Leaf People by Chatura Rao ( author) and Lungshai Leisan (illustrator)
My take on the book:
Eight-year-old Nikoo and six-year-old Zubin who lived with their parents in Mumbai are thrilled to spend their school vacation at their Grandma Shirin’s house in Kasauli. Zubin loved to make-up tales about everything he came across while Nikoo is like a walking-talking Wikipedia, always reading and learning new things and explaining them to people around her. Grandma liked and enjoyed both these traits of her grandkids.
One afternoon, when Grandma was napping, Nikoo and Zubin found a huge bunch of leaves, like the top of a giant head bobbing up the slope of the nearby hill; the kids were intrigued by this leaf head. Another day while playing in the garden, Zubin found a carved wooden object that Nikoo identified as a replica of Chiguriguri, a breed of furry goat found near Kasauli.
What is the connection between the leaf head and the wooden goat, and what adventures will Nikoo and Zubin set out on during this vacation, forms the rest of the story.
This is the story of two siblings who are smart, enthusiastic and like any siblings fought over silly things. However, the story also highlights the empathy that young kids possess which is often overlooked by elders. The backdrop of a quaint hill station is not just for picturesque locations but also highlights an important issue of the locals for which Zubin tries a simple solution whereas Nikoo tries a more scientific one.
I liked how the author connected the leaf head and the wooden goat at the end and also added a good message while keeping the fun and humor of the kids. Nikoo and Zubin are adorable kids however, with his naughty and silly antics, Zubin stands out as the more lovable one. I also liked Grandma’s character not just for her warmth towards the kids or her neighbours but her ever helpful nature is a phenomenon that is becoming rare in current times and stories like this will teach young kids about being kind and empathetic.
The illustrations, like all Silly Billy books, add to the story and the narrative, helping kids visualise the beauty of Kasauli. Overall, a fun story with a good message.
My rating:
4/5.