What Could It Be?

MY THOUGHTS

A bright, pink cover for a lovely little story that turns the parent-child relationship on its head!

Y’all know I love a good Hook Book, and I absolutely love so many things about this one. Diya is worried about her father because he is scared after seeing something in the bathroom. Now, Diya’s imagination runs wild — could he have seen skeletons or demons in the bathroom? She wants to get to the bottom of it, and when she does, it turns out to be a harmless, household creature. But, out of concern for her father, she wants to make sure he doesn’t encounter it again and starts to work on a plan to rid their bathroom of it!

There is a lovely role reversal of the parent-child relationship here. Usually, the parent is seen taking care of the child, but here we see the child taking efforts to ‘save’ her father from something that scares him. The young reader is also introduced to the fact that parents or grown-ups can sometimes get scared too; they are human after all! This is also a book that helps you discuss rational and irrational fears with your child. I also loved how illustrator Swati Bhembre has included the city of Jaipur in her illustrations. You can spot block print bedsheets, ornate windows (even on the makeshift shelter), and elaborate photo frames. Bharti Singh adds drama as Diya wonders what her father saw by introducing rhyming verse in the story.

This is a super fun story to read with your child. It is funny, dramatic, and heartwarming! Hook Books are great for emerging readers as they encourage and engage the child to read the story along with amazing illustrations and easy-to-read text. Each Hook Book features a child in a situation that young readers can relate to and gives them a taste of local Indian culture and diversity. What’s not to love? Get What Could It Be today!