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Lucky Costasaurus and the Golden-Winged Vultures

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Welcome to Fisherman's Cove in Goa. Costasaurus, the dinosaur has no idea if he is the only dinosaur in the world or if his wings are magical or plain creepy or if a pair of vultures are stalking him or it's just his imagination. From the strange way he falls—from Goa into ancient 100 B.C. Egypt—to getting morphed into a sparrow by a witch, and coming face-to-face with the Giantess from a classic fairy-tale, the dinosaur finds himself in one magic adventure ride after another in this modern fairy-tale. The human children; the serial cartwheel spinner Peter, and his spunky sister Eva are the dinosaur's co-passengers in these fantasy rides.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2019

5 people are currently reading
13 people want to read

About the author

Nomita Khanna

5 books25 followers
Award-winning and bestselling author Nomita Khanna has debated on stage to win trophies, conducted summer camps for children, splashed oil-paint on canvas, crocheted caps and mittens for toddlers, and written stories for Femina, a leading magazine in India; all in an endeavor to create things.

She makes her home in India with her family, a sizeable collection of books and a growing number of unfinished puzzle boards. She is the author, most recently, of 'ROSE'S BENT STEM', a chilling psychological thriller based on true events. The book ranks #1 Best Seller in the Horror category in the Amazon India paid kindle store and has won an Author Reader Ready Award.

Her debut novel ‘Lucky Costasaurus and the Golden-Winged Vultures’ a book for young readers (12+) has ranked #1 in Amazon best sellers in the Myths, Legends, Sagas category in the free kindle store. It has also won the Finalist Award in the Pre-Teen fiction category in the 13th Annual NIEA awards competition. The protagonist, a dinosaur is a vulnerable, yet mostly resilient fellow unlike her as she is terrified of many things big and small, including but not limited to small talk, public toilets, parking lots, and strangely; barbers. When she is not writing, she is probably playing the keyboard, watching Grace & Frankie on Netflix, or plotting and planning a tough treasure hunt for little ones.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Mitul Gadhiya.
70 reviews
May 1, 2019
If you haven't introduced your child or yourself to the Lucky Costasaurus yet, you should right now!

I may have a weak spot when it comes to Children's Books because I had so many growing up when I was first learning to read.

It is the really fun and cute adventure story of the dinosaur, who is trying to earn his place in the world, and the human child Thomas names him Lucky. Thomas is brave and somewhat impulsive, and together with Dinosaur, they make good team. The book is wonderfully illustrated and is the perfect length for reading to a toddler or pre-schooler or even an older child.

What's so great about this books is that it combines adventure with learning about so many different things ... history, other cultures, geography, animals, and so on.

I also like how the author breaks down the sentences into smaller parts at times to help with comprehension.
Profile Image for The Bookish Elf.
2,886 reviews451 followers
May 1, 2019
What a cute, fun book!  I fell in love with it after reading the description. I got this book based on the Cover and title--so vivid and adventurous.
This book is very cute. I would have to say that children enjoy this book far more than I, but I do like it.
The pictures are really great and I enjoy the writing throughout the book. I would be interested in seeing what other books this author has out there.
Profile Image for Lunatic Reader.
57 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2019
Imagine being at a theme park with a bunch of people who love you, be that family or friends, with the sun grinning from above and the wind blowing through your hair. There's laughter everywhere, and people hugging and drinking raspberry smoothies. Everything's alive and happy and radiant. I think that's the feeling you get when reading this book, - like a warm hug from a person you've missed, from your younger self, from your childhood self. As if you're bathing in sunlight, and memories and happiness.

What a wonderful childrens/junior book. Keeps the reader involved in the story throughout.
The world is so very interesting as are the characters that inhabit in this world created by Nomita Khanna.
Profile Image for Mitul Patel.
7 reviews
May 8, 2019
Oh, I loved this book! Having just finished it, I am in love with Author Nomita Khanna's writing, her world, and the people in it.

First, there is the writing. I was tempted at several points to come here and leave a review of just the writing itself -- it was giving me so much pleasure. There's a lightness to it, a drollness, a quirkiness -- not a hackneyed phrase or idea anywhere, it's utterly refreshing. But it's also beautifully simple and precise. It's a sensory pleasure in its own right, like listening to a wonderful musical performance, or eating a perfect peach.

