A Book is a Bee: Review by Myth Aunty

Every once in a happy while we come across something that elevates one of our books (and our hearts) to unexpected heights. We always loved the possibilities that A Book is a Bee held out, but just look at these responses of children in this Facebook post by Library Consultant and Trainer JoAnne Saldanha! And what a wonderful learning for other parents, teachers and educators in how to evoke and encourage creativity – the sky is no limit at all!

Click here to get your copy!

In Myth Aunty’s words… 

 

One of my favourite books to read to children is ‘A Book is a Bee’ by @_lavanyakarthik_ illustrated by Ruchi Shah published by @tulikabooks.

It’s a wonderful way for my students to reflect about what books mean to them. (A side effect is that it serves as a great way to help them practice metaphors and reinforce the difference between simile and metaphors and bring in reasons for the role ‘figures of speech’ play in writing.)  

I use this book often...this time with Grades 2-6, as we continued our celebrations for World Book Day on March 4th!

A spread from the picture book A Book is a Bee

Here are a few the wonderful responses by my students. 

The emphasis is on them expressing themselves and being able to make the connections. In the library they have the freedom to do so, without bothering about their spellings or grammar. 
They were free to draw and express or only share their ideas during our online class. A few needed guidance with framing the sentence into a metaphor. 

* A book is a forest, enter and it’s an adventure.

* A book is like glue, it sticks to you with ideas. (doesn’t it just?!!??)

* A book is a bee, I fly when I read one. 

* A book is a rocket that takes me to another world.

* A book is like a cage, when I start reading I’m trapped. (literally!! literally!!)

* A book is a bottle of water that quenches my thirst. 

* A book is a whale, it is so big and long. (This child obviously had a heavy tome in mind!!)

* A book is Lego, it gives me imagination, makes me smart and playful. I like it.
*A book is a journey that takes you to places you imagine.
* A book is a sausage, I want to gobble it up. (a child after my own heart!!) 

* A book makes you go in a car over an adventurous mountain of words.

* A book is life and logic, it teaches you in many ways. (may I grow up to be this kid!!!)

*A book is a superhero that saves me from boredom. (Ah!! The Marvel/ DC fan, never fails to make his/her presence felt!)

Just a few of the interesting and wonderful responses that made my heart leap with joy. 

I prefer to let my sessions flow with the children’s responses, the next session picking up from the previous one. This allows for the ebbing and flowing of the children’s thoughts and ideas, and we always have so much to learn from them. The library offers this space.

#libraryeducation #schoollibrary #abookisabee #tulikabooks #Lavanyakarthik #Ruchishah #schoollibraryindia #playingwithbooks #mythaunty #libraryconsultant #libraryeducator 

To feel and find, climb and plunge, sail and savour and soar… all from your favourite spot, 

get your copy of 'A Book is a Bee' from www.tulikabooks.com today! 

Why the Elephant has Tiny Eyes: Q and A with author Pow Aim Hailowng

                

             The first chaang, the first elephant, once had big eyes,

Which the animals thought looked beautiful and wise.

Then along comes a little wagtail and changes the chaang forever! So goes this hilarious folktale told by the Tai Phake, a lesser-known community from India’s northeast to which the author, Pow Aim Hailowng, belongs. Here’s what she has to say about the book (illustrated by the inimitable Priya Kuriyan), and why she wrote it. 

What was the inspiration to retell this folktale?

I relate the Tai Phake folktales to my mother narrating them as she prepared food or did other work, then to my father starting to tell them in the midst of a normal conversation, and one of the tales, in fact, to my grandfather who narrated it as we sat soaking in the winter sun. Years later, I realised that most of these tales were a lot of ‘why’s’. Like ‘Why the Elephant has Tiny Eyes’, ‘why does the cock crow when the sun rises?’, ‘why does the cuckoo lay her eggs in a crow’s nest?’, ‘why do some monkeys have red bottoms?’ and so on. They were all adorable and funny. I thought it would be nice to share these stories with other kids. As an adult, I thought the Tai Phake was among the lesser known tribes. Stories would be a good way to start introducing children to these tribes and about the existence of other ways of life.

Why did you choose verse over prose for this story?

