Visit the Bhil Carnival
Author: 
Gita Wolf
Illustrator: 
Subhash Amaliyar
age group: 
3+ yrs
Number of pages: 
24
Publisher: 
Tara Books
Themes:
village fair pop-up book mela folk art ferris wheel Art
Genre:
picture book
 

 

Be prepared to watch your little ones eyes open wide in amazement when they open this pop-up book, in which a ferris-wheel literally bursts out of its pages!

A fair is a magical place for kids, evoking a sense of wonder, excitement, and delirious joy! Hence, children will love this activity cum storybook which houses the pop-up ferris wheel and a tiny little book tucked into a corner to open up and flip through the story. The story-line is simple. Two children, Neela and Peela, visit a village fair and sample all of its delights.

The book encourages the young reader to dive in and discover for themselves all the sights and sounds of the mela; an old-fashioned studio, the ice-cream cart, the balloon vendor, the toy shop and much more.

What makes the book stand out are the absolutely delightful illustrations by Subhash Amaliyar, a Bhil artist. Created in the traditional art form, the book children introduces to a highly stylized, earthy folk art form of central India and also offers hours of fun as they unearth scores of delightful quirky details.

Solidly rooted in Indian village life, the book offers great scope for discussions and could also be a great tool to help children discover other art forms, thereby creating an awareness and appreciation of the rich tapestry of the folk arts of India.
 

Reviewed by Shamim Padamsee