Then there's the world created by Nomita Khanna, and the characters that inhabit it. Once again, it is utterly fresh, and every aspect just keeps unfolding as the book progresses -- every story thread, every cultural trait, and especially every character keeps developing. Every bit of this unfolding rings perfectly true, it's just that nothing in this book is a simple cartoon -- everything has life, and verisimilitude. Its like a box of very good assorted chocolates -- every piece is different, and every flavor and texture is a little masterpiece in itself.

Then there's what I can only call the author's heart. Reading this book -- which, in its distinctive way, is swashbuckling, thrilling, adventurous, funny, and utterly absorbing -- nourished my better self. Here's someone for whom the true and the good are a reliable compass, who shows compassion to every little character because she sees them true and in all their complexity, and who wants the best for all of them, whether it's possible or not. I felt better about my own world after spending time in the one Nomita Khanna created.
Profile Image for Aparna Thaker.
102 reviews10 followers
May 8, 2019
I really like this book (my brother actually recommended this to me) because it has some of my favorite genres on it, it has fantasy, and adventure which I like the most on books.

I recommend this book to the people who really likes fantasy and adventure books.
If you know a kid who hates reading or lacks imagination, give them this book and tell them "to give it a chance, if they don't like it then I will stop recommending books to you and let you decide."
Profile Image for Readers' Corner.
60 reviews6 followers
May 8, 2019
Fantasy, particularly dragon (here Dinosaur) focused, is my personal favorite genre.
This was a great book with so many creative plot twists that I did not ever feel like I was reading a Children book 
Readers of fantasy who have not yet read this one should correct that as quickly as possible.
Profile Image for Neha Garg (thereadingowl_).
285 reviews54 followers
March 15, 2019
As published on The Reading Owl

Lucky Costasaurus is a dinosaur who was left outside a house in a Goan village, by a cat, as an egg. He belongs to an extinct species and has mismatching colored wings. He feels unwanted and alone and unusual. Even though he is adopted by the very loving Thomas and has lovely friends Peter and Eva, he is discontent. He wants to belong and to know about his parents. This book is his journey as he tries to find out about his roots and his purpose in life. This journey is made more adventures because he is of interest to a pair of evil golden-winged Garudas who watch over him forever.

It was a lovely experience reading this book. The best part is the characterization. Lucky is this youth who is dealing with self-doubts and societal aloofness but is brave and loves his friends. I loved Eva the best. She is fearless, adventurous, outspoken, but a little self-centered and possessive. Peter is a love-struck adolescent. All the other characters, be it the powerful witch Kika, his evil brother Kuber, or the animals, are given a voice. They are complex, diverse, lovable, and equally represented.

I loved the storyline too. There are small, interesting events that lead up to the main thing and each has its own elements of thrill and learning. Using adventure and action to drive a point has been used forever in children’s stories. This book has used all those elements very nicely. Nomita has also very subtly tried to point out things that are wrong with our society from animal killing to inequality to over-judgemental natures. The story is set in a world where animals can speak and have jobs. Whether they have freedom of speech or equal job opportunities, is a different matter altogether.

Nomita has provided a dual perspective in the story. The golden-winged garudas are an endangered species. They are shown to do what is needed for their survival, though at the cost of another. There are people who share these views while others abhor them. I loved that people are given a chance to see both sides.

One thing I feel that could have improved my experience with this book is the writing style. It could use a little more context while switching scenes or narrators. A little concise and it would be good to go. With a lot of characters, it took me some time to get into the story. But once I got to know them and love them, it flowed nicely.