As kids, we had to remember poems by heart to write them during exams. I always found it easy to remember poems that employed a rhyme scheme. For example, R. L. Stevenson’s poems, Travel – ‘I would like to rise and go, where the golden apples grow’, and The Vagabond– ‘Give to me the life I love, Let the lave go by me, Give the jolly heaven above, And the byway nigh me’, are still etched in my memory. Primarily because they rhymed and had a singsong wave to their rhythm. Of course, I understood their deeper meanings only years later. So when I tried to recall what I loved as a kid, and how easy it was to grasp something in verse form, I realized that kids would enjoy verse more. But, I also had a lot of fun rhyming the words.

How was the experience of telling this story to children? How did they respond to it?

At all those times when I told the story, children were curious to learn. ‘Why the Elephant has Tiny Eyes’ has a wagtail bird, not usually found or seen in most places in India. So, the children want to know more about how they really look or where they can be found. The book, which has some Tai Phake words, also introduces them to a new language and they have been excited to learn them. But, children are also honest. If they are bored, they will tell you outright. So, writing a book for children and reciting it to them are two very different things. I am not sure if I will ever be prepared for their multiple reactions! I have a lot to learn.

When you are not writing stories, what are you usually doing?

I am a doctoral student. So when I am not writing, I am researching to write some more! The only difference is the kind of ‘stories’ I write! Apart from this, I also watch a lot of movies- Marvel series, the clichéd rom-coms, drama and so on.

Who are your favourite children’s authors?

Uncle Pai. He was the editor of the TINKLE magazine. Since he introduced a lot of the 90s kids to reading, I would count him as one of my favourite writers. I received a lovely handwritten letter from him when I was nine or ten years old. It was a rejection for a story I had contributed, but it was inspirational as it spoke to the mind of a nine or ten-year-old about never giving up. I still love reading the old TINKLE comics. Apart from him, my favourite authors would be Enid Blyton and Ruskin Bond.

What other stories would you like to see come alive as books?

The human imagination is limitless. The Harry Potter series is an example of what can be created – a whole new world. But I do feel that no matter what stories come out, there is also the need to talk about the accessibility of those books to every kid. If my book cannot be read by someone who is visually challenged, it means they will not be able to enjoy the same laughter as other kids. When a book is too expensive, it means the story might not reach every kid. Well, these issues keep popping in my mind. But like I said, the human imagination is limitless.

What books are you working on now?

I am still revelling in the satisfied feeling of having had a book in my name. There are more Tai Phake folktales that I would love to share with the world.  

      Want to read this humorous folktale? 

Go ahead, grab your copy here!

                                                        *** 

       

Pow Aim Hailowng belongs to the Tai Phake community. She is one of the few fortunate people who got to pursue higher studies and is currently working on a PhD in Legal Studies. Writing fiction is her passion.

Starting... THE TULIKA BOOK CLUB!

We’ve had a slew of new in our fiction list, with the total now hitting half-century! It’s boom-time in general for children’s fiction and time too, we thought, to get some cosy, critical conversations going among those who read it. So here it is – the Tulika Book Club! Starting with eight-to twelve-year-olds, we hope to eventually have sessions for tinies, tweens and teens… to make their hearts beat for books. With readings, word games, language play and some writerly dabbling by the young ones themselves, the sessions will be facilitated by Tulika author and acclaimed writer Sandhya Rao. Here’s what’s on her mind.

1.      Why do you think young readers need a Book Club?

For the same reason that adults want book clubs: to spend time talking about books and how much they love to read and what new books they've discovered, and what new ideas these books have thrown up, and to argue about their favourite books and characters and share with each other why they love books and reading so much. In the process, make those who are not such avid readers feel jealous of all the fun they're having and be tempted to read books themselves and give themselves a chance to fall in love with the different worlds that books create. 

2.       What approach will you take for the Book Club?

Open interactions, and gentle encouragement to read and discover for oneself. Together, discover how vast and interconnected the world of books is, and how closely intertwined with life.

3.       How different is the Book Club from an activity centre?

Reading is not an activity, it's a way of life. So, we will either revel in this way of life or create pathways to it. Reading will be approached through reading, not any other activity. And sharing the passion. Here, everyone's the same, we all will learn about books and characters and worlds from each other. Reading happens everywhere, all the time: it doesn't require time and space, only a mindset. It exists in itself and for itself.

