The Adventures of Odysseus

The Adventures of Odysseus
Retold By: Daniel Morden, Hugh Lupton
Illustrated By: Christina Balit


Mythology is a fascinating subject. While I've been partial to Indian, Norse, Scottish, Welsh, and Greek mythologies, possibly because they are well documented and easy to access, I do enjoy glimpses of African, Australian and SE Asian mythologies.

For a while, the older child was obsessed with Greek and Norse mythologies. That's when we read The Adventures of Odysseus, a Barefoot Book. And like all of their books, this is a winner.

Having encountered Christina Balit in Atlantis for the first time, both the child and I were thrilled to see her illustrations for this book. This is a chapter book for older readers, possibly 8+, with quite mature presentation. The text flows well but is not exactly kid-friendly, and the story itself obviously has traumatic aspects.

The Prologue sets up the background for the adventure. The island of Ithaca is missing their king, Odysseus, for nine years now, when the book starts. And continues for 14 chapters, ending with the Epilogue. We enjoyed the book in small doses, as I read aloud to the 8 yo, a chapter at a time, often less.

The art work is amazing, to say the least. In fact, Zoo In The Sky and Once Upon A Starry Night grace our bookshelves simply because we can't get enough of the illustrations.

[image source: barefoot books]

Disclosure: While we  received a review copy of the book, the decision to share the book here is my own.

Nabiya

Nabiya

Story by Chatura Rao

Illustrations by Ruchi Mhasane

Publisher: Tulika Books

Waiting for Mommy is wonderful Korean picture book illustrated by Dong-Sung Kim. One of the loveliest and touching books that I have experienced about a kid waiting for his mother at a bus/tram stop. I was bowled over by those illustrations(a sample of a page from that book is here) and always wondered if I will ever come across a picture book from India that conveys its point in a subtle manner, with muted colors and simplicity in illustration. I finally found one such book with similar illustrations in Nabiya. 

The story of Nabiya is simple. She is introduced to the world of stories by her new English teacher and she is enthralled. Her teacher realizes the power of books and the effect it can have on a child. Nothing extra-ordinary. I call such books as self-referential books - A book that talks about other books and power of books. The Library and The Library Lion are more such self-referential picture books. The tough part of a self-referential picture book is to attract both a book lover and a newbie. A book lover loves anything that talks about a library or other books, but attracting a newbie with a story about a book is tricky. Here is where Nabiya scores - it leaves enough trails for a newbie to discover that there is a lot in the world of books to discover and to immerse into it. 

Illustrations shine through out. The illustration in the opening page of a group of kids playing in a small muddy ground with the rain having left its mark and the giant multi-storey buildings growing in the background is awesome.  We are almost instantly attracted by the girl with two pony tails and bald-headed boy trying to hit the ball. The book ticks a few important boxes immediately with more girls playing football than boys and the girl yelling to the boy to hit the ball the other way ("wrong goal post! do not hit a self goal please!" - was the hidden meaning).  A slight quibble here though - The illustration indicates that the wind is blowing from right side of the page to left side; but the Nabiya's hair alone seems to blow the wrong way!

There are so many small nuances that I enjoyed - The fact that when Nabiya smiles and she has dimples that appear like happy commas; the illustration of black or blue water drums that we used to keep in our bathrooms to store water; the subtle beauty of a kohli; the beautiful dress that Nabiya wears on Eid; the hiddent truth about our cities and folks like Nabiya's father(a plumber) who keep it running for the rest of us; the complete absence of the father in the book; the almost realistic 3-dimensional illustration of a paper puppet being held by a 2-dimensional illustration of Nabiya; the anxiety of the mother about Nabiya going out and playing in her new dress on Eid; the shy-ness of Nabiya who slips out of the house even when her favourite teachers comes to her; the illustration indicating that the lanes in the area where Nabiya lives are so narrow that a man and his buffalo cannot walk together(the author's words! - lovely isn't it?);  the green colour ribbons that the girls of the school wear; or the mysterious bald headed Ganjoo.

 After finishing the book, I wished that the book was a wee bit longer. Most Indian publishers prefer to have pictures books with only 24 pages. This is one of times where I felt that 24 pages does not do enough for this story. I wished for those extra 8 pages - the standard 32 pages that most Western world picture books have. At times, it appeared that there were quite a few details that were packed into a single page. The extra 8 pages would have made a great difference and converted this book into a even better one. 

A lovely book with introduces us to the possibilities of where Indian picture books can go. If this book is any indication, we are looking at some exciting Indian picture books in future. 

Interview with Shaili Sathyu

Shaili Sathyu

Shaili Sathyu is the founder-director of GILLO, an independent children's media group based in Mumbai.  She works as an education consultant with schools, focusing on curriculum development and innovative teaching-learning processes. She is currently also working with Akshara High School, Mumbai. 
Since 1997, she has been conducting workshops for children and teachers, with themes ranging from the literary and visual to the performing arts. Shaili has directed plays for children - IPTA’s Barsoraam Dhadaake Se, GILLO’s Suar Chala Space Ko, Kyun-Kyun Ladki, Mr. Jeejeebhoy and the birds and She-he-shey. 

In 2011, she was selected as a finalist by the British Council for the Young Creative Entrepreneur - Performing Arts Award along with four other practitioners from across India.

ST: When did you know you wanted to bring theatre to children?
I first started out wanting to write stories for children. As time went by, I realised that my background in the theatre gave me a stronger base to do plays for children, instead of writing books. Just after my first play as director, I was selected for an International Directors Seminar hosted by ASSITEJ in Germany. I think that experience sowed the seed of starting a theatre repertory focussing on Theatre for Young Audiences.

How does theatre engage children? How different is the impact from that of other performing arts, storytelling, books, etc.
Theatre as a medium connects with and engages children in different ways. Broadly as participant and as audience (though even as audience they are participating). In both engagements children enjoy a range of things like the story, the visuals, the sounds and music, the live interaction between actors as well as the audience. Their aesthetic sensibilities get energised, assaulted, influenced and so on. Each art form is different from the other and at the same time has overlapping areas with one or more forms. I am often asked to compare theatre with other forms of expression. I find this exercise futile. There is no such thing as better. Theatre is one of the life experiences that children can be given. It is up to the artists as to what we want to share with our audience.

You have based some of your plays on children's books like Granny's Sari and Mister Jeejeebhoy and the Birds. How do you choose books to be translated into performances? 
Over the past ten years I have been avidly reading and collecting books for children. I think the Gillo library now has about 1500 books for children (mostly by Indian publishers). As and when a story has kept me engaged and seemed like it would make for interesting theatre making, I have taken it up as a stage production.

