Gentle Jalaja

by Jyoti Khare

“Gentle Jalaja” by Jyoti Khare. Published by Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research, Auroville. An enchanting story of a little innocent fish who is bound to make everyone love her by her immense kindness, beauty, courage, hope and friendship.

Jalaja was a little fish who lived with her mother in a beautiful lake which was home to many kinds of creatures. She wanted to explore the lake and look for a place to live in with friends. She felt that she was big enough to go and do that. Her mother supported her decision and told her that she was always welcome to come back. She knew that Jalaja wasn’t that big. But that didn’t make her stop Jalaja from trying. She let Jalaja follow her heart.

Would Jalaja find friends so easily? Would there be a place to make a home for her? Initially it was quite tough. No one bothered about her and shooed her away if she came near their homes. Did she give up? Did she find a home? Did she go back to her mother? Did her experience make her bitter? New challenges awaited her. What happened when summer came and the lake started drying slowly? Would that be the end of her life? Would she help those creatures whose homes were now in the dry parts of the lake? Would she shoo them away like some had done to her initially? Read the gorgeously illustrated book to know about Jalaja’s journey filled with hope, kindness and beauty.

My 7.5 year old has loved this book from the last two years. We had bought this book from a trip to Auroville just before the pandemic. The book became an instant favourite and had to be read multiple times in the first few days. We had read a book from a friend earlier by Jyoti Khare called the “Voyage of the Caterpillar” which was as charming as this book. So we were happy to buy three other books of hers including this one from the store at Auroville. Jyoti is an artist at Auroville and had taught in a kindergarten there for many years. Her love for stories and children is reflected so well in her books.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 5/6+.