This book is an effort in reading promotion among children that Pratham Books stands for.
It is a ‘Learning to Read’ book or ‘Level 2’ book. The previous (Level 1) is ‘Beginning to Read/Read Aloud’. The next two levels (Levels 3 and 4) are ‘Reading Independently’ and ‘Reading Proficiently’.
As the inside back cover tells us, author Anurupa Roy is a puppeteer, puppet theatre director and puppet designer. She is the founder-managing trustee of the Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust, Delhi. She has directed many puppet performances and undertaken international tours with her puppet group. Illustrator Adrija Ghosh is Kolkata-based and loves to work with children’s literature. This ‘picture book’ is a blend of the talents of both.
Before animated cartoons came on the scene, puppet shows were popular as the closest to live shows. Even adults clustered around them. Next to dolls and toys, the puppets were what captured attention everywhere.
This is why there are numerous types of puppets in the world.
November 2021, volume 45, No 11