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February 19, 2002
CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Storms in the darkness
Here are three books from the Book Group which should delight the hearts of young children about six-year-old. Their bright get-up, pleasant layout and innovative style make these books quite distinct from the many books that are now available for the young reader.
Andhera is the story of a mother bear who attempts to address her cub’s fear of the dark. The little one is so petrified that he can’t go to sleep. His mother tries all sorts of tactics from offering to tell him a story to lighting every candle in the cave until finally she comes up with a theory in keeping with the modern habit of trying to solve all problems via a psychological approach. She takes him outside and shows him the moon and the stars pointing out their beauty to him. Then this anthropomorphic being personifies the galaxy in a tale that finally lulls the cub to a deep sleep.
Neela kambal, a book funded by the Foundation Public School, is the narrative of a star-studded blue blanket. Life is as interesting for it as can be for any blanket confined in one place in a stuffy shop 24/7. Until one day Umar’s mother buys the blanket for her son, who unfortunately is a finicky creature who pooh-poohs it vociferously and insists on a blanket with dinosaurs on it.
His mother is as stubborn as he is and spreads it on Umar’s bed who promptly throws it into the corner of his room the moment his mother is out of it. Not only that he makes the poor thing a bed for a mud-splattered cat. In the morning an irritated mother dear washes it to find that all the colours have run out and the blanket presents quite a dismal appearance. It is stuffed in one lonesome corner of the closet and finally sent to a bazaar during the summer.
Fate brings the blanket into the possession of Rashid who fully appreciates the blanket, its depreciated value notwithstanding. Thus the blanket finally finds a happy home and lies passive ever after.
Jhakkar tells the visually enticing tale of a conscientious gale that is literally holding its breath waiting for the right moment to blow while humanity cowers beneath. The moment the clouds thunder the gale lets out a whoop of joy and rushes down to find a suitable spot to enjoy itself.
Blowing through a forest it comes upon a wet pigeon struggling to protect her eggs. Pitying the creature it changes course towards a farmstead. Upon its arrival it sees a tired farmer and his son having to get up from their well-earned rest to look after their cattle and its fodder. Finding no fun here it changes direction toward a beacon of light, which turns out to be a tailor’s house where the tailor and his wife try their best to sleep in spite of the cold. As the temperature drops the tailor gets up and covering his wife with his own sheet tries to warm himself by a small coal fire. Frustrated the gale is pondering on what to do when it spots the sea. It has found its match and rushes to frolic with the waves.
Andhera
By Amirah Alam
ISBN 969-8556-08-7
10pp. Rs20
Neela kambal
By Uzma Azmi
ISBN 969-8556-05-2
10pp. Rs25
Jhakkar
By Amirah Alam
ISBN 969-8556-06-0
10pp. Rs20
The Book Group, 187/2 C, Block 2, PECH Society, Karachi
Tel: 021- 431 0641.
Email: bookgrup@cyber.net.pk
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