli and Bandukwala this title is a horror and mystery read ldquoSaira gets a new phone mdash and is pitchforked into a sinister world of murder and manipulation Itrsquos a real pageturnerrdquo Bandukwala saysDeepa AgarwalReading age 14Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef SalaamBandukwala calls this a powerful book written in verse The narrative for it is centred on a black teen who has been wrongly accused of a crime he didnrsquot commit