One fine morning in December 1968,
Dr C.V. Raman arrived at the Community Science Centre in Ahmedabad. Chandralekha and Dashrath Patel rushed to the site in Navrangpura, where they saw Dr Raman giving a speech at the foundation ceremony of the centre. ‘He is using his hands like a dancer!’ exclaims Chandra.
The duo clicked pictures and recorded the speech, which later became the basis of their picture book Why the Sky is Blue. In a simple introduction to the Raman Effect, the Nobel Prize winner talks about how one thing leads to another. In his opinion, this is the essence of science.
‘‘The moment you raise a question, another question arises. Ultimately, you find that you have to travel the whole field of science before you get the answer for why the sky is blue.’’
This picture book ought to become a talking point for young ones this June 5, World Environment Day. Think of the rising temperatures and polluted oceans. Twitter is always full of varied blue-skied posts, but have we ever wondered why the sky is blue?
At the bookshop, we curated a list of books that would provoke thought about our relationship with the environment. Read and discuss them in different contexts, whether at home or in the classroom. Encourage children to express their own opinions through these stories for they are the generation inheriting our planet.
Roy is The Insect Boy who grows up with varied experiences around creepy crawlies and winged insects. He is stung by a bumble bee and attacked by an army of angry ants as an infant. This book is unique in the sense that it has two separate stories, both based on Roy’s outlook to insects. This is a great book to start the conversation around careers closer to nature in an era where there is a need for more active participation.
A similarly themed Vatsala Loves Snakes introduces kids to the world of herpetologists, experts who study reptiles and amphibians, through the eyes of Vatsala, a young girl who is enchanted by reptiles much to the dismay of her family and friends. The Arthy Muthanna Singh and Mamta Nainy duo deliver once again with patient illustrations by Divya George in a story that takes us to Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
Not too far from Calcutta in the east, Race of the Rivers is a Khasi folktale that takes the reader from the hills to the plains in Meghalaya’s lush landscape. This is the story of sisters, the playful Ka Iew and Ka Ngot who was quieter. The duo spent hours in the hills. One day Ka Iew challenges her sister to a race down the hills towards the plains of Sylhet. To this day people tell the story of how two sisters turned into rivers and flowed down from the hills of Shillong to the plains. Written by Esther Syiem who has been involved in the study of Khasi folk literature and illustrated by Benedict Hynniewta from Santiniketan, this is a must read.
In the compendium section, we found two titles worthy of mention. Wild City introduces you to the animals we share our city spaces with. Travel across cities like Tokyo and read about the Raccoon Dog which the Japanese call tanuki. In Seville, learn about Monk Parakeets originally from Argentina brought as pets. There are colourfully illustrated pages that encourage us to rethink our relationship with the urban environment through wildlife art, clean-up crews, birdwatching and many more in this well-documented book.
The second title is Kew Children’s Guide, one in a series of activity books put together by the Royal Botanic Gardens. These books include activities, facts, quizzes and more about the Kew Gardens in the UK. It is one of the places which works on conservation of plants and fungi that may well save us one day. Learn about the palm house which emulates tropical climate and how the passing of seasons affects the flora and fauna’s life cycle in this incredibly interactive title.
Speaking of biological clocks, The Tiny Seed by the evergreen Eric Carle is a good reminder of the journey of a seed over the course of the seasons in a year. The simple illustrations serve as nostalgia for long-time fans of the childrens’ writer and for future generations of toddlers who will find this a delightful introduction to his work.
In the graphic novel section, we chose Jagadish and the Talking Plant, a narrative based on the life of Jagadish Chandra Bose. After years of working in wireless communication, Bose turned to the world of biophysics in a first-of-its-kind research which is considered radical even today. Through the eyes of the Mimosa Pudica — the touch-me-not plants — we are told the story of his research. He used the plant extensively in his research. Writer Swati Shome and illustrator Anushree Bhat have delivered a timeless tale which can spark a conversation around plant intelligence in children.
It is imperative for kids to learn about how nature communicates with each other. The comic book format of this title allows for a child to remain engrossed in the story from start to finish.
We conclude this list with a pair of books in the Sahyadri adventures by Deepak Dalal, a well-known name in Indian kid literature, whose stories have a strong conservation theme. Koleshwar’s Secret and Anirudh’s Dream are part of the Vikram-Aditya Story series, one of many which the writer has crafted for different age groups of readers.
Dalal grew up in Pune and the Sahyadris were in his backyard. It was, as he says, his favourite area in the Western Ghats. Every year he undertakes a five-day 200km trek from Lonavala to Mahabaleshwar and makes sure to get lost in the mist and the rain (even if he does use the services of a tour guide!). Experiencing the Sahyadaris was very much part of his writing process, especially for the two new titles which are set in the 1850s. These are period dramas which take one through the history and the heritage of how ‘Bombay’ evolved into ‘Mumbai’ through the eyes of young boys Anirudh and Vikram in a series where history meets adventure.
Speaking from yet another trek, Dalal has a message for children this World Environment Day. When we live in cities the environment is only about our surroundings. However, there is a lot more beyond our cities. Consider our coastlines over thousands of kilometers and the forests amongst other natural places such as Ranthambore, the Himalayas, and Andaman Islands.
‘Kids need to travel away from metro cities to the mountains and beaches. If you don’t experience the beauty why would you want to protect it?’ adds the writer. Let that thought guide your reading recommendations this weekend of environment conservation and restoration.
The author is a Ph.D. candidate in journalism and electronic media at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and runs Storyteller Bookstore in Calcutta. Get your book recommendations @storytellerkol on Twitter and Instagram