Author and Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Ages: 5+
It is never easy to explain to children about war. It is always a very painful subject and brings only negative emotions and fears. But it would be a lot better to handle it by also talking about the extreme resilience of the human spirit, hope and healing.
Michael Foreman has done a nice work of handling both very delicately in "A Child's Garden". This book has been endorsed by Amnesty international UK as contributing to a better understanding of human rights and the values that underpin them.
A little boy lives in a world of ruins, dust and rubbles and barbed wires. Separating yesterday's neighbours and friends as strangers is a fence of barbed wire. The landscape is black and white and grey. Sad and barren, it has destruction written all over it.
One day after the rain, the boy sees a dash of hope. A tiny green plant is trying to establish its roots in his side of the fence. The boy immediately takes to it, and shelters it from the scorching sun with rags and broken bricks. He waters it with the rain water collected in old tins. The plant grows into a grapevine that clings on to the fence and spreads out its green tendrils everywhere.
Soon, the place is bursting with colour. Butterflies and birds make it home and children play under the shades. Laughter and merriness are back! The memory of ruins and war is forgotten for a while.
But not for long, though. The soldiers on the other side uproot the vine and throw it in a ditch on their side. The little boy looks over to the hills in the yonder where he once used to go with his Dad, but now are on the wrong side. Life is back to black, white and grey and the boy is overcome with grief.
Winter passes, cold and harsh. Spring arrives late, but the boy sees new green shoots both on his side and also the other side of the fence. A little girl tends to the vine on the other side, the soldiers not really minding it as the plant is now on their side. The vines grow on both the sides and the tendrils get entwined over the fence. And the colours are back! Together, the vines spread out shade and hope on either sides. The children forget all their worries and play happily, laughter sounding again!
And the boy comprehends a very positive message. Let the soldiers come again and uproot the vines. It wouldn't matter anymore. The roots are deep. The seeds multiply. The plants will find a way out again. They don't give up after being battered down. Instead, they simply endure it all and rise back in all their glory.
Maybe, one day, the fence would go as well. And the children would be able to climb up the lush hills and be friends again.
(There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place.
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children)
Michael foreman has made the illustrations really stand out. It would have been a heavy responsibility to create a picture of a war-torn landscape, yet instilling hope and faith. It is not threatening, yet there is ample detail and the parents can talk as much or as less about the pictures. The author does not mention any countries, but it could be just any neighbours torn apart by war.
This book touched me in many ways. It was a reminder to count the blessings and be thankful for every safe morning I wake up to. And teach these values to my children - a message of caring, thankfulness, hope and extraordinary endurance.
A Child's garden. Fragrant and promising.
P:S He has also illustrated Snow Tales, which I had reviewed previously.
Ages: 5+
Michael Foreman has done a nice work of handling both very delicately in "A Child's Garden". This book has been endorsed by Amnesty international UK as contributing to a better understanding of human rights and the values that underpin them.
A little boy lives in a world of ruins, dust and rubbles and barbed wires. Separating yesterday's neighbours and friends as strangers is a fence of barbed wire. The landscape is black and white and grey. Sad and barren, it has destruction written all over it.
One day after the rain, the boy sees a dash of hope. A tiny green plant is trying to establish its roots in his side of the fence. The boy immediately takes to it, and shelters it from the scorching sun with rags and broken bricks. He waters it with the rain water collected in old tins. The plant grows into a grapevine that clings on to the fence and spreads out its green tendrils everywhere.
Soon, the place is bursting with colour. Butterflies and birds make it home and children play under the shades. Laughter and merriness are back! The memory of ruins and war is forgotten for a while.
But not for long, though. The soldiers on the other side uproot the vine and throw it in a ditch on their side. The little boy looks over to the hills in the yonder where he once used to go with his Dad, but now are on the wrong side. Life is back to black, white and grey and the boy is overcome with grief.
image courtesy www.guardian.co.uk/books
Winter passes, cold and harsh. Spring arrives late, but the boy sees new green shoots both on his side and also the other side of the fence. A little girl tends to the vine on the other side, the soldiers not really minding it as the plant is now on their side. The vines grow on both the sides and the tendrils get entwined over the fence. And the colours are back! Together, the vines spread out shade and hope on either sides. The children forget all their worries and play happily, laughter sounding again!
And the boy comprehends a very positive message. Let the soldiers come again and uproot the vines. It wouldn't matter anymore. The roots are deep. The seeds multiply. The plants will find a way out again. They don't give up after being battered down. Instead, they simply endure it all and rise back in all their glory.
Maybe, one day, the fence would go as well. And the children would be able to climb up the lush hills and be friends again.
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place.
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children)
Michael foreman has made the illustrations really stand out. It would have been a heavy responsibility to create a picture of a war-torn landscape, yet instilling hope and faith. It is not threatening, yet there is ample detail and the parents can talk as much or as less about the pictures. The author does not mention any countries, but it could be just any neighbours torn apart by war.
This book touched me in many ways. It was a reminder to count the blessings and be thankful for every safe morning I wake up to. And teach these values to my children - a message of caring, thankfulness, hope and extraordinary endurance.
A Child's garden. Fragrant and promising.
P:S He has also illustrated Snow Tales, which I had reviewed previously.
Sounds like an interesting and thought provoking book for both adults and mature kids.
ReplyDeleteWe do pass through life like zombies or robots most of the time. If only we all could take some time and appreciate the small things .. but then the mundane thoughts take over and we are off to do the next chore.
Life would be so wonderful if we all could marvel at little things like children do
Sometimes I even go to mad extremes and wonder if stopping would really make us any less robotic. This Shaun Tan book, along with the Animal Farm we watched, has made me think and think so much about the very essence of our existence and made a sambar of religion, vedas, Buddha, communism, creativity, compassion, indifference, mob psychology etc in my mind. But then I really only need to make Capsicum sambar for dinner. And am already running late! Back to the mundane, then!
DeleteOops Commented in the wrong section :)
ReplyDeleteBut the thought holds!
:o) Yes, it holds firm :o)
Delete