Book: Jwala Kumar and The Gift of Fire
Author: Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar
Illustrator: Krishna Bala Shenoi
Publisher: Talking Cub
Pages: 128
Read On: Paperback Edition
How Long it Took Me To Read: 1 day
Plot Summary: Is Jwala Kumar a bird? A bat? A chameleon? Or is he something no one has ever seen before? And did he really just fall out of the sky into Champakbagh?
Mohan Chandar lives with his wife and three children in the tiny and remote village of Champakbagh. One day, he rescues a strange creature from the storm that is raging outside. When he brings the creature home, the family is astonished. What sort of animal is this? Is he friendly? What does he eat? Where will he sleep? They name him Jwala Kumar, and as the days go by, they discover that Jwala Kumar is no ordinary animal. He has special powers that he uses to help his human family in their times of need. When the days are dark and hope seems to dim, Jwala Kumar lights up their lives in many ways. But who is Jwala Kumar and will he stay forever?
Jwala Kumar and the Gift of Fire is a captivating story of innocence and friendship, of magic and love, and of gifts that last a lifetime.
General Thoughts: I've read two books by the author, The Adivasi Will Not Dance and My Father's Garden and loved them both, so I figured I'd give his children's book a go too. Hoping and, pretty much knowing, I won't be disappointed and right I was.
The world is hot mess right now, to say the very least!
We find ourselves in this whole new and unprecedented situation and we could all do with reminders of goodness and simple joys and friendship and helping each other.
This book is perfect book for right now.
So if you have kids stuck at home, this will be a treat, for them and you.
Things I Liked:
1. The writing as expected was good, simple and infused with so much warmth and depth.
2. The illustrations are beautiful. Here are some examples of the gorgeous art.
3. The life of a daily wage earner and his struggles and what it means for him to even miss a single day's work is shown with such clarity, and is especially poignant right now. While most of us can work from home, even if it means taking a few days of unpaid leave, for so many people missing a day of work can mean a day with a meal for them and their families.
4. The entire family in this book are all such a good and kind people. They don't have much but they have such kind hearts and they out of their way to help a helpless creature. I wanted to jump inside this book and give them all hugs!
5. The book just felt like a hug, it teaches us the importance of being kind, being good and helping someone without any vested interest and looking out for each other. We desperately need more of this in the world.
6. Even though this book is largely full of magic and joy, it doesn't mean it shies away from the reality of life. Poverty and struggle aren't simply brushed away or ignored. The book is set in a low income family and it doesn't try to sugarcoat their sometimes dire situations or minimise how hard life can sometimes be. And I think children, across all sections of society should understand how people very different from them live and the often grim realist of their lives.
7. While this is a children's book, it works just as well for an adult reader. You won't find yourself bored, we will walk away from this book and it's people with a lot of joy in your heart and a smile on your face.
Rating: 5/5
This is the perfect book for now or even later.
So good!
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