yet again ... getting lost ... then enjoying self-discovery ...

Tracing Roots: Stories about Trees Text: Mallika Ravikumar Illustrations: Swati Kharbanda Publishers: Karadi Tales First Print: December, 2020 ISBN: 978-81-9440-714-0 Number of pages: 80 Price: 499/-   Sometime ago keen to read more on the Peepal I had tried searching the web. My time with Google showed me how Peepal grew on walls and terraces and informed me of the myriad ways in which one could get rid of the species. This was not only strange but also sad. On the other hand were web pages that listed benefits of the Peepal. I ended up wondering why do we not look at trees ( nature ) beyond the perceived threats and purported uses?   This book does that. With its stories it also took me to the days when Amar Chitra Katha and Chandamama were an integral part of my life.   The illustrations here have an old time feel to them. A feel that is special - not jaded. They sync well with the text. They also gel with each other and do not try too hard to impress. The

  The Book Title: A To Z of Indian Cities - Ahmedabad to Zunheboto Author: Rati Malaiya Illustrations: Bechain Nagri Studios Publishing: Harper Collins Children’s Books ISBN: 978-93-5422-003-6 Year of publication: 2021   Pluses Illustrations, lay-out and the colours captivate. The book size is appropriate. All of these gel wonderfully too. The theme is appealing. I believe that making younger people aware and sensitive to the diversity of our country is crucial and the book had me excited.       Minuses Books for younger ones have taken lofty steps during recent years. The text here appears to have missed the bus. It is high on clichés but could have done with more quality research, sensitivity, nuanced detailing and respect for reader’s intelligence. The book appears to cater primarily to the urban rich. There is also a strange fascination with wealth. A map depicting locations of these 26 places would have helped.

Of trees Rains led to a few trees falling As I walked around I saw and touched them. As I walked away from each tree I felt somewhat empty Somewhat less of me Were these only trees falling? Falling Select lines from poems suddenly came to mind Of poets I had read and re-read during recent months. Poetry has been a close friend, A friend, who has many a time, Saved me from falling. Naresh Saxena   चीज़ों के गिरने के नियम होते हैं मनुष्यों के गिरने के कोई नियम नहीं होते लेकिन चीज़ें कुछ भी तय नहीं कर सकतीं अपने गिरने के बारे में मनुष्य कर सकते हैं     Kunwar Narain   पत्तों पर पानी गिरने का अर्थ पानी पर पत्ते गिरने के अर्थ से भिन्न है जीवन को पूरी तरह पाने और पूरी तरह दे जाने के बीच एक पूरा मृत्यु-चिह्न है     Harivansh Rai Bachchan मदिरालय का आँगन देखो कितने प्याले हिल जाते हैं गिर मिट्टी में मिल जाते हैं जो गिरते हैं कब उठतें हैं पर बोलो टूटे प्यालों पर कब मदिरालय पछताता है   Kedar Nath Singh   मेरे बेटे बिजली की तरह कभी मत गिरना और कभी गिर भी