Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia

Author: Payal Kapadia

Illustrator: Roger Dahl

Publisher: Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House

Suggested reading age: 6 -11 years

Themes: being a writer, bravery

Opening lines: "Wisha Wozzariter loved reading. She read before school and after school. She read before lunch and after lunch. She read before dinner and after dinner. She would have read all day and all night if she could.

Wisha hated bad books, but she hated one thing even more: good ones. Good books always left her feeling she could do better if she were to write a book of her own. She'd put down a good book, sighing, "Now that's a book I could have written."

Summary: 

Wisha dreams of becoming a writer. She thinks about it constantly—day and night. Her journey truly begins when she meets the wise Bookworm, who guides her through the magical Marketplace of Ideas via the Thought Express. There, people can replace lost ideas and discover new ones.

Together they attend the Grand Idea Auction, where ideas of all kinds are traded—some to make money, some to become famous. Wisha also encounters the Imagination Balloon, which she tries to inflate in hopes of imagining something extraordinary.

“She blew till she was blue in the face, but the balloon wouldn’t get any bigger.”

One of my favourite parts is the chapter “What Wisha Saw.” It beautifully describes how imagination grows—slowly, steadily, until it feels alive.

Imagination can “grow larger—and larger—and larger—till it was almost bursting open from the life inside it.”

There is also the Bargain Bazaar, full of tempting shortcuts and curious distractions. Thankfully, the thoughtful Bookworm remains nearby, gently guiding Wisha whenever she becomes too excited or overwhelmed.

My impressions:

This is a sweet and short read that celebrates the joy of stories and the dream of becoming a writer. What I particularly liked is how the book quietly shows the process of becoming a writer—from searching for ideas to nurturing imagination. It presents these stages in a playful and accessible way that young readers can easily understand.

This book would appeal to:

Young readers who love books and stories, especially those who secretly dream of writing one themselves. It is also perfect for children who enjoy imaginative adventures filled with whimsical places and curious characters.

For teachers and parents - Educational Value:

This book opens lovely conversations about creativity, imagination, and the writing process. It can encourage children to think about where ideas come from and how stories are created. Teachers can use it as a gentle introduction to creative writing, brainstorming ideas, and nurturing imagination in young writers.

About the author: Payal Kapadia studied English Literature at St Xavier's College, Bombay, and Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago. She has worked with Outlook in Bombay and The Japan Times in Tokyo.

She now lives in Bombay with her husband Kunal Bajaj, two daughters Keya and Nyla, and their three imaginary friends: Klixa, Pallading and Kiki. Her first book Colonel Hathi Loses His Brigade was published by Disney in 2011.

Author's website: https://www.payalkapadia.com/about

Rating: 5/5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