Living Bridges by Sandhya Acharya

LIVING BRIDGES

The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees

by Sandhya Acharya

Illustrated by Avani Dwivedi

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 12

A boy learns how to care for and weave the roots of the living tree bridges in his village in India in this narrative nonfiction picture book perfect for fans of We Are Water Protectors and The Tree Lady.

In the mountains of Meghalaya, India, a living bridge stands tall, connecting the land and its people with the interwoven roots of tall, wide ficus trees. The bridge is called Jingkieng Jri, and it’s alive. A little boy can’t wait to learn to weave the roots together just like the generations before him.

But when he notices litter on the bridge and scars on the roots from people stealing sap, he knows Jinkieng Jri doesn’t just need shaping, it needs love. By rallying his community and even visiting tourists, the boy protects the living bridge and shares his message of care.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

This books presents the wonder of nature and how it weaves into the daily life in a part of India in a fascinating and inspiring manner.

A little boy can't wait to head to the Jingkieng Jri, a living bridge which has been helping his people over the river for many generations. It's time for him to learn how to weave the new roots into the old and help preserve this wonder. While he carefully follows instructions, he discovers some aspects about the bridge, which aren't as joyful. But maybe he can figure out how to make a difference and help preserve the bridge in another way.

This is a lovely, illustrated book which uses watercolors to bring across each scene clearly. From the raging river to the people of Meghalaya, India, every moment comes across with details and emotions. Not only do these offer a glimpse into  the culture and life but center around the amazing, living bridges. The author lets this natural and created wonders glide in, step-by-step, which gives the reader time to understand what makes them special, how they were created and maintained, and how important they are to the people living there. The text is kept relatively short and brings across the information in an interesting way, which keeps boredom at bay. Even reluctant listeners will find it interesting.

While the living bridges are the main theme of these pages, themes such as tourism and litter also come into play. These slide right into the main theme and carry an inspiring solution, which shows that even kids can make a difference.

To round everything off, there are real life photos and explanations at the end of the book. This makes it a nice addition to classrooms or for homeschoolers, too.

And here they are...

Sandhya Acharya grew up in India and now lives in California, with her husband and two sons. After working as a finance professional for many years, she traded spreadsheets for words. When not writing, she’s training for the next marathon, climbing a mountain, learning a form of Indian classical dance, or volunteering. She can be reached at SandhyaAcharya.com.

Avani Dwivedi is an author and illustrator of picture books including her debut, My Bollywood Dream. A graduate of Maryland Institute College of Arts, Avani grew up in Navi Mumbai, India, and later moved to the states to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. Even when away from home, she held on to her most precious gems—memories of her sweet childhood, the lived experience of being a South-Asian woman, and her love for creating whimsical art. Currently, she lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.