2020
Rarely has a book lifted one’s spirits so completely (especially in these bleak times) as did Dan Brown’s recently published children’s picture book Wild Symphony. After reading the book, I wanted to happily announce, like the narratorial voice in the ‘Bouncing Kangaroo’ section.
One of the few happy consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown is that people have become aware of Indian folk art. As crafts bazaars and melas, crafts emporiums etc., have had to shut shop willy-nilly, increasingly the sale of crafts has moved online.
2019
While choosing a book to review, the title of this one quickly grabbed my attention. Having been to the Kumbh Mela in Ujjain a few years back, I was curious to know how this picture-book had portrayed the largest of the religious gatherings in India.
Let’s start with the captivating cover. Designed and illustrated by Sharanya Kunnath in a rather unusual blue and red combination, the cover displays the loveliness of Indian temple art.
The author, Sudha G. Tilak, says that temple visits were a huge part of her summer vacations and those visits taught her to enjoy the stories and art forms of India, both of which she has described in her book.
These two ‘utterly, butterly delicious’ books form part of a series, with a third one, The Royal Tournament, to follow. Their purpose is to introduce the ‘Famous Five’ of the Dwapara Yuga to the young readers today with their own perspective.