Dear Junior readers,

The Junior Observer launches “Junior Readers’ Club” to which we invite all you Junior Readers to join up! The Junior Readers’ Club will have activities and competitions to encourage you to read and read and read more, for fun and to learn. Do join in!

One activity will be introducing books for you to read. We will introduce a book from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and tell you about it in a 'book review'. You are also invited to write in and tell us about a book you have read and liked. Write up to 150 words and email your entries to [email protected] or post them to Lake House, 35, D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha,

Colombo 10.

NOTE: Vijitha Yapa Bookshop will give prizes for a write up about a book available in their bookshops. The best book review will receive a book as the first prize, and the second prize will be a gift voucher from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop. Contact 2429237 to collect your gifts.

Tales from the glorious past

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

Do you want to be transported back in time to a Sri Lanka rich in folklore and history? Tales from Sri Lanka by Manel Ratnatunga is a collection of 67 short stories about history and folklore.

“The Tortoise and His House” is a story where all animals are invited to a wedding but only the tortoise arrives late. The tortoise incurs the wrath of his guest because of his delay.

“Sardiel, Our Robin Hood” is about the historic figure Sardiel of Utuwankande. Like Robin Hood of Sherwood, Sardiel is a hero still spoken of in Sri Lanka. The story depicts the life events of Sardiel and how he came to be the historic figure that he is today.

“Maha Daena Muththa” is a humorous tale of an old man who considers himself wise and poses as a sage. The humour arises from his five pupils going in search of more students and not using their common sense.

“The Three Questions” is about the social hierarchy of a fictional village where kings, devas and ‘gurunanses’ (teachers) dwell together.

The stories chronicle the history and culture of Sri Lanka in a bygone era. There are recurring images of rivers, waterfalls, trees and jungles which provide a visual treat for children. It portrays rustic rural life and there is a blend of fantasy with reality as humans and animals interact with each other.

First Prize: The Vendor of Sweets

The novel The Vendor of Sweets by R.K.Narayan is set in an imaginative Indian village called Malgudi. The novel explores the generation gap and Western influences. The main theme is the generation gap between father and son. The protagonist of the novel is Jagan, who is an elderly cultured Indian freedom fighter. He is a vendor of sweets and owns a sweet shop. The novel begins with Jagan and his cousin discussing their daily activities and they start talking about Mali, Jagan's son. What follows is a cross-generational battle between father and son. Jagan is unable to find a place in the new world and decides to retire. The book examines the cross-generational battle of an estranged son.

Sadurshan Saravana,
Grade-11, Mubarak Intl. Academy.

Second Prize: Wimpy Kid

Out of all the books I have read, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School is my favourite book. The author of the book is Jeff Kinney.

The book starts with Greg's parents having a conversation about the good old days they used to live in, a world without technology, a place where people got to know each other and it was like one big happy family. But, that doesn't convince Greg at all. However, Greg is eventually sent to Hardscarbble Farm which is a summer camp and the book explains how Greg Heffley survives an entire summer with no electronic devices and no junk food. Jeff Kenny includes a wimpy character Greg, two serious adult characters, Greg's parents, a rebellious rocker teen, Greg's elder brother-Rodrick, Greg's pesky younger brother Manny and his very loyal best friend Rowley. These characters make the book interesting.

Amana Haya.
10 years,
Royal Institute,
Nugegoda.