Building Castles in the Air  (Paperback, Disha Gupta)

This book comprises 24 chapters, each inspired by the author's childhood. Accompanying every chapter is an illustration that depicts the entire story, reflecting the adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." The stories explore various themes, including friendships, family neglect, relationships with schoolmates and teachers, and the connections formed during early childhood at home and school. A child receives love from many people and feels empowered by their support and guidance. These interactions contribute significantly to the child's social learning. Children should read such enriching books. Nowadays, mobile devices have become a new companion for kids. While technology has its benefits, the essence of human relationships and the lessons learned from them are invaluable. We learn to live harmoniously with others through stories of friendship, where one friend's happiness brings joy to another, and one friend's suffering affects the other. The book also delves into bonds such as those between a mother and daughter, father and daughter, and siblings. Even neighbors' children are portrayed as having sibling-like relationships. The stories depict various incidents from school, home, and the playground. The illustrations are intentionally included to attract the next generation of children. These colorful illustrations encourage children to read more. The language of the book is simple, making it accessible to anyone with basic English knowledge. Notes explaining words borrowed from Hindi and their English meanings are provided to maintain the book's cultural roots, reflecting the culture in which the author was raised. This book discusses numerous circumstances and learning lessons in child development. Children exhibit different behaviors in various situations, becoming resilient and learning to adapt and navigate life.