In conversation with books
USHA MUKUNDA
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World Book Day is celebrated on April 23. Here is a quick run through select books.
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Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
GREAT FRIENDS: A whole new world.
A long time ago, a man called Johannes Gutenberg invented a way of printing by using movable type. Soon after, books came into the picture. The latest fad is e books and there are predictions that they would one day replace books. But I do not think that can happen. Let me tell you why.
If you are in the age group of six to nine years old, you would find the The Why Why Girl? by Mahashweta Devi will make you feel you can be as strong as the girl who never stops asking questions even though everyone tries to hush her up. What is even nicer is that this is autobiographical. Another great story is Who will be Ningthou by Indira Mukherjee. It is set in Manipur and is about the Ningthou (king) who is getting old and wants the people to help him choose his successor. Take a look at Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess.
Humour and history
Ten and 11 year olds, one author you must read is E. B. White. He wrote only three books for children but each one is unforgettable. Charlotte's Web is about a girl on a farm. Stuart Little is the second and you must discover the third.
Eleven and 12 year olds, would have discovered a few more authors. Remember how your heart was in your mouth as Charlie opened the very last chocolate wrapper to see if he had the golden ticket? If this does not ring a bell, rush and look for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Don't forsake the book for the movie.
Ruskin Bond's Panther's Moon shows us real life danger. There are many boys like the one in the story who face death every day while doing routine stuff like going to school or collecting firewood. Shashi Deshpande's The Narayanpur Incident takes you to a time you may only have heard of from your grandparents. The story makes you feel you might have been part of the freedom struggle.
There are many more books which I have no space to write about, but they do exist and can bring about very interesting conversations.
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