#552 - Mum in a Mess
by Sanjana Kapur and illustrated by Proiti Roy
“Mum in a Mess” by Sanjana Kapur and illustrated by Proiti Roy. Published by Duckbill. A heartwarming story of little Vishi who needs to rise to the occasion when her mother is not her usual self and acting strange.
The story starts off on a busy weekday morning at Vishi’s home. Vishi is worried that she will get late reaching school if she and her mum don’t leave home within the next fifteen minutes. Lot of things have been going wrong this particular morning. When Vishi was done eating, an incident occurred which didn’t seem like a big deal at first glance. Her mum broke the coffee jar accidentally. It would have been perfectly alright if this had ended right here. But mum started acting very strangely. She did not allow Vishi or her father to remove the jar or clean up the mess. She said that she would clean it herself. All this despite running late.
The coffee jar and its contents were still lying on the floor that evening and for the next few days. Vishi’s mum did not like talking about it. She wouldn’t hear of either Vishi or her father trying to clean it up. Nor did she show any signs of removing it. This couldn’t go on any longer. Vishi decided to tackle the matter. What could she do? How would she find out what was the matter with mum? Would she be able to help her? Read this adorable story to find out how Vishi can manage the situation.
The plot addresses important and relevant topics such as mental wellness, empathy and supporting each other at home. The message that anybody is susceptible to highs as well as lows and all of us can step in to lend a helping hand has been portrayed sensitively. When Vishi realises that her mother needs help, she doesn’t hesitate to step forward. Till then she has only seen her mother to be a strong person who never needed any kind of help. It is a timely reminder for her that anyone can face problems in their lives which can be overwhelming for them at times. To be able to have open conversations as a family and seek support makes it meaningful. This has been portrayed through the story in a delightful manner. The illustrations add a lovely touch to the story and bring it to life. The book is part of the “Hole Books” series which is meant for children who have begun reading chapter books independently. We have read and enjoyed quite a few books from the series so far.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 7 and above.
Disclaimer - We received these books from the publisher, Penguin India (Duckbill), for review. Thank you to Mansi, from Penguin, for sending across the books!