This story by Lavanya R N is recommended for all children: not only for its important message, but also for eye-catching and intriguing illustrations by Shilo Shiv Suleman. (The tigers are particularly good!) Kids who love to read will identify with Sesha, the little boy with the big nose that’s always in a book. They will empathise with his failure to make friends or impress his peers, with the fact that his is the victim of teasing and bullying. Until one day in class, when he answers a question that no one else can, and suddenly finds himself a star! (I found this last bit a little hard to swallow – I would have expected him to pull off a more spectacular feat as in, say, Dexter’s Lab; but a daydreaming child will probably find it both believable and comforting.)

Bookworms will love The Bookworm, but it is also recommended reading for those who don’t love books.

Parents and teachers should read it out to them because they too have a lesson to learn from it – tolerance and respect for those who are different and who appear to lack the more obvious talents.