4.       Is the book club for voracious readers or light readers?

The book club is for everybody. Different people read at different speeds and levels. All that it requires is the desire to read, a curiosity about books.

5.       Will books from other publishers be covered in the Book Club?

Yes of course. Books know no barriers. A good book is a good book and it's wonderful that so many publishers all over the world are creating great books.

6.       What preparation should parents do to send their children to the Tulika Book Club?

Just let their children read. Give them access to books. And maybe read books themselves, also the books their children recommend. Basically, chill. And if they're very keen, they're welcome to sit in on occasion.

7.       Is there any preparation required for the children to do before they attend the Book Club?

Just be aware that this is about books and reading. So, yes, they should be ready to meet new books and authors and be willing to make time to read. So, it's a mindset thing. But, not to worry. No preparation is required. It's not a test or anything. It's a space to share.

The Tulika Book Club will meet twice a month, on Saturdays between 4 and 5.30 pm at the Tulika Bookstore, Alwarpet. Sign up now! Write to reachus@tulikabooks.com.

‘Shabana and The Baby Goat’ is here! Q and A with the writer Samina Mishra

The adorable, Shabana and the Baby Goat written by Samina Mishra and Roshini Pochont is hot off the press! The sweet story about a girl and her goat. We took this opportunity to talk to Samina Mishra about her book, her world of writing, films and more.

What draws you to children’s writing?

I think children make sense of the world through stories and I want to share my understanding of the world, my experience of the world with them. So I tell them stories, in words and pictures and sound.

When did Shabana and Kajri appear in your imagination? How long did it take for you get the story together?

I love baby goats - I’ve written one more story featuring a goat, The Goat that Got Away. Shabana and Kajri came together in my head one late afternoon as I was thinking about how we need more stories for children set in villages, stories that are not about villages but about things that all children experience. How they play, how they make friends, what they feel, the trouble they get into – things that children who don’t live in villages will also recognise.

Were there any characters in the story that were influenced by people from real life?

I think everything we create has something of our real life in it. We draw from the world around us. So, there are traces of people I have encountered in all the characters I create. And of course, there are names taken from real life.

You are a filmmaker and writer. How does making films connect with writing for children? Are there points of intersection which impact either of them?

I think working in film has made me think more visually and it has also made me more open to experimenting with the form of storytelling. My last book, My Sweet Home, was a lot like making a film – bringing in different points of view, how sometimes it is images that push the narrative and sometimes it is the text. 

Some writers say they are writers and some say that they are rewriters. Which of them are you?

Sometimes, like with Shabana and the Baby Goat, the story just comes in one go. But then you work at the words and make the story better – tighter, more rhythmic. And sometimes, the story is a struggle - you know what you want to say but how do you turn that into an engaging story… So I guess I am both writer and rewriter.

Which children’s books are your favourite and why?

Can I please just direct you to this link?

One of the books in that list is an old Tulika favourite!

Is there a special place where you write books? Tell us a bit about it.

Nope. I have written in many different places – at home, in a library, on a holiday in the hills.

When not making films or writing books, what do you do?

I teach. And I turn into a witch when my students don’t turn in their submissions!

What does a typical day look like for you? When do you write in a day?

I teach three days in a week and those days begin very early. I am very disciplined on those days - I teach, I give feedback on my students’ work, I eat lunch at 12.45! But on the other days, there is no typical. It depends on what other projects I am working on. And no, I am not a disciplined writer who writes everyday – sadly.

What book/s are you working on now?

I am staring out of a window and thinking of a film idea that involves the window and the tree outside it. So, not a book at the moment.

***

Samina Mishra
Photo credit - Zishaan A Latif / zishaanalatif.com

Samina Mishra is a documentary filmmaker, writer and teacher based in New Delhi. She has a special interest in media for and about children, and in the ways that the arts can be included in education. She believes that stories help children make sense of the world.

‘Shabana and The Baby Goat’ is here! Q and A with the illustrator Roshini Pochont

The adorable picture book Shabana and the Baby Goat written by Samina Mishra and illustrated by Roshini Pochont is here today – hot off the press! We spoke to the illustrator Roshini about her experience working on picture books and more.

 

What draws you to illustrating for children?

