Crow Boy

In one of the recent movies that I watched, Delhi-6, there is a simpleton called Gobar that every one likes to make fun of. He is always presented with a Rs.10/- note on one hand and a 2 one rupee coins on the other hand. They ask him to pick up one of them. He always picks up the 2 one Rupee coins. Every one has a great laugh and say that is why he is called Gobar. At the end of the movie, when the same scene repeats again; this time Gobar takes the 2 one rupee coins as always and says - "If I had picked up the Rs.10/- note long back, you guys would have never had any fun". He had continued the drama to keep the other folks happy. Makes one wonder who was the simpleton?


It is a wonder how easy and funny it is to make fun of people who are different. Children usually can be merciless with a child who is different; but, we adults are also not too far away. We do not make fun at the face of folks who are different; but snigger away in the recesses of our minds and souls. Irrespective of umpteen examples where we have seen that the people who are different are the ones who make startling discoveries, give us great works of art and beauty and make us see the world differently - we continue to be indifferent or hostile to them.


Crow Boy is one such story where the kids of school in a Japanese village make fun of a short-boy and names him Chibi(short one). No one knows him well and he is not one of the folks who live near by. He walks alone from far away mountains every day to school. He attends the school diligently, but no one makes friends with him. He is always left alone to his own machinations during the intervals and lunch breaks. No one plays with him and continues to be taunted every day of his school life for 6 years. The author's single line in a page says it all - "He is always at the end of the line, always at the foot of the class, a forlorn little tag-along".


A tag-along whom every one, including the teachers, at the best ignore or taunt with names like slowpoke and stupid. But, unknown to every one, Chibi is busy finding his own way to understand the world around him. He hears many different sounds, he finds a lot of interest in watching insects that most of the kids would run away from. He finds variety of different things interesting - the class which teaches a given list of subjects is just not for him.


In the last grade of the school, in walks in a new teacher called Mr. Isobe. He is himself a bit different and regularly takes his class to a hill top behind the school. Here is where the rest of the kids are clueless and Chibi rises to the occasion; he knows about all the places where wild fruits grow, knows more about farming than anyone put together and he seems to talk with the crows. At the end of last year, Mr. Isobe makes Chibi appear on the stage for a talent show and every one hoots and jeers - "What can this stupid do?". Chibi starts imitating the various sounds of the crows. He imitates a newly hatched crow, a mother crow, father crow, cries of the crows when they are happy, sad and their cries in the morning and evenings. Every one is amazed that there could so many varieties in a simple crow call. Mr. Isobe then explains how Chibi learned all about the crow calls and various other information that he has at his disposal.


It is a fine ending for a rather sad story in the beginning. Taro Yashima, the author, thanks a real person called Takeo Isonaga, who appears in this story as a teacher called Isobe.


The story's emphasis is on the fact that the teacher can play a great role in moulding a kid; or making others kids aware of the talents present in each and every one of them. The other teachers were just like the majority of the kids and considered that Chibi was worthless and he had to be put up with for a period of 6 years. But, one teacher's belief could bring about a change in the school and make a kid happy.


A great story. The book was published in 1965 and won the Caldecott Honor that year. Taro Yashima's illustrations in water colours are touching and brings out the emotions in the page.


A great book to illustrate the fact to the kids that it is alright to be different.

When Pigasso Met Mootisse

When Pigasso Met Mootisse

written and illustrated by Nina Laden

There once was a pig named Pigasso. While other piglets rolled in the mud and played games, Pigasso painted. He painted anything and everything, and in a most unusual way.

At the same time, there once was a young bull named Mootisse... And he painted big, bold, bright pictures.

With a spot-on introduction like that with interesting word play accompanied by brilliant illustrations, this book became an instant hit with me when I first read it to Ana a couple of years ago. Being a novice art enthusiast, it took me a while to catch on to the visual pun Laden has presented as Pigasso's and Mootisse's works, showcasing their unique styles. (Like, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Picasso and The Dance by Matisse)

This book has an interesting approach to introduce the life and works of two well-known modern artists (Picasso and Matisse), whose unconventional styles took the art world by surprise during their times, via two characters that might appeal to children more readily -viz., a pig named Pigasso and a bull named Mootisse.