I think it is a very nice book for growing kids. There are situations they may find similar and relatable. I also found it thought-provoking at various levels. I would recommend it for them and for adults who love to read an adventurous tale every once in a while.
Profile Image for Rutuja Ramteke.
2,002 reviews99 followers
February 13, 2019
💎Lucky Costasaurus And The Golden-Winged Vultures By Nomita Khanna💎
💎Category: Children's book
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Plot: Lucky finds himself in a ramshackle cottage on Mangrove Lane as the son of the humans, the Costas.The troubles that befall Lucky, take him from the fishing village in Goa to the witch Kika’s house in the jungle; to 100 B.C. Egypt, and from the icy peaks of the North Pole to the barren desert of Kutch. The human children; the serial cartwheel spinner Peter, and his fearless karate-nerd sister Eva are Lucky’s co-passengers in his magical adventure rides.
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My Opinion: When it comes to children's book I never let them go, they are marvellous. I have picked this book from 2 to 3 days I guess but it's very intriguing. Yes, the book is bit lengthy & I too took a while to complete it. It is a 4-5 read but I will suggest you to read with fun & patience & this is how you will enjoy it more. The story is about a dinosaur- Lucky & luckily he is the only dinosaur in the world. The book unravels his journey right from the egg & he is quickly accepted by his villagers but unfortunately he think there is someone cruel trying to harm him & his villagers. This make him go on an adventure to find out the truth with his buddies Peter & Eva, including them all the other characters are very well built & I can say it's the best children's book I had read in a while. The cover is fantastic as well.
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Pros: Language is really easy & interesting. Characterisation is well done, not only children but even adults can give it a try. It was fun reading the entire book, there were few wow moments in the book. The book gives a value based moral to follow your heart & dreams which is just amazing. The book was unpredictable. I highly recommend it.
Cons: The book has illustrations which I liked but they were not up to the mark, I wish the author will take care the next time. But, yes it's an amazing book.
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Rating: 4🌟
Profile Image for Kidliomag .
1,437 reviews60 followers
May 10, 2019
Lucky Costasaurus and the Golden-Winged Vultures by Nomita Khanna
Pages : 315
Book Cover :Cover totally belong to children,its colorful and perfectly belong to Book title.

Content:Thomas worked as a guard in Branganza farm ,one day he find a blue color egg which is quite big,after seveeal weeks egg hatched a dinosaur came out,Peter and Eva kids of Brangza name him Lucky a dinosaur.soon every animal at farm and villagers started loving him.
One day Lucky felt like somebody takes an eye on him,something is wrong gonna happen with my loved ones.
In search of his real parents, where he belong to or how he lended up in a uniqe village where animals and human love and live together.

Peter and Eva joins Lucky to his journey from the fishing village in goa to the jungle,from the icy peaks of the north pole to the desert of Kucth.
My Opinion: When it comes to children books i never say no,it gives me opprtunity to live my childhood again.
As story is intresting and fresh so i am enjoying reading it with my son daily at bedtime so we both are enjoying reading it together.Book is bit lengthy so it will take time,so my take is this keep paitence and read 30to 35 page daily.
Language is simple and understandable ,some slangs are used which also mentioned at the end of book.
After long time i got across a freshly baked story for children which takes your heart away.so highly recommended for kids above 7.
They will enjoy reading it.
One thing that i want to mention that there has to be more illustration in book because it attracts children to read more and they want to read themshelves.
All the best to author
I am looking forward to read such more good books from you.
Profile Image for Khushi Gadhiya.
115 reviews10 followers
June 5, 2019
I am dumbfounded.

This book has reminded me why my not-so-young teen anymore self hasn't given up on it. This book made me realize just how much I love children fiction, and books in general.

Where do I begin? The beautiful writing? The exquisite food descriptions? The worldbuilding that completely swept me away, into a new world? The beautifully realized, complex characters? The pacing, which was breakneck from the beginning?

As I stated before, I loved this book. Probably everything about it. I am shamelessly fangirling and I am so HAPPY.
Profile Image for Shalini singh.
157 reviews50 followers
March 5, 2019
What the book lacks in print, paper and font size- It makes up in abundance of cheeriness and love. And who says children books aren't for adults?
Withholding spoilers, let me give you a crack at Lucky, the lone dinosaur left on Earth, who is riddled with three supreme questions - First, is he the only dinosaur in the world? Well, he is Lucky for one, other reasons isv why you need to read this book.
Second, are his peculiar wings a cruel trick of nature or its miracle? - I loved finding the answer to this question. I could compare my adulthood with a catchy children's ramble.
Third, is a pair of toxic-looking vultures stalking him or is it his imagination? - Oh! The vultures. Heralding the end or pschying out of curiosity of a Dino's mind?
GIFT THIS BOOK NOW TO THE KIDDIES is what I felt. Nobody should miss out on a fun story! And amidst the heavy reading, this book offers respite.
If you are a beginner, read it more so.
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#boom #nomitakhanna #amazon #kids #childrensbooks #dinosaur #readersareleaders #reviewingsince93 #bookworm #bookwritten #greenleaves🍃 #nature #reviewing #sundayfunday
Profile Image for Nathan Swift.
70 reviews5 followers
June 27, 2019
Lucky the dinosaur finds himself in a ramshackle cottage on mangroves lane as the son of the humans the Costas.The vulnerable yet resilient fellow has three burning questions
1. Is he only dianosr in the world
2.are his peculiar wings a cruel trick of nature or its miracles
3.is a pair of toxic-looking vultures stalking him or is it his imagination.