I love imagining a story from a child's perspective, and figuring out how it can be told in the simplest and most engaging way. It's also good fun to add in details that kids will get drawn to.

Also, while I enjoy all forms of illustration, my go-to style is a cartoon-y one that lends itself to children's illustration, so that works in my favour as well!

How did you feel when you were asked to illustrate Shabana and the Baby Goat?

This is my first children's book and I couldn't have asked for a better one. It was a great experience to visualise Samina's story because of all the funny situations Kajri (the baby goat) finds herself in, and the adorable friendship between her and Shabana.

How did you arrive at the style that is finally seen in the book?

I tried a few different styles like a collage of different textures and a painterly look before deciding on the final pastel effect. The decision was based on valuable feedback from my colleagues about what would work well with a light-hearted story like this one.

What considerations guide the process of illustrating a book?

The main thing I had in mind was to do justice to the lively, mischievous nature of the story, and to have the art complement Samina's text well. The process also taught me how to come up with unique ways of composing a spread, finding a suitable illustration style, and what details to include or exclude from an illustration for children.

Which illustrators’ work do you admire and why?

I'm constantly inspired by the work of Shaun Tan, Oliver Jeffers, Melissa Sweet, Priya Kuriyan, Prabha Mallya, Rajiv Eipe and Isabelle Arsenault. I love artists who employ a lot of mixed media in their illustration, as I'm always looking to try new styles.

Which children’s books are your favourites and why?

I grew up with the standard classics that have hence become my favourites: illustrated fairy tales, Enid Blyton's books, the Harry Potter series, and pop-up books. I think the first books we read are the ones that really stay with us through life, and it's probably why I ended up in children's books! 

What do you do when you are not illustrating?

I'm usually reading, sketching, or snacking. I also occasionally dabble in crafts like crochet and weaving.

What book/s are you working on now?

I'm working on my second book for Tulika.

***

Roshini Pochont is an illustrator and graphic designer with a love for beautiful books and all things handmade. She collects picture books and hopes to open a library of them soon.

The Colour Thief is Here! Q and A with Stephen Aitken and Sylvia Sikundar

Hot off the press, this picture book is a riot of colours which have a story to tell! The Colour Thief by Stephen Aitken and Sylvia Sikundar, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, is a rich visual extravaganza set in a timeless place somewhere in the mountains.

We spoke to the writers, Stephen Aitken and Sylvia Sikundar for the story behind the story. This is the second part of the two-part interview series. In the first part, we spoke to the illustrator for a peep behind the pages.

Where did you find the idea for The Colour Thief? What sparked off this multi-coloured tale? Was it something that was always on your mind or it appeared out of the blue?

Sylvia: The story idea came from an experience I had at the eye doctor. I was having cataract surgery and I saw the most amazing array of colours. I wondered what it would be like if the world had no colour at all. The Colour Thief was born.

Stephen: When Sylvia sent me the draft I was intrigued. Colour is a passion of mine. I  saw a hidden message - the emotional impact of colour on people. Does that require eyes to see or can it be ‘felt’? What if we created an opportunity for children to literally ‘colour their world’? How exciting would that be? What kind of person would want to steal the joy of colour from others? That must be a very unhappy person. 

As co-authors, how do you collaborate on writing a book?

Stephen and Sylvia: One of us usually comes up with a seed idea that he/she develops into a first draft. If it is something that we want to collaborate on then it is sent to the other by email (we often live on different continents and at the very least on different sides of the country in Canada). If the idea looks feasible there is a lot of revising back and forth before we settle on the final story. For the last edits we always meet via Skype and read the story out loud, changing words and tweaking the rhythm. Talking directly to each other allows us to discuss word and plot choices, character refinement, etc. We polish our manuscript as much as possible before sending it to a publisher.

The story of the colour thief doesn’t commit to a place or a time. Today, picture books and YA books are becoming more and more local and situated in a sense. What made you go in the opposite direction?

Stephen and Sylvia: We are both interested in stories that speak to the higher side of human nature—compassion, kindness, generosity and oneness. These attributes are universal in nature, not limited to a particular culture or rooted in a specific time. We feel that this gives the stories depth and appeal to a broad readership. We both love India and its wonderful people so many of our characters are rooted in Indian society.

Nature is a big part of your story – the land, the sea, the mountains. Is this something that comes from personal experience? For example, did you grow up in the mountains?

