A Jungle Safari
by Geeta Dharmarajan and illustrated by Sonal Panse
“A Jungle Safari” by Geeta Dharmarajan and illustrated by Sonal Panse. Published by Katha. A book that takes us on a memorable elephant safari through the deep and silent forests of Mudumalai in the Nilgiris.
The book starts off with a few children going on a Safari atop an elephant called Bhama. The author is describing what they are getting to see, hear and feel as they go inside the forest. The terrain, vegetation and wildlife are described as they venture ahead. As is the usual trend, everyone is expecting to see the tiger. Well, the mahout feels that the more difficult one to sight here is the Gaur.
Now, what is so special about the Gaur (sometimes called as the Indian Bison) one might ask. Isn’t it just another ox? But then one needs to be aware of it before they assume that. Do they get to see a Gaur after all? Are they lucky enough? What do they see during the safari? Do they feel safe enough with Bhama? What do they get to know about Bhama from the mahout? Read the book to know all of these. The exquisite pencil sketch illustrations are clearly the highlight of the book. The book ends with facts about Mudumalai and the gaur and it becoming an endangered animal unfortunately.
My seven year old has loved the book from the time he was six. He was impressed by the illustrations too. He had passed through Mudumalai on a trip to Ooty and was excited to know more about it. The book will make the children yearn to go to the jungle and experience what it has to offer. We loved the following quote on the back cover of the book. “In a forest, it isn’t the seeing that’s important. It’s the expecting to see that’s exciting...”.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 6/7+.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Katha books here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.