As each of these two artists gain reputation and fame for their peerless works, they decide to flee the spotlight and end up as neighbors. Now, being headstrong and self-absorbed, what starts out as genial camaraderie between these two neighbors soon explodes into downright hostility forcing them to put up a fence down the middle of the road to shut each other out. After a while, they start missing each other and step down from their pedestals to look at each other's art objectively. This helps them appreciate the relative merits of their respective style and vision.

However, being naturally pig-headed and bull-headed, neither artist knew how to apologize to the other. So they did what they do best. They let their paint brushes do the talking.

They each work fervently on their side of the fence until the quietness signaled the completion of their pieces. Curiosity getting the better of them, they pop over to view the other's work simultaneously and then...

...silence was broken as the two artists began laughing at their amazing work of heart.

They take down the fence and start sharing and appreciating their differences.

The last couple of pages present the true story of Picasso and Matisse, upon which this book is based, wherein we learn how Picasso and Matisse met at Gertrude Stein's party in 1906 and became friends, even trading paintings initially, until the world of art somehow made them rivals and competitors.

Over the last couple of years, this book has appealed to Ana more and more; and now, at four, she is beginning to get some of it as best as her tender mind can gather. As she gets older, I am sure this book will continue to offer more and acquire quite a special place in her bookshelf. It is a wonderful read-aloud book for ages 4 through 8, and for read alone ages 8+. Even though the play on words and pictures seem more geared towards older kids (aka "grown-ups"), the vibrant colors and unusual illustrations could appeal to the young mind, especially if the story is "retold" in kid-friendly way (I am guilty of this... sometimes it is nicer to bring it down a level to make it friendly, so, I read it with the words Ana is familiar with at her age).

Amulet

Many months back, I bought a few books by the artist Kazu Kibuishi. I enjoyed them all and here is a review on one of these comics.


Amulet is a comic book written for kids. It is a story similar to Spiderwick Chronicles at least on the outside. Navin and Emily lose their father due to a car accident. The kids move with their mother to an old house, in the middle of nowhere, belonging to the kids grandparents. It is a eerie house - the images in the book remind me again of the movie Spiderwick Chronicles(one of the better movies in my opinion of 2008). The house was earlier inhabited by their Grandpa Silas, an eccentric person who made puzzles that looked more like machines.


Early in the book, there is a conversation between Emily and her mother, which probably is the main underlying theme of the book. Emily does not understand why she has to go to a new school and cannot learn her own like her Grandpa Silas. The mother replies back - "Grandpa was an eccentric. Just trust me Emily. It is better to lead a normal life like everyone else".


There is definitely something weird going on in the house. Although, the kids can feel something odd, they are not able to pin down that feeling. There is always something slithering away in the corner - disappearing before one looks that way. Emily and Navin discover an amulet in the house and Emily decides to wear it. Later that night, they hear a weird noise and mother goes to investigate the noise in the basement. She is soon abducted by a multi-tentacled monster. This is when the thrilling chase starts. Emily and Navin try to save their mother and face a series of adventures - where they are assisted by some quirky robots. The amulet has great powers and she needs to learn how to use it. One can almost hear Spider man saying in the background - "With great power comes greater responsibility".


Amulet is the first part of the book and I am itching to get my hands on the next one whenever it is released. I read about this book on internet and brought it from Amazon UK. A few weeks after I bought the book, we visited Landmark and found that they were selling this nice book for Rs.250/-. Oh well! I could have saved a few pounds. Nevertheless, I am glad I bought this book.


A great book to share and read with your kids. My son, Sooraj enjoyed it, but not very much. He never showed the same amount of excitement as much as I did!


The other books that I bought by this author include Flight Volume 3 and Flight Explorer Volume 1. I will blog about these other wonderful books later.