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This compelling story of a young boy in rural Tamil Nadu, leading a life differently from the likely readers of this book, spotlights the precarious and deprived, yet free existence of a child from a nomadic community, and the social context in which the family’s tradition occupation is abandoned. Neither school nor the care and comfort of family are in the picture. A thought-provoking read that can generate introspection and discussion.
Unknown Heroes of India’s Freedom Struggle
The term ‘freedom struggle’ conjures images of iconic leaders, yet there were millions of others who contributed to India’s independence, displaying remarkable courage and sacrifice at their own small levels. Journalist P. Sainath documents the lives of these lesser-known figures, many in their twilight years. The graphic format brings their stories alive in this fascinating children’s version.
A little girl, Kadalamma, learns of the secrets of the sea as she takes a shorewalk with her fisherman grandfather, Palayam. This book is illustrated with photographs of life and living on the seashore and has an insider’s view of the deep relationship that communities share with the sea and all the life in it. The sensitivity and voice of the narrative, the depth of content and excellent images make the book a wonderful example of narrative non-fiction.
A fun picture book about a monster or jokhini, sourced from Assamese folklore, but given a modern twist. The central character of Jokhu is wildly illustrated and perhaps the idea is that scary monsters need not always be either feared or defeated, but can also be befriended. The little girl who becomes friends with Jokhu is unshaken and fearless. But even as a friend Jokhu is not entirely tamed in the end! And that is good!
The book offers an introduction to the English alphabet. It is thoroughly enjoyable as it also shows lesser-known animals of India and in their natural habitats. It places content in context and helps children become familiar with animals that live in our country. The rhyme, illustrations and colour palette offer vibrant visuals that will get children hooked.
This powerful story tells of an act of courage of a manual scavenger’s daughter. Young Gulab takes the first step to ensure her father does not have to use bare hands for work. Addressing caste issues sensitively and sensibly, the book presents a world that many children are insulated from. Oppression and people living in the margins are portrayed through the narration. The illustrations are evocative, with a choice of colours that align imagination with reality.
This heart-warming story has an underlying spirit of resilience and love. The book indeed feels like the dried rose petals that Deidi, Amiya’s grandmother, preserved within the pages of a book. The story of Deidi flows gently through the book, shared over a cup of noon chai. The book is a reminder that a story is waiting to be told and a book waiting to be written by each of us if only we care to look, listen and write.
“This is a heart-warming story of two sisters who take up several odd jobs to get a surprise gift for their mother. The colourful illustrations place the story among the Muslim community who weave sarees in Kota.”
