Yes, Virginia, dreams do come true! Or, YAAAYYYY!


There are healthy ambitions, and then there are those you should worry about. Like my old, old, old one of writing picture books for children in India and hoping to have them published. About 10 years back when I first began taking my manuscripts around, editors would smile indulgently when we mentioned the words 'picture books'. It wouldn't work, their marketting guys would invariably say, and that would be the end of it. (Of course it didn’t help matters that my stories themselves weren’t so great!)

Over the years though, more and more Indian picture books have begun peeking out of shelves in stores. About a year and a half back, I was directed by a friend (thanks, Arthy!) to Saraswathy Rajagopalan, the editor at Tumbi Books, Kerala, who was coming out with original, Indian picture books. Luckily for me, she liked this long story-poem of mine, and felt it would make a nice read. They got one of my favourite children's illustrators, Anitha Balachandran, to draw it. The book – which was expected to come out in September – suddenly turned up today!

We opened it excitedly, and as usual, Anitha's done a wonderful job. She's captured the spirit - the fun, the mischief - of the poem so well, it's amazing. It's like she was sitting next to me while I was writing the poem, chortling with me and planning what all she could draw in. Which never happened of course - we've never met or even mailed - so well, hats off to her! She's drawn in details I’d never thought of, adding a whole new layer to the text. I also personally like the way she brings in real things - tiny details, like a stamp or a bit of a newspaper - to give the page a lovely, slightly scratchy and tactile quality.

The story itself was inspired by N, who becomes Nonie in the poem. Nonie refuses to sleep - she plays, runs and generally never tires. But her parents are exhausted. So mum sends for a magical cousin, who arrives in a swish of beads, colours and baggage which leaps and moves with life. She hints at flying on a broom, and whips out a snake - Somu - to measure Nonie for a magical quilt. As a poem it's great fun, and thanks to Anitha, it's now visually magical too!

Sorry if I sound a bit breathless - apart from the fact that the book's looking lovely, for me the fact that my mad dream of doing a picture book has come true is a bit overwhelming.

Tumbi Books are available in most bookstores, I think, and if you don't find the book the first time, do make a request for it with the sales staff. It might make them want to procure the books!

Comments

hansatin said…
whoaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shall go look for it, ANI!!!!!!!!!!
Unknown said…
glad to have been in some small way responsible. like i was for your first book with brightsparks -remember? i think i've officially been designated `Conduit'! somehow!
SUR NOTES said…
will go looking and demanding right away.... by the way DC books have come up with children publishing too- lovely lovely books.
mandar talvekar said…
Hey, Great news. Congrats :)
Will definitely pick this up.
sunanda said…
Wow it sounds really great. I would love to have a copy. I shall pick it up when I come this November. Am looking forward to it - the book and the trip.
arthy, of course i remember you introduced me to chitra too :) yes, you are officially the conduit! I-O-U!
Sur, Tumbi is in fact an imprint of DC Books. They have another children's imprint too, called Mango. Lovely books they have.
Mandy, good to hear from you after sooooooo long. You might have to hunt for the book, but like Sur, please to demand! We had another book out recently, called Amazing India, it's a couple of posts back... please to look for that too while you're at it - different publisher, though :)
Sunanda, shall give you a copy when we meet next!
samir said…
Hey!! Anita!!,
Keep it up.
Samir
Banno said…
Great! So when it rains, it pours books. By you. Wish Dhanno was younger. But these will go out to other kids, definitely.

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