In Granny's Sari, which was presented as musical storytelling, the book was adapted considerably, although the essence and theme of the story was retained. What is the process like?
Granny’s Sari was adapted by Sharvari Deshpande and John Soans who have both been working with Gillo since 2009-2010. Sharvari is a singer and John is a musician and with that background adapting the story into verse came naturally to them. The process for each adaptation depends on the nature of the story and the creative choices we make. Being a simple story, we tried to bring focus to the core ideas in the book and then add elements that would help us give more body to the performance. Also, the musical choices depended on the emotion of a particular part of the story. Mostly the process was organic and things were built with inputs from other singers during rehearsals.

Your plays have been staged at venues like Rangashankara as well as smaller alternate spaces. What are the pros and cons?
We have been producing plays in two broad formats. One for formal theatres like Rangashankara and the other for alternate spaces. So we don’t fall into the trap of trying to change the play or compromise on elements when we perform in an alternate space. The idea is to reach out to more and different kinds of audiences. Also, as our target is children and youth, it helps to go to neighbourhoods and schools as a lot of children don’t have access to performances in theatres.

How important is it to expose children to different languages, Indian languages, and what difference does the language make to the overall experience? 
Fortunately or unfortunately, we are moving towards an education completely in English. We may write in our mother tongues, but discussions, lit fests, interviews (like this one), discourses – these are often in English. I firmly believe that being well versed in your mother tongue and other Indian languages is essential to our identity. I am not talking about the identity that gives rise to regional and divisive politics. More connected to an individual’s personality and identity. A lot of our early relation with language is in the mother tongue. Unfortunately in urban areas many parents have stopped speaking to their infants and toddlers in their mother tongue. So our next generations will always be shortchanged between English and their mother tongue. Coming to your question, it is very important to expose children to different languages. But the nature of this exposure should go beyond the functional. Poetry, fantasy, nonsense poetry, drama, folk songs, jokes, daily conversations, sharing memories, there are so many things we can share with our children in other languages. More than the knowledge of a language, it is the relationship with it that needs nurturing.

Puppetry, shadow work, musical storytelling, use of props - what is the role of these forms?
These are all different ways of telling a story or inspiring children to make their own stories. These forms and elements inspire imagination in different ways and should be chosen and used in ways that challenge the audience to go beyond what is in front of them. As much as these are about adding physical elements to a performance, ultimately they are only representations of a larger picture, the one we make in our minds.

Tell us a bit about the workshops that you do for children. 
My workshops have been related to poetry, puppetry, story telling, shadowplay, movement and many other things. Recently we have developed workshops connected to our plays. In these, we share processes that have been used in the theatre making of a particular story.

How does the funding for Gillo work?
We started Gillo’s Theatre wing in Dec 2009 and the initial investment was made by me. Over the past three years we have been supported by friends who are also now a part of the core team at Gillo. In the past year we have received funds from individual donors as contributions to our Seed Fund. This fund has been used for R&D of new plays as well training actors.
Other than the above, we raise funds through school shows and sponsored shows. Ticketed performances barely break even and are more to build audience and get our work out there. We have also been raising some money for the actors through workshop assignments.
As we are not yet a registered public trust, we are not eligible for any govt funding or grants. Even funding agencies don’t give grants unless we have a NGO registration. We have technical problems with and reservations about registering as an NGO. Hopefully things will change over the next few years.
As of now we are trying to raise funds from two main sources – contributions to our Seed Fund and sponsored shows for schools, corporates, institutes, housing colonies, etc.

Any plans in the long term (or short!) to write? How about movies? There are so few films being made for children. 
Yes, I do hope to write books in the future or whenever something strikes me! Gillo also has plans of producing films for children. I am not keen to direct any film as of now, but I would love to collaborate with people who have concepts that excite me. There are quite a few films being made for children, but the budgets are too low and the quality is compromised. Also the distribution is so bad that most films don’t even see the light of day and just sit in cans and on balance sheets of government departments related to education, culture, children and youth.

What are you working on currently? Any new productions coming up?
Currently we are staging our plays at various festivals in Bhopal, Delhi, Kolkata, Kanpur, Lucknow, etc. We produced four new plays in 2013 - Mister Jeejeebhoy and the Birds, Taoos Chaman Ki Myna, Mind Your Head and She-He-Shey.
She-He-Shey is my most recent play as writer-director. It is based on Tagore's crazy book called Shey (Se) about an imaginary character he creates to help tell stories to his 9-year-old granddaughter. This was one of the most challenging plays I have attempted. And adapting Tagore is a daunting task! Along with excerpts from the book, we have also taken inspiration from Tagore's paintings and used the compositions in our choreography. It was a very self indulgent process, something one has not done before. I am hoping to bring the play to Bangalore in 2014.
Till Feb 2014 we are travelling with these plays. March onwards we shall be working on new productions including a Marathi play about how the Mahabharat was written. We also want to produce a musical for teenagers and are looking for a script. Then we have an Indian ballet style production based on a short story about a little girl and her horse. There are various ideas in the basket. Let’s see which ones hatch in 2014!

[Picture courtesy Shaili Sathyu]

A Book About Design

Very few books appeal equally to the 8 and the 5 year old these days. Unless it is a toddler/pre-schooler favorite that they've both enjoyed being read to by an obsessed mom, it is unlikely that they'd have an extended book discussion of their favorites at this stage...

And then, every once in a while a book comes along that knock them both off their boots, making my  heart leap with joy. Like this set of three books here by Mark Gonyea, (who has become a household name over the last couple of weeks). These three books have been been read and read again several times in the last fortnight and it is not surprising to see its appeal.



A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good
by Mark Gonyea


Be it the cardinal ratio 1:3:9 or the receding cool colors, or the relative sizes for emphasis, Gonyea manages to get the point across with a few chosen words and a fantastic visual to go with it.

The simplicity of uncluttered design comes across loud and clear in this book. The spare words and simple visuals reiterate that a picture is worth a thousand words.

This book inspired the 8 year old to try out every concept from the ten chapters, making one card per concept, first thing on a Saturday morning. The 5 yo simply loved reading it over and over, picking up vocabulary, and comparing the cover image with the one inside of a similar nature.


Another Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Bad 
by Mark Gonyea

Following up on the previous book, Gonyea has managed to bring across a few more interesting concepts in design.

Starting with the big picture, it is nice to see how adding details changes the design. Foreground and background, negative and positive space are clearly shown. Yes, shown. With minimal words, and bold visuals, Gonyea has managed to show some tough concepts in visual art design.

The text is laced with humor - the one that struck the 5 yo as funny is the use of the term "personal space" in design where two elements are spaced apart to illustrate the point.

Sometimes sequels fall flat, seem weaker, but not in this case. After convincing us that complicated does not mean good in the previous book, he has set out to convince us that complicated isn't bad either.

That's the beauty of design, as we learn.


