Review of the book Upside Down and the Good Feeling

It was a great experience to be a part of Blogathon 1 which was announced by Tulika Books. And being a part of it Tulika Books gave me the advantage to write the review of a book from their publishing house.

I had a great feeling that day when I received a copy of the book “Upside Down” sent to me by this publishing house which publishes Children’s Books. It was great writing the review of the book “Upside Down”. And believe me I enjoyed writing...a kid’s book and some thoughtful time spent to write about it. Here you’ll find my thoughts about this book. So read on...

Review of the Book “Upside Down”.

Upside Down is a picture book. I think the author T.R. Rajesh made a very thoughtful step in creating this book in the upside down style. As this book is for age 3+ kids, it is the pictures that convey the message. The concept of this book is very good. Sitting with the kid opposite to her and the book in-between them, the mother opens up the pages one by one. Here the upside down idea, the author has used, is found to be useful. The child sees the pictures as they should be while the mother is able to explain to her child about the elephant and temple, boat and river, children and school, cow and street, ducks and mud, women and fields and the owl and trees.

This book comes handy for a mother to put in plain words about nature, animals and common environment we come across in everyday life in small towns and villages.

The illustrations could have been better worked out. But it is a very good picture book for very young children, a good presentation of a new concept by the author.

More Bangla Rhymes for Tulika's Blogathon 4

I want to share some more Bangla songs and rhymes for Tulika’s Blogathon 4. How can I forget this clapping song? It reads in Bangla as:

Tai, tai, tai,
Mamar badi jai,
Mama diloo dudu bhatu
Boshe boshe khai,
Mami aelo thanga niyae,
Phuroot kore palai.

The translation:
Clap, clap, clap,
Going to my Mama’s (maternal uncle) house,
Mama gave some rice and milk,
I sit and eat,
When Mami (auntie) comes with a stick,
I run away at once.

This is another popular Lullaby which mothers and other elders sing to bring slumber to the little one. I also sang this song when I wanted to put my children to sleep, sometimes in an angry mood and more often with all the love in the patting on the back.

Ghum parani mashi pishi
Moder bari esho,
Khat debo palonk debo
Chouki pete bosho.
Bata bhore paan debo
Gaal bhore kheyo,
Khukur chokhey ghum nai
Ghum diye jeyo

Translated form:
Auntie’s who bring sleep
Visit our home,
Will bring for you the cot along with the bedding
For now sit on the chair.
Will give you the Paan (betel leaf) container filled with paan
To chew and enjoy as you stuff them in your cheek,
For now the Little One has no sleep in her eyes
Give her some sleep before you leave.

Some of the rhymes have little sense in them, maybe all because the song was sung to rhyme and the words were not so much thought about when they were formed. I feel some words have changed as they have come down from one to another. But these will remain a part of our lives...so close to our hearts.