Calling stories a preservation of culture, language, and identity would be injustice. They are tools that help shape our imagination, and our perspective of the world. The collective stories in this book form a chest brimming with timeless narratives, where each narrative—be it ‘Wings to Fly’ or ‘A Fair Exchange’—carries a lesson for our most prized generation: the youth.
This volume is a thematic anthology specifically aiming to engage the young, ranging all the way from playful adventures to animal escapades. It is easy to say that each story will truly aid children to view life from different angles; every new character, every new plot—be it Shyam Singh or falling off a sled—consistently urges the young children to continue reading.
The book must also be commended for its accessibility: simple language, salted with everyday humour that any child could understand, positively impacts the book’s reach to children who can read and write. The most important aspect that affects the readership of the book, however, is the clever partitioning of a lot of short stories—a tactic that ensures that readers could jump out, and dive right back into the collection while still taking the most important lessons out of each narrative.
In addition to every new character and plot, the illustrations present amplify each story, adding colour and emotion. Even though some pages are text-heavy, the visuals never seem to fail in holding the attention of the readers, and in adding a sense of vibrance to the story. The occasional oversimplification of convoluted human behaviour expressed through anthropomorphism along with the blend of colours is another strong pillar that retains the reader’s attention.
The Greatest Champak Stories, Volume 2 is successful in conveying the playful spirit of childhood and in sharing a variety of stories that every young reader who picks up the book will enjoy. While the book may not delve into complex themes like some other books, its core value sprouts out of its well-woven simplicity and universal accessibility.