A Book About Color: A Clear and Simple Guide for Young Artists 
by Mark Gonyea

Starting with "Welcome to the Neighborhood", Gonyea introduces the Color Street with 6 houses - violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. Then goes on to talk about primary colors and secondary colors.

Since most pre-schoolers know about primary and secondary colors anyway,  we don't have to stop here. The book talks about saturation, hues, color wheel, and the fact that cool colors recede and warm colors stand out, and projecting moods via bright bold colors and muted pastels.

Each chapter brings out an aspect of color theory in the most concise and elegant manner that even kids can appreciate.


All in all, three awesome books for all ages about design and color principles.

[image source: macmillan]
[author website: markgonyea.com]

Wisha Wozzawriter

Wisha Wozzawriter by Payal Kapadia,
Puffin, Rs 125
Reviewed by: Rachna Maneesh Dhir

When the crocus was announced this year, it sort of made me think of a book I just read, in a totally different light. We all undertake journeys, almost all the time. Children take the school bus and we go to work in different modes of transportation, we all walk to the park,market and such "mundane" trips are undertaken on a daily basis. Then, of course, we welcome holidays to get a break from this monotony and we go places, new or old. However, we often return - sooner or later - to the place we started with a different mindset.

It is also possible that many of us move to a new destination, that is known as migration, but carry our old mindset with us? The angst of
immigrants has been well documented in so many books, for adults and children, alike. The book being reviewed, Wisha Wozzariter, has a life altering journey as its central theme and even though the protagonist returns"home" in the end - she is much changed in her thought and outlook! The simple story revolves around a ten year old girl, after whom the book is named. I do not want to explain the choice of the title, except for the fact that the book is full of such smart names, for people and places.

The other characters include humans and animals, alike, with Bookworm being the only one to make recurring appearances. The plot is crafted
in great detail and the book will work well for readers in the 7-12 age group. What is most special about this book is the fact that the situations and emotions have universal appeal - pot of gold at end of rainbow, sandwich as a snack, circus acts, train ride - all could take place anywhere in the world. So, there is no need to give names such as which city or country or village? For example, children who pass comments upon reading books exist everywhere as well - don’t they?

According to Penguin, “Payal Kapadia studied English Literature at St. Xavier’s College, Bombay and Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago. She has worked with Outlook in Bombay and The Japan Times in Tokyo. She now lives in Mumabi with her husband, two daughters,
and their three imaginary friends: Klixa, Pallading and Kiki. Her first book, Colonel Hathi Loses His Brigade was published by Disney in
2011”.

By completing the story in 77 pages - there is not an extra word used! Risking generalization, I would like to share one of my pet peeves
here - many authors, including those of Indian origin, that write for the “tween” age group (8-12) start well but lose steam midway! The ending might be good but it never makes up for the loss of interest the reader feels at some stage, soon after starting a book. Many a time, immense effort needs to be made either by the young reader (given that the only option might be acute boredom) or through coaxing from an adult who might be privy to the ending, to complete the book.

That is why, I often ask myself “What is the role of the editor? Why can she/he not “tighten” the story so this stage can be skipped? What is the purpose of presenting a half baked idea to readers if it can be worked on and improved with time?” Well, Payal and her editors at Puffin, do not disappoint on this front, either. I can see young readers being encountered with many "what next"

moments and luckily they do not have to wait for long. All teachers of creative writing could make their students’ lives more enriching and their own lives simpler by introducing this book to young readers and budding writers. If it were written for adults, it would have fast found its way to the "self help" category. Fortunately, by choosing to write in the fiction genre - the author has perhaps accomplished a
double feat – of children enjoying what they read and also learning without the usual rules or do’s and don’ts style!

Children who are not keen on reading books because of the jump in the level of vocabulary or volume, or complexity in the plot, as they
transition from chapter books to novels (typically in grade 3- 5), are most likely to embrace this one as it has none of those "issues".
This review would be incomplete without reference to the unusual line drawings that accompany the text. Here is what The Japan Times
website has to say about the book’s illustrator, “Roger Dahl has been contributing editorial cartoons and his Zero Gravity strip for The Japan Times since 1991. An American from Seattle, he is a graduate of the University of Washington.” The expressions of the various characters are extremely well captured.

I would have loved to reproduce the poem that beautifully summarizes the plot of the book, but I consciously do not wish to get into the
specifics as I want readers to get a first hand experience of how well the author displays her craft of book writing. It is with great difficulty that I am writing this review deliberately without quoting any of the amazing passages, that the book is full of, to keep the element of surprise intact. So, let me not keep you from checking this book out for yourselves.

Happy reading!

The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog

The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog
By Himanjali Sankar
Illustrated by Pooja Pottenkulam
Duckbill Books
Ages 7-10

The Stupendous Timetelling Superdog. What a title and what a premise for a story! I was intrigued. I had to read the blurb. The Orange Marmaladies from the Black Hole of Time had tinkered with the Master Clock of Rock and sent the world into a tizzy. All timetelling devices had stopped working. Only silly old Rousseau could tell the time – with short barks and tail-thumps! I must admit I was a bit sceptical – would it be one of those sci-fi thrillers with aliens and all sorts of hi-tech contraptions? Not my kind of book at all! Then I read the first chapter online and wanted more! So when the publishers offered to send me a review copy, I didn’t think twice.

The book has been very well-produced – the font, the illustrator’s style – I could see that a lot of thought has gone into every little detail. The page numbers are housed in tiny paw prints. The chapter numbers have been designed to look like the time on a digital display. I knew the little dog-lover at home would be super-excited when he heard the title; I was rewarded with shrieks and a war-dance. It seemed like the book was intended for the 8+ age group, and the kid had just turned six, so I had to read it before it could be handed it to him.
It was weird and wacky in a very agreeable way – more of a fun fantasy than sci-fi, and seemed just right for the little imp who was breathing down my neck. There were puns and references to Captain Hook’s crocodile, the Big Ben, ancient Egypt and Harappa – but nothing that a six year-old avid reader wouldn’t be able to make sense of.

I like how the information about the marmaladies is revealed gradually (their appearance, clothes and national song!), and I love that they remain invisible in the illustrations, because they cannot be seen by humans. The characters are very well-etched – every single one of them. Mrs Ghosh is a no-nonsense lady who works for an NGO. She talks to her daughters as if they are adults and that makes for interesting conversation. The girls are spirited themselves. But the star is Rousseau! I found myself looking forward to the parts featuring Rousseau and wishing there was more of him in the book.

There is utter confusion in the girls’ school – how does one tell when to ring the school bell without knowing what time it is?! Far away in Germany where Mr Ghosh works, things are much worse - clockwork precision cannot work without clocks! Mrs Ghosh’s parents are away holidaying in the Caribbean where no one cares what time it is anyway! Eventually, Rousseau lands up on TV and the Prime Minister even makes a visit to the Ghosh family home. The superdog is a superstar!

