Kesar and the Lullaby Birds
By Aditi Oza, illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta
Yali Books, 2022

Aditi Oza’s delightful story is set in the Great Rann of Kutch, the salt desert in Gujarat where Kesar and her baby sister Kamal live. The story opens as the girls’ father, Vijubhai treats them to their usual bedtime. Kesar falls asleep quickly but fussy Kamal resists all her parents’ efforts at soothing her to sleep, wearing them out in the process and keeping the neighbors awake throughout the night.

The solution to baby Kamal’s insomnia comes via a visit from their grandmother, Ba. But first, a story within our story. Ba narrates to Kesar an enchanting folk tale about a poor, young needleworker who spends her days and nights embroidering in order to make enough money to support her family. One night, she wakes to find that the birds and animals she has stitched have come to life. The magical creatures warn the young woman about a coming drought. Forewarned, she evacuates her family and fellow villagers and saves them from harm.

Ba presents a gift of stringed cloth sparrows to Kesar and inspired, the resourceful Kesar takes over the bedtime routine. She fashions more sparrows and puts on a puppetry show for her baby sister, making the fabric birds deliver a personalized story and lullaby to Kamal. To their parents’ – and neighbors’ – relief, Kamal falls asleep and for the first time in forever, all is nice and quiet.

The publishers, Yali Books, are committed to spotlighting South Asian cultures, and thanks to Debasmita Dasgupta’s bright-colored illustrations, this book succeeds in showcasing traditional Gujarati folk art from hand-sewn and intricately embroidered fabrics to lippan kaam, the mud and mirror relief murals used to decorate Indian homes, all of which will likely inspire a few arts and crafts projects both at home and in the classroom.

A glossary of the Kutchi and Gujarati words employed in the story is also included and should help foster an appreciation for foreign languages in young (English-speaking) children.

-Akumbu Uche contributes book reviews to Geek Afrique. She lives in Nigeria.