This book was originally published in Turkish, and its English translation was published by Perky Parrot, an imprint of Niyogi Books. The book beautifully depicts the struggles of growing up. We’ve all felt during our childhood, especially when we were around six years old or slightly older, that we were eagerly waiting to grow up. Whether it was playing or doing some task, adults would say that we would be able to do it when we grow up.
Bunty, who is the main character of the story, is also waiting to grow up. He is learning or doing something all the time, but he has to face many challenges. However, Bunty receives full support from his family, neighbours, and friends.
Bunty gets advice from his elders. He openly expresses his feelings. He questions the elders and also himself. Meanwhile, he is trying to find a way out of this dilemma. The author has written this story with great sensitivity, and the illustrations in the story bring out Bunty’s mood and emotions just as strongly. The illustrations have shades of blue, red, and gold, which show what Bunty is thinking and feeling. You can also see clocks here and there, indicating that time moves at its own pace.
How does a child experience the passing of time? This unfolds page by page in the story. The fun part is that Bunty also makes plans to spend this time. While reading this story, I suddenly remembered the picture story Baitha Aas Lagaye Jaldi Saal Pura Ho Jaye published by Eklavya. There too, a child has a conflict; he wants to grow up so he can get what he loves. A child from a village in Madhya Pradesh wrote that story, and a Turkish writer is also depicting this dilemma. Both have different childhoods, but the emotions are the same.
Time always moves at its own pace, and children, like adults, spend this time with curiosity and eagerness while also interacting patiently with adults. They wait too. Every day they try to understand the changes happening within themselves. How should adults behave at this time? The way it’s shown in the story is good. The line on the last page of the story makes you feel that something else could have been said instead. Anyway, overall, both children and adults should read this.