So what happens Next you have to find itt

Language is really simple and understandable
Character are well defined and described
This book has lot of adventure the storyline is great.
The love the way how the author conveys a moral message in this book like we should not harm the animals.
All tho a nice book to read when its comes to a children book I can't even say no!
And this has totally win my heart!

Would recommend this to everyone not only the children can read even the adults

Go grab your copies 🤙
And thanks to the Author for providing me a copy of it💛🤗
Profile Image for Chresann Dsouza.
194 reviews9 followers
June 17, 2019
Lucky costasaurus and the golden winged vultures is a fantasy book that I read recently.
I absolutely loved reading this book for multiple reasons!
Firstly the concept around which it revolves is very unique and is executed very well.
The writing style was excellent, I haven't come across an author who has such an amazing writing style since long.

The author has made a really good use of vocabulary in this book, so if a growing child reads this books his vocabulary is definitely gonna get a good & effective update.

The narration too was done quite well. She narrates the story amazing which keeps the reader engaged in reading this book.
The storyline was beautiful,captivating and an innovative.
At times a few scenes a over dragged .

The author has boldly & successfully experimented with her plot, by adding in a mix of the fantasy, mystery,children's and the historical genre. With the continuous and unexpected twists and turns that keep coming, a reader is surely hooked to the story.

The character development was good. I could connect with the protagonist very well. Eva definitely has my heart!
I loved the way the author has portrayed the struggles and the hidden battles that every character is fighting, in order to find the answers to their questions and develop a personality and identity of their own.
Which is another point why this book needs to be read by teenagers and growing kids.

The cover and the title are appropriately chosen keeping in mind the interest and curiosity of a reader.
Overall, this was a very interesting, Action packed- adventurous and a fantastic read. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a book with a truly fresh concept, that offers a lot more just apart from the story!

MY RATING: 4/5🌟
Profile Image for ashsayss.
106 reviews2 followers
May 25, 2019
||Review||
Title: Lucky Costasaurus And The Golden Winged Vultures.
Author:Nomita Khanna (@nomitak)
Genre: Children's Fiction
Pages:311

Okay To Start With I Thought It Was A Really Childish Book At The First When I Picked It But As I Read It,It Was Just Amazing :O
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So Its A Story About Lucky A Dinosaur And He Is The Only Dinosaur In The World.Things Go Peacefully At The Start When His Villagers Accept Lucky,But Lucky Suspects Someone Trying To Harm Him And His Villagers So To Unravel The Mystery He Sets On An Adventure With His Friends Peter And Eva Who Are Bought Blessed With Special Talents :)!!
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To Find Out What Lucky Finds Out Go Grab Your Copy On Amazon :)!!
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My Opinion: This Book Is Just Fantastic And The Plot Is Just Lit!!To Be Honest It's Not Completely Children's Book, U Can Pick This To Take A Break From Long Reading,It Took Me A While To Complete It Because It's Lengthy But It's Completely Worth It.
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The Plot Is Fantastic And The Language Used Is Easily Understandable And The Illustrations Were So Good :O
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I Give It A 9/10 :D!!
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So Yeah It Was An Overall Amazing Book!!
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Thanks @nomitak For The Review Copy :)!!
🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋
Profile Image for Priyambada Das.
152 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2019
“And now this dinosaur; a survivor from the Jurassic Park?”

Utterly fascinating !

