Have you ever looked towards the sky at dawn? It is humbling to observe the sky with its changing shades. Lines of red hue form patterns proceeding the view of rising sun. It is humbling to be a part of a vast universe that is out there and is constantly evolving with us. The short stories in this book seem like the author’s initiative to re-live, reflect over, and share with his readers a few of those humbling experiences of his life. The experiences that make him feel like a small part of a big world. He ignites those feelings in his readers too.
The book is a collection of short accounts on nature, arranged in eleven topics ranging from big trees and animals to small plants and birds. It is a wonderful resource for young adults and teens who are interested in nature observation: going on nature walks to read, write, and draw based on observations made during those walks. Similarly, it is for educators who like the experience of reading nature musings and wish to share further with people around.
Hindi enthusiasts and educators will also enjoy the book as the narratives are written from a deeply reflective point of view. Peeyush writes in the Introduction that the events mentioned in the book are aspects of nature that caught his interest. He describes it as if he had only caught hold of one end of a story; thus, making him attempt to find ‘the other end’. So, he seeks the story behind these encounters and research more. And, penning down these tales is a way of remembering, with gratitude, all those who shared their experiences, their knowledge, their hopes and their feelings of helplessness.
Each story mulls over various dimensions of life like political boundaries, scientific observation, anecdotal events, social associations, etc. while sharing the common theme that they all emerged from—the love for nature!