The author mocks the media, politicians, astrologers, godmen... even Shah Rukh Khan is not spared! While the fun never ceases, the book manages to bring out the difference in peoples' attitudes towards time, and their behaviour when out of their comfort zone. As an advocate of the slow movement, I see the book as a commentary on how we live our lives with one eye on the clock all the time.

Be it environmental issues or thoughts like this one - "Maybe all dogs do, Rousseau knows how to tell us. How much do humans know about dogs and their minds?" -  it is cleverly done. The female characters are strong, domestic staff treated with respect. All of it is good, but for me, a book has to earn its pages and I felt it fell short. I would probably have liked it better had it been shorter and targeted at younger kids. But the kid read it and declared it a super-book! He laughed uproariously at the bits I had found hilarious, and enjoyed everything in between too. When he had finished reading, the timepieces in our house mysteriously disappeared. ‘It is the work of a marmalady, they are at it again,’ the mischievous imp told me between giggles as he led me on a hunt to find timepieces under pillows or between books. The “marmaladies” were threatened with dire consequences – after that the timepieces were just turned upside down. Then the kid got busy reading the book all over again and the marmaladies magically disappeared!

Months later, I read the book again, this time without looking for build-up and without anticipating escalation in conflict. I saw it from a child’s perspective – a child who thinks time is well-spent if he has had fun and laughs. I could see STSD was entertaining and I could understand why it had been re-read many times.

[Image source www.duckbill.in]

Hereville How Mirka Got Her Sword

Hereville
How Mirka Got Her Sword
By Barry Deutsch

One sees a tag line of a book that says 'Yet another Troll-fighting 11-year old Orthodox Jewish Girl' and do you think there is anything else that one would like to do apart from reading the book. Well, at least for me - that is what I did. Especially when it is a graphic novel. I stopped everything else and read the book.

Mirka is a spirited girl who prefers to slay dragons instead of girly things like knitting. Mirka hates all girly things and wants to get hold of a sword to fight dragons. In order to get her sword she has to fight not only a talking pig, a witch and the troll that loves knitting; she has to handle her elder sister who wants to teach her how to behave so that she can marry, her irritating younger sister and an younger brother who thinks only men can slay dragons (but, nevertheless accompanies her in all her adventures). But, the most important impediment as well as her supporter - her step mom, Fruma. 

Most folk tales show step-moms as evil beings with long noses. The long nose part is a bit mysterious - why should evil folks have long noses? Anyway, Fruma is a step-mom with a long nose and when she is introduced in the book almost along with Mirka, I thought - "Oh! my God!. Not another villainous step mom.We have enough of them in Indian tales and television serials".  But, here is where Barry Deustsch spins a nice little twist on the step-mom trope. Although she has a long nose and looks like evil-ly, she has her own agenda on how to bring up kids. She argues with them from both sides of the argument. If the kid says 'I am going to slay dragons', she would argue back - 'Nature created all beings, so do you want to unnecessarily slay a dragon' and so on.. and as soon as the kid accepts the argument and says 'Ok. I will not go and hunt dragons'; she will switch and say - 'So, if the dragons come and kill all of us in the village, would you not be ready to fight for us?'. Although the rest of the kids have learnt enough to not argue with Fruma, our spunky, little Mirka never hesitates to get into another argument with her. Some of the best parts of the book are arguments that Mirka and Fruma get into. 

Another lovely aspect of the book is the setting. The book is set in an orthodox Jewish village. Through Mirka and her family we learn about the orthodox Jewish customs, their dress, their festivals, their cooking and the family values. There is an interesting episode where a group of these Jewish kids see an animal that tries to attack Mirka. She thinks it is a monster and tries to search for it in her carefully-hidden-from-parents monster book. Finally, she realizes through her sister (who had been outside her orthodox village) that the monster is nothing but a pig! I look forward for the next book where Mirka might see a crab. 

I am not sure whom I like better - Barry Deutsch - the Illustrator or Barry Deustch - the Story Teller. Along with a wonderful story, the illustrations are amazing. There is a comic touch to all his illustrations. I got this book as a birthday gift from the kids and spouse. A lovely way to spend the birthday reading about Mirka and imagining if my daughter is turning out to be a Mirka. When I asked Sooraj how he liked the book - he had one word - 'Awesome!'.  Ranjani did not like the ending and thought it was a tad sudden and lacked the panache for such a wonderful story. But, for a person who shuns graphic novels and comic books, Ranjani read the entire book without taking a break and enjoyed it immensely. 

India- A to Z- An alphabetical tour of Incredible India

 

Authors: Vidya Mani & Veena Seshadri
Cartoons-  Greystroke ( Shyam Madhavan Sarada)
Illustrations- Sony Bhaskaran

Here is book from Puffin that is a refreshing insight into India with its rich culture, science, maths, natural bounty. A kid (and adult) friendly book full of facts and trivia presented in an unusual manner and organized alphabetically by Vidya and Veena. For instance,  M is dedicated to music , monuments, monsoon and monsters, B stands for beaches and bazaars , Bollywood and Buddha and even the Bhopal Gas tragedy.

The book is enlivened by witty and fun comic strip style observations by Greystroke.
Photos have been gathered from various sources to lend colour

Here we are in conversation with Vidya, the co-author of the book:

ST- After very factual, serious books on India, this was a refreshing take on facts- how did the idea come about?
Vidya- The idea was Puffin's. The Puffin editor Sohini Mitra said they wanted a buzzy and bright fact book on India that was done alphabetically. What we agreed upon mutually was that we would not stick to doing mere facts. Since we had a page or two to every topic we were writing on, facts have been fleshed out into stories, trivia tidbits and incredible info segments, all of which offer the reader a good perspective of the topic being written about. The idea to lighten up the book and give readers lots of 'haa haa's' was ours and that was because we have a wonderful cartoonist inhouse. Also, we've always believed that there's nothing like a good laugh to make gyan more appealing and accessible!

Would you like to nominate a companion book to this one ?
I think Puffin's 'Let's Go Time Travelling through India' and Tulika's 'Little Indians' would come closer primarily because ours is not a mere fact book.

The comics, the titles- how did they evolve?

Completely out of our heads! Right from the start we decided that everything about the book would be quirky and catchy because that helps get young readers interested. So the headers to most trivia segments are alliterative, the book's subtitle (An Alphabetical Tour of Incredible India) is jolly and inviting and the writing is peppered with humour. The cartoons are of course the magical part of the book! They were all mostly Greystroke's ideas, but, in some instances, if a good line came up when Veena and I were writing, we'd put it in as a cartoon suggestion.

 
There is a mix of India and generic alphabet related stuff - how did you prune and arrive at which ones to take forward?

