My Science School

"Angry River"

The bond between Sita and Krishna in the "Angry River' by Ruskin Bond inspired me the most. Bond writes about how one should develop a sense of comraderie. The story shows us how one should not lose hope in dark times and endure their struggle to reach our goals. The book motivated me to not to lose hope, be helpful and focus on our goals no matter what the situation.

Awesome Threesome

Harry, Hermione and Ron the mischievous trio use their wits to overcome evil. Together these friends, belonging to the wizarding world, face seven deadly adventures to fight the evil Lord Voldemort. No matter how hard and dangerous it gets, they never leave each others side. Harry met Ron in the Hogwarts Express, where they shared candy and their bond remains sweet to date. Hermione's caring nature was evident when she came inside their cabin to tell them to put on their robes. When they reached Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy told Harry not be friends with Ron and Hermione but he declined as they had already started understanding each other. In the last film, Ron left Hermione and Harry while finding Horcruxes. When he came back, he told them how he regretted it. This kind of friendship is extremely hard to find. We should learn from them and always stick together and have each other's back.

Standing up against evil

I like the friendship between the characters Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror-thriller "IT" by Stephan King. The reason why I love them so much is that they are always there for each other. Even though there is an evil clown trying to kill them, they don't lose hope. Richie likes to tease Eddie a lot, and though he acts like he doesn't, Richie knows deep inside that Eddie enjoys it. Towards the end, Eddie sacrifices his own life without any hesitation to save Richie from the evil clown.

A merry bunch

The friendship between Merry and Pippin from "The Lord of the Rings" is one of my favourites. The duo are already friends when the story starts. They are humorous and have good "hobbit sense". They stumble into heroism by virtue of their loyalty and friendship. They are loyal to Frodo and several others they meet along their journey. So, that's why I admire Merry and Pippin. They're willing to make huge sacrifices for the people they care about. They are a wonderful team. They are courageous and valiant.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione

The friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione of the "Harry Potter" series inspired me. I have often felt that this is how friendship should be. Throughout the novel there are many adventures and obstacles for Harry to face, but Ron and Hermione are always besides him. They protect him in any circumstances. The adventure would never be interesting without them. They all love each other and remained as best friends forever. Indeed, their bond of friendship cannot be broken even by waving your wand and uttering the most powerful spell.

An unbreakable bond

The protagonists and deuteragonists of many books and movies are shown as friends. The best example of such friendship according to me is the friendship. Percy Jackson and Grover Underwood in the series "Percy Jackson And The Olympians". Their strong bond of friendship is highly motivating. They even tried to sacrifice their own lives for the benefit of the other. One such situation is when Grover volunteers to stay in the underworld and sacrifice his life to retrieve Percy's mother. Even if this is a fictional account, their friendship is motivating for me

Happy Prince

"Happy Prince" is short story by author Oscar Wilde. It revolves around a statue of a prince named Happy. He had never experienced sadness. However, when he turned into a statue, situated in the centre of the town, he able to see what was going on his country. He finally understood that sadness and happiness are also parts of our lives. He desperately wanted to help the people who were poverty-stricken. A swallow who was in the middle of travelling to Egypt, decides to rest under the statue. Suddenly, a few drops of water fall on her, but when she looks up the sky is clear. Later, she realises that the drops were the tears of the statue. When she asks him why he is crying, the statue asks her for a favour. He wants the swallow to help him give the valuable metal on his body to the poor people. That's when their friendship blossoms. When the statue gives his eyes to the people, the swallow acts as his eyes and observes the people for him. Many does pass, but the swallow doesn't leave the statue's side. Later, she dies because of the cold weather. Their friendship inspires me to build a strong bond with the people around me.

Secret Coders

Secret Coders written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Mike Holmes is series in which the bond between three close friends inspired me. Hopper. Eni and Josh all meet at Stately Academy. They share a passion for coding. As the series progresses, they grow closer and doser as they fight the evil Dr. One-Zero, and keep him from obtaining the world's most powerful computer. The Turtle of Light. They also stop him from releasing his highly destructive Green Pop. They are ready to take risks to help one another. I liked how they work together to solve any problem headed their way and keep their cool. It inspired me to socialise and make more friends. They are true reflections of each other. Talking to friends makes your day happier. I want to learn and grow along with my friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series!

Greg and Rowley

The book "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" showcases the friendship between Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson. Despite having different personalities, they are best friends. Greg wants to do something innovative and creative, whereas Rowley just wants to lead a normal life. They always land in trouble due to some or the other reason, but they stand together and resolve their problems, with their hilarious yet creative ideas. They have taught me that though two friends may think differently, but true friends always help each other in tough times. They made me understand the true meaning of friendship!

A magical friendship

The friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermonie in the "Harry Potter" series inspired me because even though each of them have a different character, they work together and make a good team. I observed that Harry is a bold person: Hermonie is very knowledgeable and Ron is crazy, but comes up with extraordinary ideas sometimes. Harry is patient enough to tolerate Ron and Hermonie's fight and does his best to keep the team together. The trio never gives up on one another for any reason. They stand together against evil. Hermonie and Harry are quite bold and though Ron is afraid of few things, he never steps back. The one thing I like the most about them is they share a good understanding. It's everyone's dream to get such a good friend

Friendship and family

When I was reading "The Jungle Book", I came across the character of Mowgli. He is a little boy who was rescued by the wolf pack. When Sher Khan, the tiger, tries to attack Mowgli, the wolf pack protects Mowgli and cares for him just like a member of the family. Last year for English, I had a lesson titled "The Man Cub" about Mowgli. I had tears in my eyes when I read it because a little boy who is not having food or clothes was given shelter by wolves. I felt it was a very friendly and kind moment. It also taught me a lesson that even if we are poor, we should not be afraid and be happy with what we have.

