A book for green consciousness
New launch is a collection of modern-era fairytales that explain critical subjects through simple storytelling
The world celebrated Environment Day on June 5 with sapling plantations and speeches on how to reduce pollution. However, not many of us would know how deep the crisis is. And not many among those aware of it would know how to convey to children the seriousness of the problem.
Author Rajat Chaudhuri makes this challenging task a cakewalk in his new book, Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet. The book is a collection of three stories that highlight various environmental issues.
In Tina and the Light of the World, the author chooses the theme of alternative energy and takes young readers on an adventure alongside Tina.
The wise old man’s one comment in the story summarises the scientific adventure worldwide. “Sorcery and science are close cousins and if we make even a small mistake, we can set the planet on fire.” While scientists might think they are conjuring up solutions for the destruction meted out on Nature, a small mistake can backfire on mankind.
This Earth is for coexisting with all species because that is how we can save the ecology. But the rampant deforestation and concretisation of wetlands are leading to the extinction of several species. The Seventh Sense focuses on the aspect where Gogol’s green friends and invisible well-wishers face danger because of a city-building project masterminded by Gogol’s father.
Gogol was lucky, and so were his friends, because Vasu (or Vasundhara, alias Earth) comes to the rescue. The surrealism that the author creates with the characters, living and otherwise, shows how Nature can take revenge against the diabolical intentions of humans.
In the story, How Did the Ocean Vanish?, the theme that the author has chosen is the controversial geoengineering, which is an initiative to alter the climate to combat global warming. For instance, Saudi Arabia experimented with cloud seeding, where artificial rain is created with silver iodide and salts.
In this story, stakeholders try to save the water body but fail in their endeavours. The multiple suns are symbolic of global warming.
The book, with attractive illustrations, provides an insightful overview of environmental issues and serves as a perfect introduction for young readers. It is complete with ‘learning notes’ and exercises for children. The chapters should be included in the school curriculum so that children have an understanding of the new-age scientific methods adopted to counter the environmental crisis. This book is the modern era fairytale that every child should know.
Book: Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet; Author: Rajat Chaudhuri; Illustration: Isha Nagar; Publisher: Perky Parrot; Pages: 111; Price: Rs 295