That was the hardest part and took quite a while. Veena and I made a L-O-N-G master list of generic topics that needed to be covered in the book. For instance, places, festivals, markets, environment, science, crafts, personalities and suchlike. Plus, we also wanted something in from every state and union territory of India. So what we tried to ensure in the final alphabet list was that every generic topic and every region got covered in some way. Basically we wanted the book to have something in it for everyone. Puffin's editors worked closely with us to ensure we got an interesting mix in place.

Did you travel more to see any of these places, did you meet /speak to interesting people while adding info?

Wish children's book budgets would make that possible! We certainly did a lot of armchair travelling and zooming up and down the information highway!

However, facts have a marvellous way of popping up out of somewhere, anywhere unexpectedly. In fact, wherever I travelled personally during that period, I could only see facts in front of my eyes! I mean it, I would read inscriptions at monuments and museums, craft catalogues, highway signs at toll plazas, tourist brochures and even application forms with such attention that my family started to joke that it was better we added an extra day or two to every holiday plan! For someone who rarely takes photos on a mobile phone, mine soon ran out of space because it was filled with photographs of plaques, inscriptions, signages and book extracts which I thought would be helpful in the writing. So yes, our personal travels did contribute many interesting facts to the book.

Since all of us have been putting together children's magazines for many years now, we also had access to people we had interviewed across the years - environmentalists, scientists, historians, travel writers - and it was possible to call them to verify whether some information was right or wrong.

How were facts verified- what kind of research went into the book?

Painstakingly! We scoured books, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, diaries, government bulletins, reliable/official websites and travel/photo blogs for information. Every fact was checked and rechecked from many sources. You are aware that it is very hard to get definite statistics and facts on India, so wherever we could not get them verified from at least two reliable sources, we took care not to put it into the book.

Any anecdotes?
Right through the time we were working on the book, we'd keep track of which segment each one of us was working on. And since we were so steeped in what we were researching or writing or illustrating, after a while, it became common for to say, "I am in Varanasi today. Where are you?" And this, while we were sitting in adjacent rooms in our office in Bangalore!

What do you think is the relevance of the book in the era of wikipedia and google baba?

Generally speaking, the information on Wikipedia or any other website is only a starting point. It is not something you can or should rely on with certainty. Besides, the information is not really written for children. India: A to Z is... written for children, I mean. It can be used for project ideas, to boost general knowledge, as a ready reference and even simply for the pleasure of reading and discovery. So, if all you're looking for is a bland fact, Wiki or Google or any website will give it to you. But if you're looking for an alphabetical tour of Incredible India, India: A to Z is your book!

And going by the 8 year old at home, it is likely to be a sure hit with kids!

Here's another review of the same book by the Mad Momma.

India A to Z: An alphabetical tour of Incredible India

India A to Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Incredible India
Authors: Veena Seshadri and Vidya Mani
Illustrations: Sony Bhaskaran
Cartoons: Greystroke
Publisher: Puffin

The name says it all - it is an alphabetical tour of India. So A is for Aryabhatta, a tidbit that most kids don't pick up until fairly late in life, but A is also for Aadhar Card. C for Constitution, D for the famous Dabbas of Bombay, L for the famous Lakes of India, H for hindustani music and gharanas.
A very comprehensive book, it is packed to the gills with information as diverse as seasons, fairs, history (Jallianwala Bagh, anyone?) space travel, mythology, geography and art.


Snippy little passages of a couple of hundred words, introducing you to each concept, and then skipping on to the next. Should a child find something particularly interesting, you can help them look up more from other sources. My kids have enjoyed sticking a finger into a random page and seeing what they come up with, rather than reading it alphabetically. A list of topics in the contents makes it easy to hunt things down.

However, the same delightful randomness that makes it interesting, also makes it a little erratic. One wonders on what basis the topics were chosen, because a couple of them are rather banal. For instance, with the current controversy around Aadhar, will a number of the topics continue to be relevant? While they've tried to go wide, there is a definite leaning towards Hinduism, from teaching the pronunciation of Om, to mythological references galore.

Bright and simple illustrations keep it interesting. A great gift to kids who don't get to travel much, or who love trivia and to desi kids abroad as a peek into the contradiction that is our country.

10 Spooky and Bizarre Poetry Books

There is always this fine balance as parents to encourage what we think is healthy and positive while gently steering our children away from what we believe is undesirable.

While the younger child doesn't care much for "spooky stuff" unless it is funny, the older one cannot have enough of it, the darker the better. The younger one is excited about poetry (the rhyming kind) while the older could take it or leave, as long as it is a good read (by her definition, of course).

So, when we decided to explore a theme for October, it seemed like poetry books that celebrate the creepy while balancing it out with humor, was a natural choice.

Of course, it was unavoidable to run into "Hallowe'en" along the way - there are very few children's picture books about the menacing macabre theme without the implicit association with All Hallow's Eve.

As usual, we raided the local library and found what we could and read the books one after the other, in no particular order. Some of the books below are for 8+ while others might be just fine of the 5/6 year olds. As always, it is left to the parent and the child to pick and choose the ones that might be of interest.

1. Your Skeleton is Showing: Rhymes of Blunder from Six Feet Under
by Kurt Cyrus
illustrated by Crab Scrambly


Hot off the press, so-to-speak, this book of poems is both bizarre and funny. Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt's October 2013 pick seems to appeal to the young and not-so-young alike.

A young boy wanders into a graveyard and encounters a lost dog - well, ghost of a lost dog who is looking for its (ghost) owner. As they wind their way through the graveyard, they 'meet' various other 'inhabitants' and learn a bit about how they each met their macabre fate. In the end, the boy finds what he was looking for as does the dog.

Freddie Diggs who would not stop picking his nose; Wanda Gripp who loved to hug everyone and didn't think twice about hugging an anaconda; High-wire Pete who couldn't tie a knot; we learn about them via hilarious poetry- about how they fell, or what they are up to in their afterlife.

Kurt Cyrus is not stranger in our house - quite a few of his books (written & illustrated!) are all-time favorites earning a firm spot on our bookshelf. While I am curious to know why Kurt didn't illustrate this book, or had he chosen to illustrate it how different would it be, I am very glad to see Crab Scrambly's presentation of the grisly mixed with the amusing.



2. Los Gatos Black on Halloween
by Marisa Montes
illustrated by Yuyi Morales


This bilingual poetry book has just enough spooky Spanish words to complete the reading experience. From context and the illustrations, we can glean the meaning easily even if the Spanish words are unfamiliar at first.

Under the bright full luna, a host of creatures go about: los gatos black emerge; las bruhas fly on their broomstick; los fantasmas rattle their chains and shriek their pains; los esqueletos rattle their bones and clatter in a dance; los muertos rise from the graves and join the others at the haunted casa for some music and dance on their one night of celebration.

However, the party stops when they hear a knock on the puerta. What disturbs them the most is los niños yelling "trick-or-treat"!

