What is Portmanteau?

 

Kanaga said to Martha, “Shall we go out for brunch?”

Martha said, “Brunch. What is it? I’m hearing the word for the first time.”

Kanaga said. “Brunch is food that we have between Breakfast and Lunch. Brunch is a combination of the words Breakfast and Lunch. Breakfast + Lunch is Brunch. Br from the word Breakfast joins with unch from the word Lunch."

Martha, “Wow. I learnt a new word Brunch.”

Kanaga said, “These words are known as Portmanteau in English. Portmanteau is a combination of parts of different words. The word Smog is a portmanteau. It is a combination of Sm from the word Smoke and og from the word fog.

Some more examples are

Spork = Spoon + Fork

Emoticon = Emotion + Icon

Chillax = Chill + Relax

Email = Electronic + mail

Motel = Motorway + Hotel

.”

Martha asked, “Is portmanteau always a combination of two words?” 

Kanaga said, “No. Portmanteau can be a combination of two or more words. For example, the name of the dish turducken is got from the combination of the three words turkey+duck+hen. This is because turducken is made with all these 3 birds.”

Martha said, “Ok. I got some clarity about portmanteau. Let us go for brunch now."

Activity:

1. Can you guess the two words that are combined to form the following portmanteau words?

1.     Hangry 

2.     Romcom

3.     Biopic

 

Author – Anitha Selvanathan

Image – Pexels.com

Takloo Storytelling at AIKYA - A PRATHAM Books Initiative

Takloo - the Little Salt Seller is a beautiful book. The story teaches a lot of concepts to children and the illustrations are very attractive and eye catchy. 

The storytelling at AIKYA happened on 5th, September. I told the story to a group of eleven kids. Everyone was very excited about the angry Banabhai scene in which her hair is left loose, her dracula teeth is seen, and she flungs her arm.  The kids were asked about the meaning of the various terms in the book like soft, caring, west, and more. The students were asked not to waste anything and try and see if they can recycle the unwanted items. 

Later, Kumail, a student, read out and explained the Takloo story to the kids. The students looked at coins of different value. After listening to Kumail, the students started drawing pictures about Takloo story. The students came out with beautiful illustrations of trees near a beach, pots, umbrella, and Moti the dog. It was a fun event and we thank PRATHAM for giving us this opportunity. 

For more event pics, click here.

A Story on Children's Day - Rukmani and Her Jewel Box

Susheela's Kolam - Pratham Books Storytelling Event on 8th September

Great enthusiasm, awesome participation, creativity, colors, children, staff, and teamwork brought beauty to the kolams drawn at the Eureka Smile Centre at Triplicane, Chennai. On 8th September, we started the session by sticking the readymade sticker kolams. Then one kid read out Susheela's Kolam story. Then other kids told stories from books and Eureka story cards. 

Next, we had a warm-up session and asked the children to draw a few kolams on the blackboard. Then the kids drew kolams on chart paper using crayons. The kids came out with different and intricate rangoli patterns. 

Next, we split the children into three groups and asked them to draw rangoli with colour powder. Again, they came out with beautiful and colorful patterns. Then we had biscuits. Two Eureka volunteers reviewed the crayon kolams and selected 10 winners. We gave away prizes to the kids. The day ended with a short motivational story in Tamil by the Eureka volunteer. 

Many thanks to Eureka's Meenakshi, the Smile Centre teaching staff, two Eureka volunteers, and the eager children who made the Susheela's Kolam event a big success. It was a fun-filled 2-hour session. Many thanks to Pratham Books staff Maya and Team for their motivational and informative e-mails. For more colorful event photos, click here.

Chudar Magazine - for kids by kids

Chudar 2012 - Children's Magazine of Advesa Trust

துரு துரு - சிறுகதை

சுட்டி சுரேஷ் தன் பாடப்  புத்தகங்களை வைக்க ஒரு நீல வண்ணம் பூசிய இரும்பு மேசை வாங்கினான். வாங்கிய மேசையை வீட்டினுள் வைக்காமல், தோட்டத்தில் போட்டுவிட்டு சுற்றுலா சென்றுவிட்டான். திடீரென்று காற்றும் மழையும் அடித்தது. இரண்டு நாள் கழித்து சுட்டி சுரேஷ் வீடு திரும்பினான். என்ன ஆச்சர்யம். அவன் வாங்கிய மேசை சிவப்பும் மஞ்சள் நிறமாக மாறியிருந்தது. கிட்ட வந்த பார்த்த போது தன் மேசை துரு பிடித்ததை தெரிந்து கொண்டான்.

வண்ணம் பலவிதம் - சிறுகதை

கர்ம யோகி கண்ணன் வீடு கட்டி முடித்தான். புதிய வீட்டில் எந்த அறைக்கு எந்த வண்ணம் பூசலாம் என்று தன் குடும்பத்தில் இருப்பவர்களிடம்  கேட்டான். "சமையல் அறைக்கு பிஸ்தா பச்சை வண்ணம் பூசலாம்," என்றாள் மனைவி மங்களம்.  "படுக்கை அறைக்கு பன்னீர் ரோஜா வண்ணம் பூசலாம்," என்றான் மகன் மாரி.  "பூஜை அறைக்கு சாமந்தி  பூ மஞ்சள் வண்ணம் பூச வேண்டும்," என்றாள் மகள் மஞ்சுளா.

"ஆனால் வரவேற்ப்பு அறையில் எல்லா வண்ணமும்  பூச  போகிறோம்," என்றான் கர்ம யோகி கண்ணன். அப்பா நகைச்சுவையாக பேசுகிறார் என்று எல்லோரும் சிரித்தார்கள். " சிரிக்காதீர்கள். எல்லா வண்ணமும் சேர்த்தால் வெள்ளை நிறம் கிடைக்கும்.  வரவேற்ப்பு அறையில் பனி வெள்ளை நிறம் அடிக்க போகிறோம்.  புரிந்ததா?" என்றான் கண்ணன்.

Baby's Day Out - Short Story

Arun’s mother was pregnant. Arun wanted a younger brother and his mom wanted a daughter. On the day of delivery, Arun’s mom gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl! And the twins were looking similar. The doctor told them that they were monozygotic twins. Both Arun and his mom were happy now.  

What Meat You Had? - Short Story

A teacher was asking the students in her class to tell the different types of non-vegetarian food they have eaten.

One boy said, “Chicken.”

Another girl said, “Mutton.”

Another boy said, “Dog meat, when I went to China for a picnic with my father.”

Everyone in the class was amused and started asking the boy about dog meat!

Chicken

                        Mutton

Dog Curry

Which Vegetable is Green? - Short Story

Vivek, Kani, and James were playing a game about vegetables.

Vivek told, “Tell the name of a vegetable that is Green in color.”

Kani said, “Drum Stick.”

James said, “Ladies Finger.”

Vivek said, “Mango.”

Kani objected saying, “Mango is an orange color fruit and not a vegetable.”

Vivek laughed and said, “Ha ha, but I was talking about the Mango that is not ripe. It is green. “

Mango

Drumstick

Ladies Finger