Nomita Khanna's "Lucky Costasaurus and the Golden-Winged Vultures" is one fantastic book with descriptions so vivid and vibrant that you'll be awestruck by the way your imagination grows wings !

This is a tale set in a fishing village of Goa where a witch named Kika, contrary to the wide-spread belief of witches being evil, with her magic bestowed upon the animals the ability to talk, work and fend for themselves and be a part of the human civilization ! She also helped the other worldly creatures to be a part of this civilization too ! Things start getting even more exciting when a dinosaur takes birth in the village. What's even more unusual than the dinosaur himself is his coloured wings ! We all definitely know what comes with being different, the price is unfathomable. What will be the fate of Lucky Costasaurus, the dinosaur in this fishing village of Goa ? Will he be loved by his foster family and the village or will he be subjected to hurdles and challenges ?

This is one amazingly adventurous tale filled with fantasy ! The characters are so lovely, lively and realistic ! Isn't it like a dream come true where humans and animals will live together in harmony, understand each other's feelings without encroaching upon each other's habitat ! This is a children's book but I'm sure adults will enjoy it too. The message delivered through this book is so precious. Although I think the language might be bit difficult for the target age group. Plus, had there been more pictures and had the pictures been as vibrant as the story itself, it'd have been even more amusing.


Overall, I enjoyed this book !
Profile Image for Mugdha Mahajan.
812 reviews79 followers
February 4, 2019
I can never say no to children's books :P . This book is full of adventures which I absolutely loved reading. Being an adult takes a toll on me, so in order to bring out the child in me, I end up reading Children's fiction. Lucky Costasauras was one of them. The story follows the journey of Lucky, a dinosaur who took an adventurous ride to get rid of the troubles surrounding his village.

Crankshaft, a cat brought a huge egg, which intrigued the interest of Thomas. Thomas- an animal lover decided to keep the egg and take care of the being living inside it. After a few months of waiting, the egg cracked and out came a dinosaur. Thomas adopted him and named him Lucky. Every animal and human living in the neighborhood were curious to see him, since dinosaurs were extinct animals and the coming of a dinosaur made way for many theories. Lucky was readily accepted by everyone in the village but he felt that someone was stalking him and harming his loved ones. Therefore, Lucky went on an adventurous ride with his friends Peter and Eva in order to struggle through all his troubles and find out the answers to his questions.

Will Lucky be able to protect his loved ones? Will he be able to find his true parents? Who was stalking him and what was their purpose?

Read the book in order to know all the answers and enjoy the ride with Lucky.

I really enjoyed reading the book. The author described everything in detail and I was able to imagine each and every thing so vividly. The characters are very well developed but too many characters made it a bit confusing for me. Her work is written in such a good way with simplicity and clarity. The narration is smooth and the book is well paced. The language written is easy and understandable. This novel is full of fantasy elements and suspense and you won't be able to put down the book without finishing it. A perfect read for children and teens as well.

Also I liked the fact that the author tried to convey important message through her book that : 1. One's struggles develop their strengths. 2. The wings of transformation are born of patience and struggle. 3. Spread your wings and fly.

Highly recommended to all the teens and children out there.
Profile Image for Harshita Ashwani.
Author 2 books12 followers
October 1, 2019
Book: LUCKY COSTASAURUS AND THE GOLDEN WINGED VULTURES.
By: Nomita Khanna
Book Length: 311
Its A Story About Lucky A Dinosaur And He Is The Only Dinosaur In The World.Things Go Peacefully At The Start When His Villagers Accept Lucky,But Lucky Suspects Someone Trying To Harm Him And His Villagers So To Unravel The Mystery He Sets On An Adventure With His Friends Peter And Eva Who Are Bought Blessed With Special Talents.
To Find Out What Lucky Finds Out Go Grab Your Copy On Amazon.

I feel that the story is a great children's fiction and adventure based work. If it would have graphics it would be quite appealing and make the readers more curious. The language is lucid and easy. I loved the concept as the author made it quite interesting.
The cover and the title are appropriately chosen keeping in mind the interest and curiosity of a reader.
Overall, this was a very interesting, Action packed- adventurous and a fantastic read. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a book with a truly fresh concept, that offers a lot more just apart from the story!

My rating 4.2/5
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