While the illustrations are rather darkish and mildly eerie, the humor in them counterbalances and adds a certain charm that complements the reading experience.

What a fun way to incorporate a second language into the reading experience!



3. Creature Carnival
by Marilyn Singer
illustrated by Gris Grimly


I have tremendous admiration for Marilyn Singer's poetry. Mirror, Mirror and its follow-up book Follow, Follow present Reverso poems that she pioneered.

From the inspiring collection of poems about nature in Footprints on the Roof and its companions How to Cross a Pond and Central Heating, to child-friendly non-fiction presentations like Bottoms Up! and Eggs, many of Ms.Singer's books have resonated with me as a parent.

What's not to like about creatures from myth, legend, and popular culture? From Godzilla to Dragons, a menagerie of animals are presented via clever and witty poems, possibly appealing to the older children and adults. The illustrations by Gris Grimly match the poems in wit and humor while highlighting the eerie and the  gruesome.



4. Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans
Poems for Halloween
by  Amy E. Sklansky


I fell in love with Amy Sklansky's Out of this World poetry book about space.

This book is a collection of rather tame poems for the young, not too scary, and not too funny either, and all about Halloween as the subtitle says.

Some are perfect for the 5 year old to enjoy - like the one about Jack O'lantern and the one about what costume to wear for trick-or-treating.

I fell in love with the artwork in this book: beads and fabric!



5. Two Skeletons on the Telephone 
and Other Poems from Tough City
by Paul Duggan
illustrated by Daniel Sylvestre


Murphy the Rat immediately caught the attention of the 8 year old - the tough rat who calls out, "Here kitty, kitty" itching for a fight.

Murphy's Favorite Sayings is a short 4-liner that again reiterates Murphy's obsession with cats:

Murphy has a few sayings he loves to use,
Like "a stitch in time" or "tit for tat."
But the one that really expresses his view?
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."

Many of the poems are humorous and silly enough even if not laugh out loud funny. None of them are scary or gross, even if they might appeal better to an 8+ year old better.

Two skeletons on the telephone-
Yackety-yack all day.
Just a pair of empty heads
With nothing much to say. 
[Read the poem]



6. You Read to Me, I'll Read to You
Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together
By Hoberman, Mary Ann


Another wonderful book from the You Read To Me, I'll Read To You series, this is a collection of poems that two can read aloud taking turns, alternating the color-coded lines/verses. For example,
I'm a witch
A wicked witch
My hat and cape
Are black as pitch.

I'm the broomstick 

That she flies on.

I'm the broomstick

She relies on.

None of the poems are scary - the two-voiced poems are quite easy to read and fun to take turns and "act it out". The illustrations have a cartoonish charm while supplementing the reading experience.

[BookBrowse at Hatchett Book Group]



7. See My Lovely Poison Ivy
And Other Verses about Witches, Ghosts, and Things
by Lilian Moore
illustrated by Diane Dawson Hearn


The VSS Illustrator Interview features the wonderful Diane who illustrated this poetry collection by Lilian Moore (1909-2004).

Sometimes creepy just for the way it conjures up images in our head, as Laura Purdy Salas shares, the poems are nevertheless ageless and timeless, and possibly appeal to 8+ age group.

Witches appear prominently, along with other creatures. The poems are clever and are presented from fresh and unique perspectives. I Left My Head reminded us of Shel Silvestein's The Loser in Where the Sidewalk Ends. Lost and Found was another interesting one where Lost: part announces the wizard's pet gone missing, please feed daily (p.s: Reward) and the Found: part announces a dragon breathing fire and eating 20 large meals a day, please come and get him (p.s: No reward needed.)


[image source: Visual Storyteller's Studio illustrator interview]



8. Halloween Hoots and Howls
by Joan Horton
illustrated by Joann Adinolfi


This is a delightful collection of poems. Some of them are quite silly and child-friendly and the 5 year old loved them.

Like the one about the pumpkin which starts,
"Woe is me," the pumpkin said / "They plucked me from my garden bed"

and goes on to describe the pumpkin getting its innards scooped out and then carved and then placed in a strategic spot which is infested with foul ghouls and ghosts, and in the end becomes a pumpkin pie, ending with, "They later baked me in a pie / And now they're eating me - Goodbye!"

And then there are a few that are quite perturbing and I skipped reading them to the younger child knowing his sensitivities. Like, the vampire poem which is short yet eerie:
"One waking vampire rising from his tomb / One thirsty vampire stalking through the gloom
... 
While you're fast asleep at night / He's searching for your room."

Of course, the 8 year old found all of them funny and silly - especially the gravestone ones like,
"Beneath the sea lies Captain Blank / A pirate made him walk the plank / He sank."

The illustrations are beautiful and amusing, not at all grim and dark.


9. The Gargoyle on the Roof
by Jack Prelutsky
illustrated by Peter Sis


Gargoyle, griffin, gremlin...
Werewolf, troll, basilisk...

Jack Prelutsky's brilliant style along with Peter Sis' quite terrifying illustrations made this perfect for the 8 year old. The humor does not come across easily and can be quite grim if taken literally sometimes.

Also, even some of the simpler references are probably more suited for older kids... like, the lonely troll who says he has brought his telephone so feel free to call him, especially since it is a "troll-free number" - the 8-yr old has no idea what a "toll-free number is" (possibly because I've not explained it to her yet and she has not had a need to know it), so the play on it is lost at first read.

Or, when the mother gargoyle sings her lullaby, "Dream your lovely daymares/ Where terror is delight" - if taken literally, it can get rather disturbing, but in the light of the whole poem where the mother tucks her babies in just as the sun comes up, when they'll all sleep like stones, it brings in a weird sort of smile to the reader just picturing this strange tenderness.



10. Witch Watch
by Paul Coltman
illustrated by Gillian McClure


Definitely more for the 9+ range, the entire book is a long poem that tells the story of a Cockney boy who is caught spying on his neighbor (witch) by hiding in a ditch, and is forced to do many chores.

The tough part was the accent - hard to read to translate to "understandable" English at times, but, all the more fun, as the older child has a fascination for the subtle differences in English accents (thanks to Doctor Who), along with a strong liking for all things Irish, Scottish, and Welsh.

Not exactly a fun read-aloud book, this is one of the tougher books in this pile here. The pictures are quite bizarre and filled with nuances that can be unsettling if the child is not ready for it.



Bonus:

11. By the Light of the Halloween Moon
by Caroline Stutson
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes


An all-time favorite, this book is a cumulative rhyming tale about a girl who is sought after by various unpleasant creatures, and how she stands up to them.

While not a collection of poems, the jaunty lilt in the text makes it a fun read-aloud book.