Rusty and Daljit

The friendship between Rusty and Daljit in Ruskin Bond's "Adventures of Rusty" inspired me. They decide to run away from their terrible school, Arundel. They have many adventures on the way, including running into a teacher, encounters with tigers, clothes being stolen, and escaping rouges. This book is good for those who like to read stories of adventures and friendship.

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

When we think of adventure fiction, Mark Twain "the father of the American Literature" instantly comes to mind instantaneously. His most popular novel "Tom Sawyer's Adventures" is remarkable for the struggle of its protagonist. In this novel, a boy named Tom Sawyer is raised by Aunt Polly. He has a good friend named Huckleberry Finn. The book follows their adventure to an island. I got inspired by their friendship as it shows how a good friend is easy to get along with. There was another friend of Tom Sawyer's named Jim. He can be called a tritagonist in the novel.

Thea sisters

The friendship between the Thea sisters in Thea Stilton's books inspired me a lot because whatever adventure they go on, they go together and whatever they do, they do it together. The Thea sisters are a band of five Mouselets (female mice) - Nicky, Colette (Coco), Pamela (Pam), Paulina - and Violet (Vi). They are studying at Mouseford Academy and their mentor is Thea. They go on many crazy adventures, but the way they always look out for each other is truly inspiring. They do fight at times, but they quickly make up. I was really surprised to see their teamwork and I hope to do the same with my friends.

Heer and Moti

Friendship is the most trustworthy thing on this Earth. It's just like an attraction between a magnet and an iron. And I found this type of friendship in the book "Do Baillo Ki Katha", written by Munshi Premchand. Though his writing style is simple, his stories have a deep meaning. This story revolves around two bulls named Heera and Moti. Their friendship is based on love, trust, and respect towards one another. Both bulls are different in nature, yet they bond are so well. Heera is of a cool temperament, while Moti is short-tempered. In story, there are many incidents which prove their love. To state one was when they were in kanji-house Moti tried to break the wall and ran away but at that Once Heera is unwell, so Moti stays by his side and safeguards him till the end. This story spreads a very positive message that we should never betray anyone.

True friendship

Have you heard the story of the rat and the pigeon king? In this story, the pigeon king asks the pigeons to be careful and watch out for hunters. He warns them against eating seeds on the ground without checking first. The group agrees with them and they are fly away. They see some seeds laying on the ground. Despite the king's warning, the pigeons come down to eat the seeds and get trapped! The king gets angry, but decides to help them. The kings' friend rat is passing by. He sees that his friend is in trouble and starts nibbling away at the net. Before the hunter comes, the Rat manages to free the birds. This story teaches us that when you are in trouble, only a true friend will help you.

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C.S. Lewis, in full Clive Staples Lewis, is Irish-born scholar, novelist, and author of about 40 books, many of them on Christian apologetics, including The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity. His works of greatest lasting fame may be The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven children’s books that have become classics of fantasy literature.

In his youth Lewis aspired to become a notable poet, but after his first publications—a collection of lyric verse (Spirits in Bondage) in 1919 and a long narrative poem (Dymer) in 1926, both published under the name Clive Hamilton—attracted little attention, he turned to scholarly writing and prose fiction. His first prose work to be published (except for some early scholarly articles) was The Pilgrim’s Regress: An Allegorical Apology for Christianity, Reason, and Romanticism (1933), an account of his search to find the source of the longings he experienced from his early years, which led him to an adult acceptance of the Christian faith. Lewis had rejected Christianity in his early teens and lived as an atheist through his 20s. Lewis turned to theism in 1930 (although Lewis misdated it to 1929 in Surprised by Joy) and to Christianity in 1931, partly with the help of his close friend and devout Roman Catholic J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis described these changes in his autobiography Surprised by Joy (1955), an account of his spiritual and intellectual life through his early 30s.

In 1950 Lewis published what has become his most widely known book, the children’s fantasy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He went on to write six additional stories, and together the series came to be known as The Chronicles of Narnia. The series, which describes the conflicts between good and evil that occur in the kingdom of Narnia, is unified by Aslan, a noble lion, which is the form in which the Son of God usually appears in Narnia. The books were hugely popular, and numerous television and film adaptions appeared. The Narnian chronicles were followed by his last work of fiction, the one he thought his best, Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold (1956), a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche from the viewpoint of one of Psyche’s sisters, whom Lewis names Orual. It is the least popular of his novels but the most highly praised by literary critics.

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Anne of Green Gables, children’s novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, published in 1908. The work, a sentimental but charming coming-of-age story about a spirited and unconventional orphan girl who finds a home with elderly siblings, became a classic of children’s literature and led to several sequels.

Matthew Cuthbert and his sister, Marilla, live in Avonlea on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Needing help on their farm, Green Gables, they apply to adopt a boy from an orphanage. By mistake, however, a red-haired, freckle-faced 11-year-old girl named Anne Shirley is sent to the siblings. While Matthew instantly takes to Anne, Marilla is unsure about keeping her. However, the cheerful and highly imaginative Anne gradually transforms the joyless lives of shy Matthew and prim Marilla, and they come to view her as a daughter.

