Showing results by author "Riya Aarini" in All Categories

Babyhood is a bizarre stage of life, considering all the unexplainable crying, goofy faces, and strange babble—and that’s just the parents. But really, babyhood is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It should be treated with respect and even admiration. After all, at some point, we’ve all been there. In Defense of Babyhood is a delightful source of relatable comedy, injecting a refreshing dose of amusing baby humor into the most bemused of parents.

Listen, I’ve gotten a bad rap throughout eternity, and I aim to set things straight. You’ll hear my side of the story in this collection of hilarious essays about yours truly. So be prepared for your deep-rooted ideas about me to change. You’ll be among the privileged few who get to see my brighter side. If you don’t already have a sense of humor about me, you will after you listen to In Defense of the Grim Reaper.

Maral, a fawn left alone in the thickets of the forest, befriends a white-bearded gnome named Bilge. An unlikely friendship blossoms, and Bilge becomes an audience to Maral’s poignant sadness about the fleeting nature of happiness. Determined to show her a way toward fulfillment, Bilge takes Maral on a contemplative walk through the forest. As they wander to the edges of the forest and back, Bilge points out the special wisdom revealed by natural life.

Cole and Claudia are poor and homeless on Christmas Eve. Cole's kindness toward another hungry child draws attention from Santa Claus, who gifts the siblings with a very special gingerbread house.

Pickerton Wickerton is a particular pig who loves to stay clean. His morning goes swimmingly, and he’s happy as can be. But after an unexpected fall in the mud, he is furious! Landing in a mess doesn’t have to ruin Pickerton’s day. Is a wiggle and a jiggle all that it takes to shake off the dirt? Giggle as Pickerton joyfully jiggles his way through the day!

When a group of pesky animals raid Mr. Bagban’s garden, the gardener grows frustrated. Mr. Bagban tries everything to protect his veggie patch, but the animals just keep stealing! Will Mr. Bagban come up with a way to keep the thieving critters out? Find out in this hilarious garden tale!

Ollie carries his trusty backpack wherever he goes. Soon enough, his backpack starts to fill with worries! Eventually, Ollie begins to feel the weight of his cares. How does young Ollie handle all his woes, from his broken toy to his wilted sunflower? He learns to let them go! Be a part of Ollie’s heartening journey toward discovering what cares to hold onto and which ones to let go!

Eleven-year-old Nilay has a taste for adventure. When Nilay accidentally releases a newbie genie named Jai from a lamp nestled in the rocky beaches of Toronto, Canada, he gets his chance to make a wish. The duo finds themselves on a quest to ancient India to find the perfect red silk saree. As a newbie genie, Jai has his own spin on wish-granting. Hocus pocus is not as easy as it seems! Will Jai get wish-granting right and fulfill Nilay's wish? Find out when you join Nilay and Jai as they follow the historic trail of India's Saurashtrian silk weavers in Nilay's Wish!

In this collection, you are presented with a flurry of unique quotations, a few that ring true, and many that inspire laughs! Discover fun and whimsy in these 100 percent original quotes!

As seniors, we’ve occupied the planet for nearly three-quarters of a century, braving the whole gamut, from joyous confetti-filled celebrations to worrisome worldwide disasters. And we still have plenty of living left to do. From our fabulous senior citizen discount to our highly perfected BS detector to having earned our right to be grumpy, the golden years offer much to anticipate. In Defense of Seniorhood is a comedic hats off to the once-in-a-lifetime glories of seniordom.

Mouse Country is about to hold its famous country bake-off! Joyful Jazella is eager to enter the competition. But proud Pazenna has an extravagant kitchen and fancy spices—and is sure she'll take home the prize. Will Jazella's cake impress the judges, or will Pazenna outbake her?

Growing up in the 1980s meant you may have participated in confusing fashion trends, mixed your own music, and generally lived in a more carefree time. Fusions of pop and rock were produced by glamorous hair bands of the day—with hairspray defining the entire decade. In fact, everything was larger than life in the eighties.