✨ Author Divya Anand was in the spotlight—just like Agalya, the lead in her new book Agalya in the Spotlight (@penguinsters )! 💫
The session began with a delightful skit on Rapunzel, just like Agalya and her friends do in the story. From friendship and self-kindness to body image and doing the right thing in tough moments—the book sparked some thoughtful conversations. 💛
Divya read from her book, chatted with the kids, and guided them through a lovely art activity where they expressed what they liked about themselves. And yes, there were signed copies and big smiles too! 🎨📚✨
Big thanks to @mansig84 for making this heartwarming event happen! 💐
For National Technology Day, the very lovely @divyawrites and I decided to do this fun collaboration!
Really enjoyed the book and if you haven't already, do pick up 'Misfit Madhu' :)
#Indiankidlit #technology
It’s #WorldTechnologyDay and here’s my recommendation - #uncoded by Meghaa Gupta. It’s a brilliant look into India’s technology history. If you haven’t read it yet, get a copy from your favorite bookstore immediately!
#bookstagram #history #childrensbookstagram
Writes our 10-year-old star reviewer, Ahaana,
"It was a dull Monday when I came home from school and spotted Agalya in the Spotlight by Divya Anand on the coffee table.
Mumma had surprised me again! I instantly forgot about TV and started reading — and I finished it in one sitting because it was so exciting.
The story follows Agalya, a sporty girl who loves gymnastics and running — not exactly what you’d call princess-like.
But when her teacher announces that the class will perform an act from Tangled, Agalya decides to audition for Rapunzel.
The problem? Her best friend Prisha wants the same role.
Soon, their friendship turns into rivalry, and Agalya is hurt to see Prisha teaming up with the mean girls.
What I loved most is how Agalya shows that being a princess isn’t about fancy dresses or perfect style.
A true princess is kind, brave, and ready to stand up for herself and others.
The book is full of humour, drama, friendship troubles, and funny hair disasters.
Along with being super fun to read, it teaches important lessons about courage, kindness, and facing bullies bravely."
Misfit Madhu by Divya Anand @divyawrites
A story of Madhurima who codes, builds an app and gets famous in her middle school life. But she has to face some ethical issues once the app is used for illegal purposes like bartering for school exam paper. Will she shut down what she built or will she allow such practices... Mind the word practice... 😆
Writing
Good, fast paced and a story which is relevant to present times when children are learning coding and building solutions through apps yet they are still young to understand governance. It's witty and light hearted yet thrilling and serious.
The book felt personal....🤩
Book Recommendation
For school children and adults as everyone needs a lesson in ethics.
#AuthorByte Watch author Divya Anand tell us about her latest release, Agalya In The Spotlight, the story of Rapunzel who got diagnosed with alopecia.
As whispers and self-doubt grow, she must find the courage to embrace herself. Can Agalya rise above it all and let her true self shine?
Reading Age: 8 years and up
Price: ₹250
Grab your copy in-store or online. DM us for queries and orders. Link in bio for our full catalogue.
#childrensliterature #childrenstories #childrensbooks #childrenbookstore #childrensbookstagram #bookreader #bookrecommendations #bookforkids #bookstore #booklovers #bookstagram #booktok #viral #fyp #explore #explorepage #viral #illustration #illustrator #alopecia #alopeciaawareness #alopeciasupport #childrenwithalopecia #bully #strength #childrensauthorsofinstagram #childrensauthor
Got my hands on a copy of #QueenOfWater and had to finish it immediately. Kundavai’s story is told so beautifully that now I must figure out which translation of #ponniyinselvan is the must-read because I can’t get the Cholas out of my head. This is my personal favorite in this series, perhaps coming a close second to Dida in Queen of Ice.
Thank you @mansig84 for sharing your copy!
#bookstagram #indiankidlit #chola #historicalfiction #tamilhistory #childrensbooks @devikarangachari@penguinsters
Divya Anand's Agalya in the Spotlight starts on a high—a school play, a starring role, a child's dream taking root. Agalya is no ordinary girl—she is a gymnast, an artist, a bundle of talent who gets the plum role of Rapunzel. For a fleeting instant, everything falls into place. But life won't bend according to fairytales.
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When Agalya grows alopecia and starts losing her hair, the tale refuses to go into melodrama. It instead goes inside. It dawdles on all that's painful in actuality: the pain of a friend who's gone drifting away, the stress of being publicly scrutinized, the heartless disparity between promise and performance. Anand doesn't sermonize about toughness. She depicts it—in the silences, the hiccups of awkwardness, the refusal to take the easy way out.
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However, this is not a hair book. It's about the narratives we tell ourselves when things are starting to unravel—and the gentle bravery it takes to keep showing up anyway.
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Agalya's strength isn't in getting over alopecia. It's in existing with it. There is no fairy tale hair regrowth, no grand address to make all right. What we have instead is a intimate, awkward reckoning with change, identity, and the way love sometimes appears in soft, imperfect forms. The friendships, the family, and most importantly self reckoning.
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What makes this book unique is that it does not attempt to sugarcoat pain. The limelight, in this case, is not a prize—it's a challenge. And Agalya, in her vulnerability and in her unassuming strength, teaches young readers that you don't have to be perfect in order to be worthy of being noticed.
T.his book redefines beauty, not as something to be looked at—but as something lived, chosen, reclaimed. And it does so with dignity, humor, and an honesty that resonates long after the curtain calls - in a style Anand always delivers with her books!
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#Qotd: Which fairytale would you love to star in?
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From @penguinsters
Have you read these two novels?🥹🙈📕
Just finished both these novels, review coming very very soon😍🫶🏻
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#novel #romance #romancebooks #romancenovels #romancenovel #booklovers #bookreading #bookreaders #bookobsessed #bookaddict #romancereads #romancereader #bookstagram #bookreels #reels #viral #trending #instagram #explore #explorepage
Here's what I learnt from this book:
Real beauty comes from believing in yourself & being different is actually awesome.
Have the courage to be yourself, that's what makes you a real princess, not the hair, not the dress but a brave heart.
Thank you Penguin Random House & Divya Anand for sending me this book.
@penguinsters@divyawrites #ahanastoryteller #childreviewer #kidslibrary #readtokids #childrensbooks #parenting #bookreviewerforchildren