Anne of Green Gables was inspired by a newspaper story, and Montgomery infused the work with her own girlhood experiences and the rural life and traditions of Prince Edward Island. Although initially rejected by several publishers, the novel was a huge success upon publication. Mark Twain called Anne “the most lovable child in fiction” since Lewis Carroll’s Alice. Anne of Green Gables was adapted for film, stage, and television. Although Montgomery was not interested in continuing the story, she wrote several sequels that traced Anne’s life from girlhood to motherhood. However, they were less popular than the original novel.

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.B. White, in full Elwyn Brooks White, American essayist, author, and literary stylist, whose eloquent, unaffected prose appealed to readers of all ages.

White graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1921 and worked as a reporter and freelance writer before joining The New Yorker magazine as a writer and contributing editor in 1927.

In 1941 White edited with his wife A Subtreasury of American Humor. His three books for children—Stuart Little (1945, film 1999), Charlotte’s Web (1952, film 1973 and 2006), and The Trumpet of the Swan (1970)—are considered classics, featuring lively animal protagonists who seamlessly interact with the human world. In 1959 he revised and published a book by the late William Strunk, Jr., The Elements of Style, which became a standard style manual for writing in English. Among White’s other works is Points of My Compass (1962). Letters of E.B. White, edited by D.L. Guth, appeared in 1976, his collected essays in 1977, and Poems and Sketches of E.B. White in 1981. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963) and a Pulitzer Prize special citation (1978). 

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Mary Poppins, the first novel in a series of children’s books written by P.L. Travers, published in 1934. The titular character is a sensible English nanny with magical powers, and the work uses mythological allusion and biting social critique to explore the fraught relationship between children and adults.

Travers first introduced Poppins in a 1926 short story and later expanded the character’s adventures into a novel. Travers claimed that she did not write specifically for children and was said to be unhappy with the decision to market the book to younger readers. However, children were enthralled by Poppins’s playful warping of reality and anarchic dismissal of unnecessary rules. The novel’s absurdity also appealed to adult readers, as did Travers’s sly mocking of the way the British middle classes raised their children. Travers wrote seven more books about Mary Poppins, the last one appearing in 1988.

While the 1934 work remains a children’s classic, it is perhaps partly overshadowed by Disney’s 1964 film adaptation, an immensely successful musical that featured Julie Andrews in her Academy Award-winning screen debut. Travers frequently expressed her dislike of the Disney version, especially its saccharine depiction of Poppins. The movie Saving Mr. Banks (2013) highlights Travers’s contentious relationship with Walt Disney during the making of the 1964 film.

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Defoe probably based part of Robinson Crusoe on the real-life experiences of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who at his own request was put ashore on an uninhabited island in 1704 after a quarrel with his captain and stayed there until 1709.

But Defoe took his novel far beyond Selkirk’s story by blending the traditions of Puritan spiritual autobiography with an insistent scrutiny of the nature of human beings as social creatures. He also deployed components of travel literature and adventure stories, both of which boosted the novel’s popularity. From this mixture emerged Defoe’s major accomplishment in Robinson Crusoe: the invention of a modern myth. The novel is both a gripping tale and a sober wide-ranging reflection on ambition, self-reliance, civilization, and power.

Robinson Crusoe was a popular success in Britain, and it went through multiple editions in the months after its first publication. Translations were quickly published on the European continent, and Defoe wrote a sequel (The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe) that was also published in 1719. Defoe’s book immediately spurred imitations, called Robinsonades, and he himself used it as a springboard for more fiction.

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In 1947 Geisel returned to children’s books with McElligot’s Pool, about a boy who imagines a fantastical marine world while fishing. The work was especially noted for Geisel’s inventive creatures, which would come to populate his later stories. In addition, he continued to use his whimsical rhymes to convey important life lessons. In Horton Hears a Who! (1954), the loyal pachyderm returns to protect a tiny speck of a planet known as Whoville. A discussion about minority rights and the value of all individuals, the work features Horton repeating “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” In 1957 Geisel published two of his most popular works: The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The former features a mischievous talking cat who entertains two bored children on a rainy day, while the latter introduces the Scrooge-like Grinch, who wants to ruin Christmas in Whoville but ultimately discovers that the holiday is more than just its material trappings. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was later adapted (1966) for television, and it became a holiday staple. It was also made into a feature film (2000), a Broadway musical (2006), and an animated movie (2018).

In 1984 Geisel received a special Pulitzer Prize “for his special contribution over nearly half a century to the education and enjoyment of America’s children and their parents.” The honour underscored the immense popularity of his works, which were perennial best sellers. According to various reports, by the early 21st century more than 600 million copies of Dr. Seuss books had been sold worldwide.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a children's picture book designed, illustrated, and written by Eric Carle, first published by the World Publishing Company in 1969, later published by Penguin Putnam. The book features a very hungry caterpillar who eats his way through a wide variety of foodstuffs before pupating and emerging as a butterfly. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is Carle's third book, and uses distinctive collage illustrations that were innovative at the time of publication, 'eaten' holes in the pages, and simple text with educational themes – counting, the days of the week, foods, and a butterfly's life stages. It teaches children how to count and to make one-to-one correspondences between numbers and the items the Very Hungry Caterpillar has eaten.

