Sunday, October 23, 2011

Water stories from around the world

A Tulika Book , Multiple authors



Water, paani, aqua, jal, neeru, wasser.... calm and giving, turbulent and merciless, mirthful and mischievous.

Here are eleven stories, folk tales and myths, put together lovingly and retold by contemporary writers on the various facets of water.

Launched on World Water Day 2010, the book carries tales come from all over the world- China, India, Australia, North America, Greece, Spain, Nigeria and Botswana. But they are unified in this that they focus on the need to respect water.

The compilation from Tulika works as a good tool to help sensitize children on the need to conserve and share, respect and restore water.

Stories such as Koluscap and the Water Monster, Tribute for a King and Who owns water? provoke thought. The importance of conserving water comes through the Green Man and Queen of the World drives home the critical nature of water in our lives.

A Well is Born is a tale in verse about innovation- harnessing Eastern wisdom and Western technology. The Dragon’s Pearl has some bit of pathos, as it brings forth the dual nature of water.
Tiddalik the frog is a fun tale of an unthinking frog who swallows too much water, leaving little for others and the House of Sun and Moon inspires awe on the impact of water.

Some of the tales need adult intervention/ assistance, especially for the younger readers. Besides the tales, the facts page and water timeline offer interesting information.

The illustrations by Nirupama Sekhar reflect the nationality of the story, really lovely in Selekana and the River Goddess. Nirupama says “Being a city-girl, my connection with water has always been indirect and measured. This project has been a refreshing plunge into understanding water in a much deeper, truer sense. As designer and illustrator, it has been an exciting journey delving into ancient folktales, imagining sea-gods and talking frogs, and conjuring up oceans, rivers and rain to depict the glorious majesty of the world’s waters.”

This book is supported by Wipro as part of its applying thought in schools initiative.
Go
here and here for more info on the book.

14 comments:

sathish said...

Art,

We have this book at home for some time now. I never picked it up. It is probably time for that. Ranjani used read from it to the kids.

love sms said...

Water to the people for sustainable water use and sanitation practices around the world's leading organizations in the community is to teach. One of the main objectives: improving the lives of women in underdeveloped areas. Traditionally, the task of bringing water to the need for women, they often can be educated, and consequently, the world's illiterate people, because two thirds reulhagi.
Someone has posted the video on some of the water. Proper hygiene, health, and organizational goals, and in different cultures and the importance of water to check for your own actions, we head to your article page, please. You will also not least, water from all over the world, comments and questions related to any other video can be viewed, from the Pulitzer Center journalists in Africa, South Asia, China's great to see the project

Tharini said...

We too have this book at home, and I think Akhil began reading a few stories on his own, and I have yet to delve into it with him. Will do so now.

The reason I had picked up the book in the first place, was the amazingly happy cover illustrations. What a delight all the pages inside are!

Meera Sriram said...

We have this too:) Time to get it out. Thanks for this Art!

Anusha said...

Time for us to get this book! The cover art itself speaks volumes. Enjoyed your crisp Art-style review.

Artnavy said...

Thanks All

I love the illustrations in this book

It brings home the need to conserve water in so many interesting non pedantic ways...

Tulika Publishers said...

Thanks, Arthi :) nice how you've listed out water in different languages.

nanands said...

The urban child has a restricted view of the world we live in. As one child wrote, "My grandparents live at the airport. We go get them whenever we need them." Books like these help break the boundaries set for a child by his environment. Tulika is doing good work...

Artnavy said...

Tulika bird- this would be a tough book to translate isnt it?

nanands- yes indeed.

sandhya said...

This is a well-loved book that the child has insisted on being gifted to many friends as a birthday present! Lovely review, Art.

Water is 'jeevan' indeed. The one element without which life is not possible at all. Proved every time the powers-that-be in space exploration start getting excited everytime its presence is detected in any place other than our Earth!

utbtkids said...

Art, this book has been in my shopping cart for a long time now. Now the universe is hinting me to click the buy button. Thanks for the review Art.

Vibha said...

Enjoyed the review and now its time to get the book.

Praba Ram said...

Seems like a thematically-threaded collection of short-stories. Must pick up for the older one. Thanks, Art! Coily, rains beating hard outside while I'm here tapping away in the wee hours. :)

Artnavy said...

All-
This book takes time to read,narrate to a child - so yes must revisit it myself with Anush

Praba-
even you comment is poetry:-)

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