[Read More]



[image source (unless otherwise specified above): multcolib.org]

Please vote for Pratham Books - Finalist in the Google Impact Challenge Award

We are proud to inform all our readers that Pratham Books, Bangalore is a finalist in the Google Impact Challenge Award. Pratham, a nonprofit children's publisher, has always been an innovator in tapping digital medium to enable literacy. Winning the award would mean more money to create an open-source platform for children's books.

Purvi Shah of Pratham Books writes "Our project will build collaborative web platforms that solve the three major problems that affect children in India – a very low number of books available for them, a lack of linguistic diversity of books and a lack of access to funding for libraries and books so that children can experience the joy of reading."

To share some more information from Pratham...

Nearly 50% of Indian 5th graders currently read at a 2nd grade level. This is due in part to a scarcity of books, and to a lack of reading material available in their language. With a Global Impact Award, Pratham Books will provide kids with easy access to language-appropriate reading materials by building a collaborative, open platform that lets people share, translate and create children's e-books. Over the next three years, this project will create 20,000 new e-books in a minimum of 25 languages and enable 200 million total book reads.

I think it'd be great for teachers, parents, librarians around the country to promote literacy among their students and children. The platform would also enable children to read, share, critique and review books. Children can create their own stories and share it on the platform. The scope will be far-reaching in education, especially helpful to teachers working with first generation readers who may not be able to access books easily.

Whether we view it from the perspective of teachers or from the perspective of the creators of stories (authors and illustrators), the idea is highly meaningful and the benefits cannot be overemphasized. So please take your time to vote for Pratham. The last day to cast your vote is tomorrow.

Please click here to vote. Thank you!

Good Bye CROCUS 2013!

The past one year saw some ST members move homes/ cities/ countries. Our offline conversations covered reasons, concerns, resettlement and so on.

Earth's Children by Jean Auel, The Mountain who loved a bird and The Little Prince are among my favourites when it comes to the subject.

Closer home, Ramayan and Mahabharat are also about movement, change and adaptation. Change is not always easy but you have got it right if you do not end up feeling like a 'legal alien' somewhere.

When Sandhya proposed this subject a few months ago for CROCUS, it just seemed so apt.

Closer to the deadline, Sheela and Praba got us motivated and kept us on our toes with gentle reminders. The scheduling and formatting glitches were handled by them as well.

Lavanya- WordJunkie surpassed herself with her dazzlingly evocative flyer. When quizzed about it here is what our creative illustrator said

".....all I did was make a list of things that migrate. I already had an image in my head of a globe with Praba's 'laundry list' style banner around it and animals walking around it... After that, it was a question of integrating my list of elements with the globe, and paring away stuff that wasn't essential. Earlier versions included a nicely faded world map in the background, human footprints trotting across the globe, not to mention a bunch of nonmigratory animals..."


Sandhya and Satish wrote beautiful Teaser Posts and set our expectations high.

And soon it was time for Asha Nehemiah to inaugurate the event. The ribbon was cut virtually and in what style!!

On Day 1 you walked, flew and swam with animal migration stories- bears and birds and whales and more.

The much awaited Crocusword was well received and the winners would have been announced when this post is up.

Day 2 we traveled with nomadic tribes tracking the migratory origins of humans to present day nomadic tribes.

We discussed books on forced moves/reluctant transplant and the concept of global voluntary moves as borders blur on Day 3 and 4 

Among the interviewees were Uma Krishnaswami,  Nina Sabnani , Holly Thompson, Radhika Menon, Vishaka Chanchani - all bringing us their priceless views on multi-cultural stories and giving us a glimpse into the stories behind storybooks.

We hope you enjoyed the selection of books we reviewed and found the interviews insightful as well.

We heartily thank all the publishers and book lovers- organisations and individuals- who supported us.

A big thanks to you, dear readers and a request- a few more written comments on the posts that moved you will always be welcome!!

Also a first for us- CROCUS 2013 saw our presence on Facebook with updates and alerts ( not always prompt perhaps!)

Oct 23- 26 -Four days - Many interviews and even more book reviews since we also had cluster posts this CROCUS.

If you felt it was too much, come back to catch up.

And if you kept pace, do return as we continue our regular posts.

Meanwhile, thank you all for the encouragement and keep the reading journey on!

Announcing CROCUSWORD winners

As CROCUS 2013 draws to a close, the team at Saffron Tree is absolutely thrilled to announce the winners of our annual puzzle, CROCUSWORD

The winner of the FIRST PRIZE is six year old, AVANI.
The SECOND PRIZE goes to AADI MALHOTRA who is eight years old.
Winner of the THIRD PRIZE is ten year old, SHASHANK.

Congratulations winners - we are so proud of you! A huge thanks to your parents for emailing us on time.

We appreciate their positive encouragement. We will soon send an email regarding your prizes.

We are also happy to mention one of our in-house members sent in all-correct entries.

Pranav ( 6 yrs), son of Arundhati Venkatesh...congratulations to you both as well!

Thank you all for your enthusiastic participation and we as always look forward to connecting with you in 2014!

And a huge round of applause to the blog’s creative lead Sheela Preuitt for helping prepare a lovely array of puzzles for this year’s CROCUSWORD!

The answers below -

I. Jumbled book hunt:

1. Big Blue Whale
2. The Arrival
3. The Rabbits
4. Coming on Home Soon
5. One Green Apple

II.Double Puzzle

1. Home
2. Fly
3. Swim
4. Walk
5. Waddle
6. Go Far
7. Return

MIGRATE


III. Crossword:

Across:
2. Humming Bird
4. Salmon
7. Butterfly
9. Sea Turtle
10. Gnu


Down:
1. Gray Whale
3. Arctic Tern
5. Manatee
6. Caribou
8. Zebra


Cryptogram quote – J.R.R.Tolkien said...Not all those who wander are lost.

We hope you had fun all through, relishing an assortment of reviews and interviews on the theme of migration.

And as you know, we will be back next year!

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US! AND KEEP READING. CIAO CROCUS 2013!

Look to the Stars

Look to the Stars

by Buzz Aldrin
illustrated by Wendell Minor


As one of the handful of people ever to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin knows about space exploration.

Growing up surrounded by memorabilia of the human endeavor to take to the skies, inspired by his pilot father, Buzz achieved a lot within the first 30 years of his life that most can only dream about.

In Look to the Stars, Buzz provides a child-friendly account of the history of space exploration. Most of the book is about the Apollo missions, with Aldrin's inside information making it real and inspiring.

However, the book also sets the background for this achievement. Without Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, we could not have advanced leaps and bounds in this field of space exploration.

Historical quotations are presented at the bottom of every page. For example,  Saturn V rocket designer Werner Von Braun said, “Basic research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” Exactly what a five year old would say if they knew how to say it - that they are taking things apart, putting them together to see what comes of it. And, the famous quotation by Orville Wright, "If birds can glide for long periods of time, then... why can't I?"