Carle said he was inspired by a hole punch: "One day I was punching holes with a hole puncher into a stack of paper, and I thought of a bookworm and so I created a story called A Week with Willi the Worm." Carle was familiar with "differently shaped pages" from books that he read as a child in Germany.

A Week with Willi the Worm featured a bookworm named Willi. Ann Beneduce, Carle's editor, advised that a green worm would not make a likable protagonist. "Then my editor suggested a caterpillar instead and I said 'Butterfly!' That's how it began," Carle recalls.

The differently shaped pages with holes representing the caterpillar's trail through foodstuffs were a challenge. Because printers in the U.S were too expensive, Beneduce located and used a print shop in Japan.

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Madeline is a media franchise that originated as a series of children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian-American author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series and a live action feature film. As a closing line, the adaptations invoke a famous phrase Ethel Barrymore used to rebuff curtain calls, "That's all there is, there isn't any more." The stories take place in a Catholic boarding school in Paris. The teacher, Miss Clavel, is strict but loves the children, cares for them, and is open to their ideas.

Madeline was written by Ludwig Bemelmans and published in 1939. Bemelmans wrote five sequels between 1953 and 1961. Later books in the series were written by Bemelmans' grandson John Bemelmans Marciano. The books focus on 12 girls in a Catholic boarding school in Paris. Madeline is the smallest of the girls, only seven years old and the only girl with red hair. She is the bravest and most outgoing of the girls. The images seem classical and show scenery and landmarks of the location where the story takes place such as the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River.

In the first book, Madeline gets sick, is taken to the hospital and has her appendix removed to the envy of all the other girls. In Madeline's Rescue she falls into the Seine River and brings back the dog that saved her life.

Dell Comics published a Four Color Comics issue in 1942 titled "Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline and Genevieve"

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Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1975 (with an updated version in 1988); a 1980 opera; and a live-action 2009 feature-film adaptation. The book had sold over 19 million copies worldwide as of 2009, with 10 million of those being in the United States.

Sendak began his career as an illustrator, but by the mid-1950s he had decided to start both writing and illustrating his own books. In 1956, he published his first book for which he was the sole author, Kenny's Window (1956). Soon after, he began work on another solo effort. The story was supposed to be that of a child who, after a tantrum, is punished in his room and decides to escape to the place that gives the book its title, the "land of wild horses". Shortly before starting the illustrations, Sendak realized he did not know how to draw horses and, at the suggestion of his editor, changed the wild horses to the more ambiguous "Wild Things", a term inspired by the Yiddish expression "vilde chaya" ("wild animals"), used to indicate boisterous children.

He replaced the horses with caricatures of his aunts and uncles, caricatures that he had originally drawn in his youth as an escape from their chaotic weekly visits, on Sunday afternoons, to his family's Brooklyn home. Sendak, as a child, had observed his relatives as being "all crazy – crazy faces and wild eyes", with blood-stained eyes and "big and yellow" teeth, who pinched his cheeks until they were red. These relatives, like Sendak's parents, were poor Jewish immigrants from Poland, whose remaining family in Nazi-occupied Europe were killed during the Holocaust while Sendak was in his early teens. As a child, however, he saw them only as "grotesques".

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The Giving Tree is an American children's picture book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. First published in 1964 by Harper & Row, it has become one of Silverstein's best-known titles, and has been translated into numerous languages.

Silverstein had difficulty finding a publisher for The Giving Tree. An editor at Simon & Schuster rejected the book's manuscript because he felt that it was "too sad" for children and "too simple" for adults. Tomi Ungerer encouraged Silverstein to approach Ursula Nordstrom, who was a publisher with Harper & Row.

An editor with Harper & Row stated that Silverstein had made the original illustrations "scratchy" like his cartoons for Playboy, but that he later reworked the art in a "more pared-down and much sweeter style." The final black-and-white drawings have been described as "unadorned… visual minimalism." Harper & Row published a small first edition of the book, consisting of only 5,000–7,500 copies, in 1964.

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Soaring high

My favourite dialogue is, "Don't just fly, soar!" from the movie "Dumbo". In the film, an elephant, is bullied and humiliated because of its big ears. Later, when the circus is taken over by a new owner, he threatens Dumbo to perform new acts or else he would euthanise Dumbo's mom. That's when the caretakers kids speak to Dumbo and encourage him to give his best. Together, they plan an escape for Dumbo and his mom. Their words, "Don't just fly, soar!" work like magic. As per the plan, after extensive practice, Dumbo is not only able to impress the audience with his flying abilities, but also fly out of the circus and meet his mom once before she is about to be shipped away. I just pray that we have a society full of parents, teachers and authorities who I would love to see us soar!

True devotion

"Always"- Severus Snape Who doesn't know this iconic dialogue from the "Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling? Throughout the series, Snape has been a really mysterious character and the turn of events in the ending changed one's perspective towards him. The word 'always' itself is highly promising. It is easier said than done, but in the book, Snape was always there for Harry even if we could not see it. Snape's love for Lily lasted even when he was dying. Snape's love and the promise made this simple word seem magical and every Potterhead knows the value and emotions it carries. This word is for sure unforgettable and equally important for me as it teaches me to be true to my heart and to never leave the side of the ones I love.

