In January, as a part of a fun writing exercise, we asked our lovely student reporters some questions on their reading goals. Specifically, we asked them about books they would love to read. They have very strong dream books.

But first, just so you know all our reporters and team members are GREAT readers. While we know that reading for fun is consistently going down, we are proud of our young readers who are continuing to read.

That’s a ton of reading, you guys! What can we say, our students and Bento members are the very best. Majority of the kids living in the Indian subcontinent found their books in bookstores while North American kids looked to the libraries. We asked them what their favorite reads were from last year and here are some of their responses.

What were your favorite reads last year?

A book series that I loved last year was Keepers of the Lost Cities. (Avika, Grade 4, Toronto)

I loved Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. (Eliana, Grade 4, Lahore)

The book I absolutely loved was The Village by the Sea by Anita Desai. (Anay, Grade 8, Nashik)

I loved The Little Women, a classic by Louisa May Alcott. It combined love, loss, pain, beauty, and friendship in one. (Lila, Grade 6, Vienna)

Two book series I loved last year were: Aru Shah and Wings of Fire. (Navya, Grade 3, New York)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the entire Harry Potter series was great! (Manak, Grade 3, Nashik)

A book I loved last year was The Great Gatsby, an assigned reading from my English class. It carries so many historical events and amazing themes about love and relationships. This book really helped motivate me to continue reading classics as well. (Aditi, Grade 11, Austin)

Two book series I read last year and loved were: Wings of Fire and Ranger in Time. (Neysa, Grade 3, New York)

I loved the Warriors series! (Shyla, Grade 4, Ann Arbor)

And now for some dream books students wish for!

If someone could write a book for me it has to be fantasy book with loads of magic and adventure in it. (Manak, Grade 3, Nashik)

A book I wish somebody would write for me is about a dragon that tries to save other dragons from being kidnapped by humans. (Navya, Grade 3, New York)

I wish that someone would write me a magical fantasy adventure which takes place in a coral reef under the sea.  (Avika Verma, Grade 4, Toronto)

I wish for a self-improvement book for me that covers all the necessary topics- How to release stress, how to live a distraction free life, how to use your mind to its fullest, etc. (Anay, Grade 8, Nashik)

I wish somebody would write a book on adventure which would include about people who can change their appearance. (Eliana, Grade 4, Lahore)

I wish somebody would write more books about the partition and what happened during it. There are many books about World Wars which killed thousands upon thousands of people, but there are very few about the partition which also killed thousands and thousands of people. I think that people should know about what happened and how it changed India and Pakistan’s history forever. (Lila, Grade 6, Vienna)

I wish someone would write me a very classic mystery book. I really love those types because they keep you very interested and have so many small details that all come together in one piece. (Aditi, Grade 11, Austin)

I wish somebody would write a book about a dragon I came up with called a Crystalwing. Maybe I’ll write it! (Neysa, Grade 3, New York)

Someone should write a book about a yellow banana and a chicken, and then, the chicken got cooked! (Edith, Grade 4, Ann Arbor)

If your student is interested in being a reporter with us and contributing to Bento and Peerbagh’s writing, they can. Check our student reporter program HERE.