There are two timeline charts presented that illustrate the space mission, particularly the attempts to reach the Moon and return safely.

While the text is not for all but the space enthusiasts, the illustrations bring the much-needed perspective for the young.

"Just remember- when you think all is lost, the future remains." - Robert Goddard, Father of Rocketry.

Buzz concludes by asking, “One day your family may have some amazing vacation choices. Where will you go? Will it be to the seashore on Earth, or to the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility?”

I can picture my five year old squealing "to the Moon's Sea of Tranquility!" with absolute certainty. How about you?

[image source: wegivebooks.org]

The idea of home

The theme of migration got me thinking - what does it mean to "belong"? What if  your ‘home’ isn’t enough to nurture you, and the relationships that complete you lay a world away?  What if the only place you wanted to belong, was also a place where you had to pretend to be someone, or something, you weren’t? Why is geography relevant – can a sense of belonging not be just as strong in a community that is nomadic? Communities themselves are dynamic - what happens to one’s sense of place when everything around you is changing,  when you are static but your home isn’t ? Must a person necessarily feel rooted – can’t she  feel  just at home in ten different  communities as she does in one?  Must one even need community – what of the soul that is happiest on its own? And what does home even mean to the homeless child? 

Here’s my pick of books that variously examine the idea of home, and the complex emotion that is belonging. Some are playful and cheery, some more sombre. But all of them made me stop and think.

Lost and Found

Written and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Publisher: Philomel Books

Ages: 3 and above

Home, Oliver Jeffers, suggests, is wherever the love is. Judging by the reception of this book (previously reviewed here), a bajillion people across the world agree. 

Enough said.

I Have a Home

Written and Illustrated by Claudia Legnazzi

Publisher: Katha Books (Indian imprint)

Ages: 3 and above

According to Claudia Legnazzi, home is wherever you  are. The narrator of this dazzling book is truly a global soul, reveling equally in the isolation of strange new terrain and the (slightly reproving) embrace of other town houses. Through bizarre, utterly fantastic collages, we follow the house on its journeys through the sky, underwater, across desolate landscapes. Sometimes it hitches a ride atop giant motorcars, sometimes it communes with gigantic sea turtles. Sometimes it rests in trees and on wispy cottonwool clouds, and sometimes it chases striped giraffe on enormous war machines. Everywhere, it emphatically assures us, you can feel right at home.

Window

Written and Illustrated by Jeannie Baker

Publisher: Walker books

All ages

Sometimes homes change around you, whether you like it or not. Jeannie Baker’s wordless masterpiece traces the slow change of a woodland as seen through the frame of one little boy’s window. As the boy grows, so does the human habitation around him, irretrievably changing the environment. Each page is a stunning collage, painstakingly pieced together with a variety of materials, and conveying a wealth of information. 

 

 

 Belonging

 Written and Illustrated by Jeannie Baker

 Publisher: Walker books

All ages

The quiet sadness of Window is balanced out by the message of Belonging, published several years later. Again using the frame of a window (this time that of a little city girl), the book wordlessly follows an urban neighbourhood, first through slow decay, and then renewal, as each member of the community begins contributing to improving the environment. Where Window leaves us sad and wistful,  Belonging (also titled Home in some editions) offers up a message of hope, and emphasizes the importance of small, individual commitments in building larger, nurturing environments.

 

The Lost Thing

Written and Illustrated by Shaun Tan

Publisher: Lothian Children's Books

 Ages: 5 and above

Sometimes, home is the place you can’t escape.  In “The Lost Thing”(reviewed for ST here), a boy finds a stranded  alien and tries to help it get back home. They navigate a bleak city filled with aloof adults and symbols of authority,  on the trail of an elusive sign.  Just as you wonder if the cheerful alien (a cheery, rotund red figure in a sea of washed out machines  and sullen humans) is trapped for life.. a door opens.    For me, this book was less about the alien or the quest than it was about the boy’s own surroundings, his obvious loneliness, and the stark contrast between his world and the sunny, fun filled land his alien friend escapes to.  On the last page, as he stands alone at a street crossing,  wistfully looking back on the memory of that  day,  you have to ask – Who’s  really the lost thing here?

A King Cobra's Summer

Written by Janaki Lenin

Illustrated by Maya Ramaswamy

Publisher: Pratham Books

Ages: 8 and above

Kaala, our eponymous hero, sneaks into a farmer’s house and is captured. He is then freed into a dense forest that is unfamiliar to him. Far from home, unaware of the dangers lurking around him, Kaala begins a perilous journey in search of safety and companionship. King Cobra.. , with its deft mix of facts and fiction (and the luscious watercolour illustration that is Maya Ramaswamy’s trademark) , almost humanizes the king cobra, an animal as feared as it is revered in India .

 Widget

Written by : Lyn Rossiter McFarland

Illustrated by: Jim McFarland

Publisher : Square Fish

Ages : 3-6 years

Widget is a homeless dog, who really wants to live with a friendly old lady. Trouble is, her six cats (“the girls”) can’t stand dogs. So Widget pretends to be a cat, gets assimilated into the family, and almost forgets his true self.  But then  trouble strikes, and only his “dogliness” can save the day. Widget is charming, with lively illustrations and lots of humour, and a positive message about being proud of who you are. You can’t, however,  ignore Widget’s desperate attemps to fit in.. 

Fly Away Home

Written by: Eve Bunting

Illustrated by : Ronald Himler

Publisher: HMH Books

Ages: 4 -8 years

Eve Bunting sensitively addresses homelessness, in this story of a boy living with his father in an airport, where the man is employed. The boy wistfully hopes to escape one day, and find a real home for him and his father.  He likens himself to a bird struggling against a pane of glass, before it finds an opening to fly away through.  The book is touching, and memorable for its subtle treatment of the boy’s sadness, and the quiet hope he holds onto, of flying out to his own nest someday.

A Shelter in Our Car

Written by:  Monica Gunning

Illustrated by: Elaine Pedlar

Publisher: Children's Book Press

Ages : 6 and above 

The stark life of the homeless child is examined again in this story about a young Jamaican immigrant and her mother, forced to live in a car on the streets of an American city. Again, a brief ray of hope shines on them at the end, suggesting they will one day find a better life. Elaine Pedlar’s drawings are haunting, with their bold lines and bright colours.

Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope

Written and Illustrated by: Yaoume Landowne

Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press

Ages: 6 and above

Perhaps the grimmest children’s book I have read in a while, Selavi follows the life of a Haitian child who loses his parents and is forced to live on the streets of Port-au-Prince.. He meets friends (other children) and survives foes (unreliable adults) before finding shelter and the promise of a better life. This book is based on real life incidents and people,  and is memorable as much for its beautiful artwork aas the way it introduces young readers to concepts like poverty and social injustice.