Positive thinking

An unforgettable dialogue from a book by Helen Keller, an American author and activist, is "Keep your face towards the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what the sunflowers do." These words highlight the importance of knowledge and sensibility in our life. The sunshine is an indicator of positivity, knowledge, light, and wisdom. If we keep our goals high and pure, and give our best effort with full honesty, the shadow, which indicates negativity, ignorance, darkness, shame, weakness, will be left behind. The sunshine shows us our path, but the shadow always tries to pull us backwards. We should be optimistic like the sunflower.

The power of friendship

My unforgettable dialogue is from the Harry Potter series, Books and cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery" by Hermione Granger. This line actually means a lot to me. Being an excellent student in studies only is not important, what really matters is the friends you have in your life. You have got to have friends who would do anything for you. Harry has two best friends - Ron and Hermione, which he could cherish all his life. Hermione and Ron would do anything to Harry even if it puts them in danger. That's what best friends are for. In "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", Hermione lies to Professor. McGonagall that Harry and Ron had come to save her from the troll. Friends would do anything for each other. The Golden trio are the best!

Common decency

"Man isn't an idea, Rambert" said Rieux. The doctor in Camus "Plague" retorts to Rambert, the journalist when he counters the proposal of service and comments on the heroism and people who die for ideas. Subsequently, Rambert asks, in a grave tone "What do you mean by common decency?" And the doctor replies, "I don't know what it means for other people. But in my case, I know that it consists in doing my job". These were a series of unforgettable dialogues between Rambert and Rieux about man's destiny and his role in fighting against the Plague. I can relate to the dialogue during the ongoing pandemic. Our health workers are giving their all in the fight against COVID-19 as they are duty oriented on their part, leaving behind comfort, family, friends even life. In the Rambert learns that Rieux's wife was in a sanatorium when he was engrossed in the service of mankind. I hope this will stand as a motivation for all coming generations.

Curious lines

I found this line from Rick Riordan's "Battle of the Labyrinth" unforgettable: "You shall rise or fall by the Ghost king's hand, the child of Athena's final stand." It was memorable because I thought the Ghost king was Minos and it was Nico, who shall rise or fall by his hand and that the child of Athena was Annabeth, but later it was revealed that the Ghost king was Nico and it was Daedalus who had to rise or fall by his hand and Daedalus was also the child of Athena. These lines appear to be pretty straightforward, but now I know how much information they contained.

Don't give up

An unforgettable I came across is "We will never give up", from the book "The Mystery of The School on Fire" written by famous author Ravi Subramanian. This dialogue appears in Chapter 15. The dialogue was recited by Aditya and Akriti when they were framing the rules for SMS detective agency. I am really inspired by it and apply the dialogue throughout my life.

You are what you choose to be

"A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean." These words, uttered by the Lorax, a fictional character created by children's writer Dr. Seuss, are something that we I have all grown up listening to. To our young minds, the underlying meaning of these words were obscured by the quirky characters and the vibrant theme created by Dr. Seuss. However, hearing these lines once again recently, made me ponder on their true meaning. These lines convey that there is only a thin line that separates the realm of right and wrong. A tree falls the way it leans. So do we. If we choose to lean toward the virtues of compassion, consideration and generousness, we will fall into the welcoming hands of admiring crowds. But, if we careen towards the vices of arrogance, envy and greed, we will plummet into the deep abyss of despair, anguish and isolation. The choice is left to us. These unequivocally profound words of the Lorax from the eponymous book are truly unforgettable as they teach us a relevant lesson.

Anne with an 'E'

"Tell me. I forget Teach me, I remember, Involve me, I learn." This dialogue is by Anne Shirley Cuthbert from the Netflix series, "Anne with an E". The series is adaptation of the book "Anne of Green Gables" by LM. Montgomery. I am inspired by this dialogue as it throws light upon how children should be taught. We have to move from the present rote learning system to a more hands-on approach. Let us not only read out of a text book but also learn from experience. Involving children in hands-on training will give them a chance to learn and experience subjects easier.

DJ Battle

My favourite dialogue is from the movie "Hotel Transylvania 3". During the DJ battle scene in the film, Dracula asks Jonathan, "You just carry all that stuff along with you?" and Jonathan says. "Once a DJ always a DJ. It's my favourite dialogue because Dracula asks the question in such a sarcastic, yet funny manner during the highly tense battle between Dracula, Jonathan and Van Helsing. The battle is funny too because the trio play such an eccentric combination of songs such as "Wave Rider", "Evolution" and "Macarena". I also like howDracula's father, Vlad sings "Aye Macarena" in a funny tone. Ever since I watched the film, it's become my favourite song.

A lesson in mythology

"A boat can float steadily on water only in the absence of strong winds. Desires are like winds. They rock the boat of life violently" I came across this dialogue in my favourite book, "Best of Indian Mythology". These words were uttered by Krishna. The winds are compared to human desires, which are limitless and if we have too many desires, we lose focus on what's important. One must learn to differentiate between needs and desires. Only then we will be able to sail through the ocean of life.

"Wise and Otherwise"

One of my favourite books is "Wise and Otherwise", by Sudha Murty. The book is a collection of short stories celebrating human nature. The 46th story, "Treat Me as Human" is a lovely one. The story goes as follows: During her visit to Ahmedabad, Mrs. Murty goes to buy a purse embroidered in mirror work. The shop owner points to her son and lovingly said, "Today is his birthday".

