Heartwarming evergreen reads for budding minds to witness the majesty of nature. Handpicked from the Parag Honour List, an annual initiative by the Tata Trusts to promote children’s literature, these engaging books have the power to sensitise them to the wonder and fragility of nature and encourage them to cherish and preserve our ecosystem. ‘Shorewalk’ by Yuvan Aves Publisher: Tulika Books | Photographer: Yuvan Aves Shorewalk’ is an account of a curious little girl named Kadalamma and her walk along the seashore with her grandfather, a fisherman.
Illustrated with photographs by Yuvan himself, the narrative non-fiction weaves together life in the sea with life around it. The tale highlights the deep relationship of the fishing communities living near the water with the flora and fauna inhabiting the space beneath, while sharing valuable lessons about preserving precious coastal ecosystems. ‘The Grass Seeker’ by Uddalak Gupta Publisher: Pratham Books | Photographer: Ruhani Kaur ‘The Grass Seeker,’ traces the journey of a Gaddi shepherd, Room Singh, as he travels to the Himalayas in search of fresh grass.
Accompanied by his flock of goats and sheep, he experiences the effects of the global warming and climate change crises and notes the misuse of natural resources. The author charts out the differences between the Earth then and now in the form of a photo book, nudging readers to wonder who the real beast is. ‘Walking is a Way of Knowing’ by Madhuri Ramesh a.
