Most people my age look back at the past and their childhood, and feel that things were better then, than they are now. I sometimes do that too but when it comes to books, I wish I were a child in this day and age so that I could enjoy the amazing children’s books available now.

There are such wonderful and so many children’s books, both storybooks and knowledge-related ones, in all languages that reading becomes such a pleasure, even for adults like myself. I recently came across two such books, both written by Cheryl Rao, that I enjoyed reading even though The Quiet Little Duck was for readers ages four to seven, and Promises to Keep are for eight years and above.

The Quiet Little Duck is a 13-page storybook with almost full-page illustrations. The text is simple, but Cheryl really knows how to write as her narration is able to convey action and drama that happens on a farm in a such short story. She doesn’t use a single unnecessary word, making the tale of a duckling who can’t quack easy to ready for kids.

The illustrations by Natasha Arshad are quite detailed and catchy, suitably depicting the story.

The other book, Promises to Keep, is different in style as it is for an older readership and, likewise, the illustrations by Rimsha Kamal are fewer, smaller and not as eye-catching as the other book’s.

Full of fast-paced action, twists and accidents that any household with naughty twins can relate to, Promises to Keep is a page-turner. Sana and Salim are well-meaning, but hyper and pampered kids who unintentionally get everything wrong when their grandma’s sister comes to stay with them. She too has little patience for kids but as the story progresses, they all do some growing up in their own way and finally come to understand and love one another.

I found this storyline particularly important as it focuses on the bond and advantages of having a grandparent living with the family and how everyone takes care of each others, fulfilling others’ needs and in turn getting their own needs taken care of by others in a joint family. It gives a good lesson that we need to be more patient and caring about the needs of the older generation and not take their peculiar habits and needs as a burden.

This is definitely a worth-reading storybook with a subtle message told in a fun way.

Available at Oxford University Press

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 5th, 2019