Without purchasing the purse, Mrs. Murty hands a one hundred rupee note to the little boy. Seeing this, his mother runs over and says, "Please take the money back. We are not beggars". Mrs. Murty insists, and the boy's mother calms down. She hands Mrs. Murty a purse and tells her, "You were the first person who treated us like humans. People treat us like mere business people", and hands her a purse.

As she gives her the purse, what the mother says moved me to tears. She says, "God has not given me enough money to fill this empty purse, but I pray to God to shower enough fortune on you to fill up many purses". Very gratifying and touching.

The gift of the present

My most favourite and unforgettable dialogue is from one of the best-loved movies, "The Kung Fu Panda". Here it is. "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, But today is a gift. That is why we call it "The Present". This quote is by Master Oogway, who is the inventor of the art of Kung Fu itself. He is one of the wisest Kung Fu masters next to Master Shifu. I like him because he is wise, but he can be funny and understandable too. These lines also sound clever, creative, ancient, and reasonable. This dialogue can inspire anyone to become a poet.

Standing up for what's right

I think that one of the most unforgettable dialogues in literature is from the "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" by J.K. Rowling. At the end of year feast, Albus Percival Wolfrick Brian Dumbledore, known as Albus Dumbledore, the greatest and the only wizard that the Dark Lord is afraid of and the Headmaster of the Hogwarts says. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends" I like this dialogue very much because this was the first time that a shy, timid, naive looking and accident-prone boy Neville Longbottom was recognised by Dumbledore. The quote is also inspirational. It advises us to be impartial even at the most crucial times. The "Harry Potter” books have also been adapted into blockbuster movies.

The Horizon

My favourite dialogue t is from the last scene of "Pirates of the Caribbean". It takes place in the first (out of five) film, "Curse of the Black Pearl". After getting his ship back, Hector Barbossa, its captain stands near the wheel and says, "Now... Bring me that horizon...." Since it is a pirate movie, I found this line very buccaneer. After getting his ship back, the captain of the ship stands near the wheel and says this line. A horizon just simply looks splendid!!!!

Improving the mind

This line from the book "The Improvement of the Mind" by Isaac Watts struck Though you have read philosophy and theology, morals and metaphysics in abundance, and every other art and science, yet if your memory is the only faculty employed with the neglect of your reasoning powers, you can justly claim no higher character than that of a good historian of the sciences." It means that you should use your reasoning powers to suitably understand what you read. Otherwise, it is not eful. Just a few days back, I was studying magnetism. There was a short note on Michael Faraday. I was curious to know more about him. I learnt that he had also read Watts's above book as a child. It made me reflect on how I memorised everything while studying. Sure, it was an easy way to score high marks and it had become a habit. But I never recognised its bad side, though my parents were quick to point it out. I realised that I couldn't even recall the basic concepts of subjects like Science and Math. I was falling behind a few of my peers. I was alarmed. It was then that I saw this magnificent line by Watts. It was telling me to stop being an idiot sitting in front of a book for hours not learning anything. It made me I change my ways, at least a small bit. I haven't read the entire book; it is much too, difficult for me. I will always be grateful for this line.

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Roald Dahl's story

I have read Roald Dahl's autobiographical work "Boy: Tales of Childhood". Reading his incredible collection of books in the past, I'm pleased that I got a chance to read this book in which narrates his life events. His wonderfully woven childhood memories motivated me to record the events my life in my journal too, so that I can recollect the memories when I grow up. The funniest incident I can recall from his autobiography is one where his friends challenge him to put a dead rat in the chocolate jar of a sweetshop. The aftermath of this incident is relatable to all. Taking inspiration from this, recently, I wrote a short story in my secret journal based on the funniest incident I experienced during my school days. Reading this book inspires me to dream big-and aspire to become an author.

"Why I Am An Atheist"

Shaheed Bhagat Singh's autobiography, "Why I Am an Atheist' inspired me. Singh's extensive justifications about being an atheist and the questions he asked to the theists made me contemplate a lot on this topic.. The books also improved my vocabulary. What I liked the most about the book is that he doesn't insult God, rather he candidly answers why he doesn't below in God's existence.

He also writes that people often find courage to face trying circumstances because of their belief in God. On the other hand, atheists have to be self-motivated. This was the point which made me think a lot. It's true that when we are in any difficult situation, we feel assured that an omniscient, omnipresent God is there who will give us strength, but how it would be for an atheist and especially for a revolutionary like Bhagat Singh, who would have faced hurdles at every step?

Anand's biography

Reading "Mind Master - Winning Lessons from a Champion's Life" by Vishwanathan Anand motivated me to be consistent and polite in the journey of life. Chess originated in India, but it became famous because of one person, Vishy Anand (India's first Grandmaster). The book "Mind Master' depicts his extraordinary journey, self-belief, and hard work. With sixty-four squares and thirty-two pieces, chess is not just a game; it is about mastering your mind in times of pressure. Of course, there will be tough challenges, but all we have to do is train ourselves to be tougher.

The five-time world champion has shown persistence for more than 25 years as India's number one. His journey is incredible, and as an aspiring chess player, I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Mind Master', and I recommend it to every chess lover.

Playing it my way

So far in my life, I have read just one autobiography. It is the life story of none other than the 'God of Cricket - Sachin Tendulkar. It is titled "Playing It My Way" and co-authored by Boria Majumdar. The book is not merely a record of Tendulkars scores, instead it gives us an account of a much-celebrated man's life in a way that only an autobiography can. The book is really very inspirational. I was truly inspired by each and every chapter. Many young Indians, like me, aspire to play international cricket someday. And, this autobiography is quite motivating, but at the same time, it shows us the reality of the game as well. It shows us the hardships one has to face to be successful in the field of cricket. Throughout his career, Tendulkar had to overcome many obstacles, but the manner in which he kept going and standing up tall again is noteworthy.

