LookyBook closes

Sad to hear that Lookybook - that wonderful service for watching the children's books online is no longer available. All our earlier links to Lookybook still seem to be working fine though.



Thank you, LookyBook. It was great till it lasted.

World Storytelling Day

Today is World Storytelling Day. Each year has a theme around which the day is celebrated. This year, it is Neighbors. Wikipedia has more information about the history of the day itself, and you can find it here.

In a country like India, a land known for its tales and fables, story-telling is a tradition handed down from one generation to another. And probably, there is no need for a day marked especially for story-telling. Nevertheless, reading and access to books is certainly a dream that's far from reality for many children in India.

Thanks to the work of non-profits such as Pratham Books in creating awareness about reading and books, children growing up all across India have relatively easier access to good quality, yet inexpensive children's books in their schools and neighborhoods these days. Pratham (an imprint of Read India Books) celebrated the day by sharing three heartwarming stories with its readers - My Friends, Chuskit Goes to School, and City of Stories. An article about the stories and the significance of the day is featured here on Pratham's blog.

On an equally interesting note, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a classic children's book by Eric Carle was published on this very same day, forty years ago in 1969. We are so glad we got a chance to cocoon with the Caterpillar here on Saffron Tree. We all know Eric Carle's books are a classic. With a timeless and global appeal, his stories never cease to capture the imaginations of millions of children worldwide.(On a personal note, I was pleasantly surprised this morning to notice that even Google seems to be in love with the caterpillar and his favorite foods! :-))
Storytelling Day or not, let's continue to spread the joy of reading and keep alive the tradition of story-telling in our lives and our children's every single day.

Wave

Every visit to a beach is awe-inspiring - the dance of the waves is mesmerising as it teases one and all to touch it. Sometimes, it allows us to think that we are more powerful than it by receding before it reaches us. But as most of us would know about a wave - it recedes only to attack us back with a bigger and a ferocious one. It is fun and every one who has visited a beach would remember for a long time.

Suzy Lee's beautiful book called Wave brings the wonderful joy and adventure of a visit to a beach to our home through her wonderful wordless picture book. A young girl happily accompanies her mother to a beach. She runs down the beach towards the waves. She initially watches it from a distance - a group of birds watch the waves along with her. She steps near to the waves and gives a big roar and frightens the waves away. She is very happy that she has driven the wave away; when the wave hits her back with a ferocious big one. But, the ferocious wave brings back with it- a big cache of riches - lots of sea-shells. The day ends with the girl waving a good-bye to the waves.

Every image in the book is two page spread. The girl and the set of birds occupy the left side of the two-page spread and waves occupy the right side. The girl and the birds are drawn in simple lines using charcoal and the waves are represented with simple blue and grey water colours.

The book reminds me about one of my favourite children's book illustrator - David Weisner and his last book - Flotsam. Both books deal with beach and incredible discoveries that children make and enjoy during a beach trip. While Flotsam was a riot of colour with its rich illustration; this book by Suzy Lee is simplicity itself. It is so simple, yet extremely attractive. Flotsam deals with imagination and dwells into fantasy lands; Wave remains and stays in reality.

Both of these books bring out our relationship with nature; its riches and the fun it can offer to everyone. See this book and if you listen hard enough while reading this book; you can hear the laughter of the young kid and the wild sound of the waves.