Today's read...Kesar and the Lullaby Birds by Aditi Oza

Yesterday, we were in London, and today, we're heading toward India! I stumbled across this picture book on Edelweiss and thought I'd take a peek. I'm so glad that I did, too. Not only is it a wonderfully done tale...(I promise I'm not reviewing it any more here, yet)...but the background is interesting.

The author is from India, a land rich with many very different cultures. This book takes a look at the salt desert read and concentrates on the customs there, building in not only the daily life but crafts, which are known for the area. In other words, there is a lot to be found in these pages.

Ready to take another hop around the world?

 

KESAR AND THE LULLABY BIRDS

by Aditi Oza

Illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta

Yali Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Kesar’s baby sister Kamal will not sleep. Their entire village in the Great Rann of Kutch is kept awake by the infant’s cries and her parents are exhausted. When Kesar’s and Kamal’s ba comes to visit, her stories give Kesar a wonderful idea. Perhaps what Kesar needs to put her baby sister to sleep is a little bit of desert magic!

A vibrant celebration of traditional artisans from India, this picture book is a sweet sibling bedtime story at heart, featuring a big sister who figures out how to care for her baby sister with some help from her grandmother’s lovingly made gifts.

GOODREADS   /   AMAZON   /   B&N    /   INDIE BOUND

MY TIDBITS

Imagination meets rich culture and crafts in a heart-warming tale of siblings and family.

Kesar's baby sister can't seem to sleep at night, only during the day, when everyone else is awake. Kesar's parents do their best to keep the baby happy and don't complain, but Kesar sees that it's wearing on them. When her grandmother comes to visit and gives Kesar some of her beautifully hand-crafted birds, Kesar has an idea which might just finally solve the family's problem.

This is such a lovely read, which comes from the heart...and that radiates from every page. It takes place in the Great Rann of Kutch, a large salt desert in India and portrays an everyday family in the typical living conditions and traditional culture of that area. The illustrations really let these aspects shine, showing the reader/listener the details while letting the main story still have control. It's subtle but clear, at the same time, so it never feels like a lesson...because it isn't.

The tale is something many readers, no matter where they live in the world, can identify with. Plus, even though the culture of the area is obvious on Kesar, she still comes across as normal as any other girl her age. Her kindness and love for her family comes through, but then, the entire family keeps a positive attitude. While a baby's crying can cause frustration, there's never a negative thought in these pages, but rather, the concern and hope to help take the main theme. 

While I do love the culture in this read, the tale is wonderful on its own as well, making this a read many listeners are sure to enjoy. Plus, it works as a great way to open up a theme in a group setting and for homeschoolers as well. The author's love for the area is obvious, and her extra statements at the end of the book add quite a bit of insight. As an extra bonus, the author does encourage the readers/listeners to try to create similar birds/animals on their own...which while with cloth and a needle might be difficult for the age group, would work very well with paper forms, too.

Review: Titanic's Fatal Voyage by Kevin Blake

TITANIC'S FATAL VOYAGE

by Kevin Blake

Bearport Publishing

January 1st, 2018

Children's Non-Fiction

32 pages

ages 8 and up

"Iceberg right ahead!" yelled Frederick Fleet, a crewmember aboard the Titanic. The ship had only seconds to spare.Titanic'sofficers steered the ship to the left as quickly as they could to avoid a head-on collision. But they weren't fast enough. The right side of the ship struck the side of the ice mountain floating in the north Atlantic. The fate of theTitanic--and its 1,317 passengers and 885 crewmembers--had been sealed.Titanic's Fatal Voyage tells the devastating story of how the gigantic and supposedly unsinkable ship was swallowed by the sea on its maiden voyage. Readers will learn about the ocean liner's journey in vivid detail, as well as incredible tales of courage and survival. The fascinating content and large-format color images, maps, and fact boxes bring theTitanic's tragic story to life.Titanic's Fatal Voyage ispart of Bearport'sTitanica series.

MY TIDBITS

Although short, these pages hold a small wealth of information surrounding the history—from construction to passengers to the tragedy—of the titanic.

The first pages grab attention by giving a short glimpse of the Titanic the moment the iceberg was first spotted. After this raised tension, it slides back to explain the dreams behind the development and design of the huge, luxury ship. In two-page spread sections, various moments and facts leading up to the accident are presented. This lay-out keeps the information exciting and concise enough to hold the interest of even more reluctant readers.

Each section of the historical glimpses starts off with a short description, which gives the names of the people involved, various facts surrounding the ship and short explanations. The print is fairly large, making it easy to read. More difficult terms are placed in bold and can be found again in the glossary at the end of the book. While these paragraphs do hold the brunt of the historical facts, it's the added remarks thrown in among the pictures and illustrations which make this book fun.

The text is supported by bright and very clear photographs, which not only bring the historical side alive, but also add assistance on understanding more technical aspects of the history and ship. There are dabs of extra and fun facts scattered among the pages, which deepen the knowledge but also, are simply fun to read.

This books does stick to hard facts. Although it can be read in one sitting, it's the kind of book to go back to and check certain pieces of information later again. Some of the information is well-known, while other things will probably be a surprise. The addition of real photographs, especially of the passengers, adds a nice touch.

Discover more about the series here!

Get ready to set sail on the greatest—and most doomed— ship ever built. In this riveting new series, children will learn about all things Titanic. They will explore how the massive ship was built, get to know the Titanic’s passengers and crew, and experience, in vivid detail, the terrible accident that sealed the ship’s fate. Readers will also delve into the famous shipwreck, as well as uncover the spooky and mysterious tales that surround the Titanic. The fascinating content and large-format color images, maps, and fact boxes bring the tragic story to life.

Poster Also Available! Order Direct and Get a FREE poster when you buy the complete 6-book set of Titanica. No promo code necessary. There are six books in the Titanica series. When ordering the entire series, the poster is added automatically as the seventh product.