As a pet parent, I always wonder, and probably often wrongly guess, what my two dogs and the mischievous cat might be thinking when I am late to give them food, or plan a trip with them, or scold them, or when three of them sit near the window for minutes looking at the pigeons, sparrows, and sometimes, the oblivion. I also often wish that they spoke my language or I theirs, so that we could share our stories and perspectives about the world. Alas, that remains just a wishful thinking.
And then, I found Bird/Dog, a new children’s book by Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan. I have always enjoyed exploring contemporary children’s literature to understand how authors and their perspectives are evolving with time to keep up with the new generations and their changing needs. But this book especially piqued my interest because it is about, as the title suggests, a bird and a dog.
I instantly connected with the characters who, in their own ways, have an adventure and grow emotionally as they overcome each obstacle to survive.
The bird, called Bird, and the canine, called Dog, narrate their experiences in the book. They talk about their humans and the bond that they develop with each other. Their friendship is unique and fulfilling.
However, through their narrations, the authors also portray the changing landscape in a city and the shrinking space for birds and animals. The gradual concretisation of their spaces is a reality and the human species often fail to fathom that. This has been beautifully and sensitively captured in the narrations of Bird and Dog when they struggle to find food or their green refuge.
Freedom is vital for every living species, and that the authors establish through these two characters. For Bird, the open sky and the wind under her wings are more endearing than the metaphorical golden cage. She longs to fly away from the humans who tries to domesticate her by showering love and care. But the “caged bird sings of freedom” (Caged Bird, Maya Angelou), and succeeds in finding her way to the sky.
Dog, on the other hand, is close to his humans, and longs for attention and love, and when he feels even a hint of neglect, he wants to break away. The taste of freedom lures him to a world that he is not familiar with, and yet, he enjoys it, albeit momentarily. Here, the paths of Dog and Bird cross, only for a short period, before they find solace in their own ways of life.
The story is simple and yet the messages are strong, the visuals are telling and the emotions real. The story will not teach a child be more sensitive towards other species of animals but also help her or him understand the consequences of urbanisation that adults often overlook. The small drawings on the pages give a flipbook effect, which is a value addition.
Book: Bird/Dog; Authors: Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Mrinalini Levin-Srinivasan; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Pages: 160; Price: Rs 299
Banner image by Hediye Dağkıran: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bird-perched-on-fence-overlooking-sleeping-dog-29778316/