This book also taught me moral values and it is definitely more than just a cricketer's autobiography. It's true that not every person is as fortunate as Tendulkar to have an elder brother like Ajit or a coach like Ramakant Achrekar. Not everyone is able to debut for India at the age of 16 either. However, this book offers many insights and is a must read for any cricket fan. The autobiography of the man with 100 international centuries' has undoubtedly been immensely inspiring.

Straight from the attic

It was a rainy evening when my father gifted me a book with a green and yellow cover with a picture of a smiling girl embossed on it. It was a surprise gift for my 13th birthday. Surprised at its size. I kept caressing the book the whole night. Every day I turned its pages as I devoured the book. I couldn't help but think that the girl who wrote the book (from June 12, 1942, on her 13th birthday till 1st August 1944) might never have imagined that her diary would give sleepless nights to a boy in India, faraway from where she lived. That girl was none other than Annelies Marie "Anne" Frank, a German-Dutch of Jewish heritage and one of the most known victims of the Holocaust. When I reached the last page which talks about the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where the typhus pandemic spreads and claims Frank's life, I began weeping helplessly. The Annexe where she hid from the Nazis feels similar to the attic in my house. After finishing the book, I began to record my days too. I included a few sketches in my diary as well.

In Kalam's words

"The story of my life has become intertwined with the story of this country. Somewhere along, I met a million children across this land, I too learnt from a million minds. This book was not written to only tell my story; I want every young reader to think that this book is his/her story too." -An excerpt from the book "My Life"

The late A.P. J Abdul Kalam is one of the most inspiring figures of independent India. A scientist, leader, thinker, teacher and writer, he achieved remarkable success in various fields. Yet, what endeared him to so many was his dedication to the idea of a developed India, his simple and direct way of interacting with people and his deep love for his fellow humans.

In his book "My Life", Kalam writes his life story, starting from his days growing up at Rameswaram to working in India's space and missile programmes and his years as the 11th president of India.

Full of anecdotes that demonstrate the importance of hard work, commitment, courage and innovative thinking, this autobiography is a wonderful introduction to a remarkable life, beautifully illustrated and simply written. It will inspire readers of all ages.

Becoming Obama

"Becoming" is the autobiography of the former First Lady of the U.S., Michelle Obama. What I like about the is that it is simple and moving- there are no loud messages, no "do this and become famous and change the world once and for all", no "because I did this you should do too". It's just simple and relatable to everyone and fills you with hope and contentment. "Becoming" traces Michelle's life from her simple childhood with her parents and brother in their small apartment and extended family to her education and how she was one of the few African Americans in her college. She narrates how she met her husband Barack Obama and their social activities that eventually propelled him to become the president of the country. She humbly tells these experiences in a way that makes you feel whatever she did is something you can do too. She gives the message that if you work hard enough, you would be able to become the person you aspire to be and this motivates me to keep on going.

"Wings of Fire"

This autobiography of one of the most loved personalities of our country, the late A PJ Abdul Kalam is a wonderful read. Not only does it contain the details of the author's life, but also a wealth of wise words and life values. Kalam describes his career in aero-space engineering in considerable detail. The whole book overflows with the sort of knowledge that comes only after a great deal of experience. While reading, we feel as if we are 'riding along with the author over the moors of life. Kalam has written about many incidents in his life, and presented them in a way which motivates and inspires the reader. A remarkable feature of this book is its deeply philosophical nature. Kalam provides plenty of food for thought. A true visionary, he delves into India's future and achievements. Kalam's immense patriotism is manifest in this book. All in all, this book is an inspiration for all who read it.

Gunjan Saxena

Reading the autobiography "The Kargil Girl" by Gunjan Saxena and Kiran Nirvan motivated me to become a fighter jet pilot. Gunjan who is also called as ‘The Kargil Girl’came from an army background. Her father and brother are from the army.. And they inspired her to join in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Through this book, Gunjan shares her experience, memories and the hurdles she faced at the academy. As the Kargil war broke in the 1999, she was called in for medical evacuation, dropping off supplies and reconnaissance at that time. She was assigned to a Cheetah/Chetak unit in Udhampur, whose primary job was forward air control and to fly in combat. She was the India's first woman Air Force Officer who went to war.

Malala Yousafzai

"I Am Malala" is an autobiography written by Malala Yousafzai, a children's educational rights activist. The language in the book is easy to read and comprehend. The book is about Malala's life in Pakistan as a young girl and thereafter in Birmingham, following an attempt to assassinate her in 2012. This book also inspired a film, "He Named Me Malala". Malala grew up in Swat, Pakistan. Her father was very supportive of girls' education. Inspired by her father, Malala started giving speeches encouraging girls to attend school and continue their education.

In 2012, at the age of 11, when Malala was on the bus to school, she was shot at by the Taliban. Thankfully, she recovered, and on her 16th birthday, she spoke in the United Nations. Due to her activism, she won one of the highest honours in the world - the Nobel Peace Prize.

This book has inspired me to be brave and have the confidence and determination to make a positive impact on society. This is a book that leaves a lasting impression on every person.