Stephen: I have a studio in the Himalayas so I look at the mountain landscape and himalayan skies daily. Though I was not born in the mountains I loved my first train ride through the Rocky Mountains in Canada when I was 10 years old. When I was a college student I made my way over the French alps into Switzerland and it renewed my inspiration. I was trained as a biologist and have written many books on the natural world and its diversity. I am passionate about conserving our wildlife and the habitats they live in, whether on land or in water.

Sylvia: I live on a small island on the west coast of Canada near the Rocky Mountains that Stephen crossed as a child. When I was young I lived in a rural area in Ghana, Africa, close to nature. My father was an entomologist and the family often accompanied him on field trips into the forest. I was amazed at how some insects mimicked other insects and nature. Some moths had large eye markings on their wings, other insects looked like sticks or leaves. Some insects had the pattern of other insects on their wings – it was all truly amazing. Like Stephen, I am passionate about wildlife conservation and I have a special love for elephants.

Of the many books that you have individually written, which do you consider your personal best and which the most challenging?

Stephen: The book that I am working on is typically the most challenging but that’s what makes it exciting. Some of the best books almost write themselves in the sense that the story idea can come in a flash, like Sylvia’s experience at the eye doctor. It is the revising and editing that is the hard part – that can take months, sometimes years. I am particularly proud of a 4-book series on climate change that I wrote and illustrated for a U.S. publisher, Earth Has a Fever, for students in grades 3-5. You can see more of my books on my website: http://www.stephenaitken.com

Sylvia: The most challenging book is always the one I am working on which is often a young adult novel concerning social issues. However my favourites are picture books as I love to see how an artist interprets words into pictures.

What book/s are you working on now?

Stephen: I am finishing up an educational book for grade 3 readers on how glaciers are melting as global temperatures rise. Everyone should know how climate change is affecting ALL life on our planet.

Sylvia and I are collaborating on a series of environmental books set in India about a fictional family with many animals. ‘The Chelos’ champion a number of environmental issues—rainwater harvesting, water and air pollution, and trade in endangered species. We are working with a publisher to finalise a chapter book for the first story in the series. This series is particularly dear to us because these are the only stories that we actually wrote when we were in the same room. It was in New Delhi about 15 years ago and this remains the one and only time that we met face to face without a computer screen in between. However, to this day we continue to spark creativity in each other!

Sylvia: I am working on the last chapter of a young adult novel on the topic of arranged marriages. A Canadian girl goes to Delhi unaware that her parents want her to get married to a boy she doesn’t like. The story is further complicated by an old unsolved murder and the possibility of her being the reincarnation of that victim.

Stephen, you are both an author and illustrator. Which of these two do you think is more challenging?

To come up with a new, unique and captivating story is always a challenge. I have many more books in print written by others that I have illustrated but the ones that are dearest to me are the books that I authored as well as illustrated. That having been said, I am delighted with the illustrations that Sandhya Prabhat has created for The Colour Thief. Her use of perspective, scale and texture add a lot to the story as do the wonderful characters that she illustrated.

The biggest challenge for me as an artist is to bring my own style and vision to a story written by someone else to add visual layers to the story, develop the characters further and strengthen the story line.

The challenge with writing is to just do it every day, without fail. Like the monkey dropping stones into the river, one day you will be able to walk across. I don’t have to muster the inspiration for art, it comes more naturally. There is so much beauty all around us and I have been trying to capture it since I was a young boy. 


Stephen, when you are writing and illustrating a book which comes first – the words or the pictures?

One of the great advantages of being both an author and an illustrator is that as a story is developing in my head I tend to visualise it at the same time. Once I have a storyline I make small thumbnail sketches right onto a print-out of the story before developing it into a storyboard. I have the luxury of being able to tweak the text and leave out details that can be shown in the art. A good picturebook is pure poetry. Every word is important. The art should draw the reader back in again and again unfolding more delight on every single read.

  Stephen Aitken is a writer-illustrator who is passionate about the natural world. His studio in the colourful Himalayas provides shelter for ants, pigeons, spiders and an odd mouse.

Sylvia Sikundar spent her childhood always on the move, making up stories about imaginary friends and pets whenever she got lonely. She likes to write books to share her love of nature and animals.