Bringing together short reviews, new releases and diverse reads, the Instagram handle, BAM! Books is all about recommending kid lit. While there may be enough and more platforms for you to check out reviews and pick out a great read for yourself, where do you turn to when you have to choose a suitable book for your little ones? Stumped? Well, that’s where the Instagram handle, BAM! Books can sort you out. An initiative by Bijal Vachharajani (who has been writing about children’s books for the past 13 years) and Maegan Dobson Sippy (freelance writer), this is your go-to option for information about new releases, recommendations and reviews for children and Young Adult books. While BAM! stands for the power of books and reading for kids, it’s also an abbreviation of the duo’s names – Bijal And Maegan.
Prominently focusing on works from South Asia, they make sure these are books which children in India will be able to relate to. Ideal for anyone from readers to parents and educators, their Instagram posts tell you about the latest releases as well as recommendations (which come with a short review). And, while this includes everything from picture books to YA fiction, we love that the duo gives just as much importance to diverse books with strong and socially relevant themes. So, browse through their posts and you’ll spot children’s books like Roddy Doyle’s Brilliant which deals with depression and Alex Gino’s George which has a transgender protagonist. They also focus on books specifically for special days. So, think a feminist fable for Women’s Day or books with ecological themes for Earth Day.