The flying Sikh

Most inspirational and motivational autobiography I read is 'The Race of My Life". It is an autobiography of Milkha Singh. He inspired me as he was the best athlete India has ever seen. He was also known as the Flying Sikh. Singh is remembered for his fourth place finish in the 400 metres final at 1960 Olympics. Various records were broken by him. Singh died of COVID-19 complications on June 18, 2021 at the age of 91. We miss him very much.

"Towards Freedom"

It's hard to choose just one autobiography that inspired me, but if I had to pick it would be Jawaharlal Nehru's autobiography, "Towards Freedom". He wrote this book when he was in prison from June 1934 to February 1935. This book inspires me a lot because Nehru writes about his struggle and the sacrifices he made for the country. It also includes detailed contributions of many other people who helped make India a sovereign, democratic and republican country.

"Serve to Win"

The book "Serve to Win" by Novak Djokovic tells us about how the tennis star grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, where the locals did not pay much attention to lawn tennis.

Djokovic describes how he went on to become one of the greats in the sport. The autobiography motivates me with its message that there is a solution to every problem. Djokovic writes about how he continued to practice along with his coach even as Belgrade was getting bombed by NATO forces and there was rubble all around. According to him, all that matters in life is physical and spiritual exercise and having the right role models. He even overcame physical problems including asthma and gluten allergy to excel in his favourite sport. Djokovic shows me that with grit and hard work we can reach our goal. It's amazing to see how he is not all talk, but has actually proved himself by winning his 20th Grand Slam recently. The book motivates us to focus on our goal, no matter what comes our way.

Anne Frank

One autobiography which motivated me is 'The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank. This beautifully written memoir showcases how difficult life was during the Holocaust. The book starts with the author giving us an insight into her normal life. But one day everything changes and Anne and her family are forced to go into hiding. Anne's life in seclusion seems hopeless. Despite this, she always stays cheerful and happy. This book also explores Anne's relationship with her acquaintances and her adolescent experiences, all of which she documents in her diary, whom she calls 'Kitty'. Unfortunately, Anne's story does not have a happy ending as she was whisked off to a concentration camp, where she eventually bid farewell to the world. She was survived by her father, Otto Frank, who published her diary a few years later. This book motivated me to always stay cheerful against the adversities in life.

The Girl Who Stood Up For Education

Reading "I am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai motivated me. Malala describes her journey from her birth to childhood and advocating for education for girls. She motivates us to not to give up and stand up for what we believe as after being shot by the Taliban she did not stop, in fact, became stronger than before. Everyone has a voice but she used hers to propagate the importance of education. Her story taught people especially children that the privilege of going to school is not granted to everyone. She proved that age is just a number and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

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The Mortal Instruments is a series of six young adult fantasy novels written by American author Cassandra Clare, the last of which was published on May 27, 2014. The Mortal Instruments is chronologically the third series of a planned five in The Shadowhunter Chronicles but was the first one published. It follows Clarissa Fray, who interacts with a group of Nephilim known as Shadowhunters while also discovering her own heritage and her family history. The Shadowhunters protect the world of mundane/human people, who are also called mundanes or "mundies", from dark forces beyond their world.

In City of Ashes, the Faerie Realm and its inhabitants are characters from Holly Black's faerie series, beginning with Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. Also, the characters Val and Luis from Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie appear in another scene in that book. Within Holly Black's third book, Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale, there is a reference to the Mortal Cup mentioned in the Mortal Instruments series.

Clare delved deeply into world mythology in order to build the Shadowhunter world featured in The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and all other offshoots of the series. There are strong influences from Paradise Lost and The Inferno; while there are many references to Western religious mythology, Clare also studied world mythology deeply, specifically demonic myth featured in Japanese, Tibetan, and other Eastern cultural texts. Her references to angels and nephilim throughout the series also come from this study of world religions and folklore. These myths were then adapted to fit into her stories.

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Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. The Princess of Dor and the fifth child of the king and queen, Pea is a sharp-eyed and beautiful girl whom Despereaux grows to honour and love upon their first meeting and she also comes to adore the mouse. Though kind-hearted and loved by the people of the castle, Pea is often overcome with loneliness after her mother's death. Because of her title as a princess, Pea is not used to being told what to do and sometimes takes slight offense when someone does not appreciate her for her title. However, when her past actions cause her kidnapping, Pea comes to use her forgiveness, good nature, and place as royalty for the good of the other characters.

The lonely character of the story, Despereaux was born as a castle mouse and the only living mouse of his mother's latest litter. Named for the despairs and sadness of that time, Despereaux is an oddball among the mouse community from birth, as he is born with a small body, giant ears, and open eyes. He grows up to be very different from the other mice, choosing to read books instead of eating them, and not learning to scurry like other mice. He becomes fascinated by a fairy tale about a beautiful princess and an armored knight and learns from ideas like chivalry and courage from it, which his fearful elders dismiss as absurd. Through his large ears, Despereaux is able to listen to the music that the king plays for his daughter Princess Pea, and because of this, he is able to meet and fall in love with the human princess. This behaviour, however, does not go undetected by the mice, and when he is sent to the dungeon Despereaux must rely on his wits, bravery, and inner strength in order to save himself and the princess.

In 2007 the U.S. National Education Association listed the book as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children", based on an online poll. Teachers also made it a summer reading project. In 2012 it was ranked number 51 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal – the second of three books by DiCamillo in the Top 100.

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