The Seventh Sun
Author: 
Anon
Illustrator: 
School children
age group: 
3+ yrs
Number of pages: 
20
Publisher: 
Pratham Books
Themes:
sun roosters rabbits north-east folklore
Genre:
picture book, folk tale
 

Mix a dash of folklore with a little bit of truth and illustrate the same in vivid colours of childhood's fantasy and the result? This amazing book.

Why does the sun set and where does it go? Is a question that many kids have pondered over.
This folk tale embedded in an old folk tale of the Mundas - a widespread tribe of the northern areas of India, that has some luminaries, such as, Birsa Munda, who dared to challenge the might of the British rulers, is a fantasy of how, long, long ago there were seven suns in the sky. That obviously became a bit too uncomfortablly hot for everyone and so the best archers were selected to shoot them down. However, the last remaining sun was so frightened that he hid behind the hills and refused to come out until...

What makes this folk tale from the northern shores of India extra special is that the illustrations have been inspired by drawings made by children at a workshop organised in Bhubaneshwar in 2010.
The fluid lines, vibrant colours and the innocence of childood shines through this bi-lingual book making it one that not only Indian kids will enjoy and appreciate, but also children everywhere else in the world, as well.

Reviewed by Shamim Padamsee