This story could unfold in any tribal village or rural area of central and northern India. The village is situated close to the forest where people from almost all households go to collect mahua.
From tales of the wild, we soar to J.R.D. Tata’s life in The Five Fantastic Flights of Jeh. The bilingual book presents itself as a visual biography in which J.R.D.’s five flights chart a trajectory of curiosity, risks, and public service. Yellow backgrounds in the first and last flights create a circular structure, emphasizing continuity. Each flight teaches a lesson, initiation, generosity, perseverance, dignity of labor, and resilience,
‘Baaya aur Dahina Haath’ follows a severed ghost-hand carried by a ghost dog, turning memory and belonging into riddles. In ‘Sone ke Beat’, pigeon droppings turn to gold, while ‘Kukadkoo aur Kankad Koo’ brings a hen that lays golden eggs, stirring gossip through the village.
The second book, The Rabbit in the Moon, contains the fables of ‘The Tale of How the Bedbug’s Selfishness Cost the Louse Her Life’, and ‘The Tale of How the Rabbit in the Moon Saved His Relatives’.
‘Monsoon Mischief’ feels like a splash of childhood, reminding readers of muddy adventures and small troubles that become larger in imagination. ‘The Clingy Friend’ is warm yet gently cautionary; it is sure to resonate with anyone who has struggled with clingy friendships. Readers feel both amused and intrigued, recognizing themselves in the humour while being comforted by its soft resolution.
