The Brave Parrot
by Chinna Chilaka
“The Brave Parrot” by Chinna Chilaka and illustrated by a group of 9 year old children from Isha Home School in Coimbatore. Published by Karadi Tales. A graceful adaptation of a Jataka tale about the courage of a little parrot when a raging fire threatens to burn down a forest.
Many animals and birds lived in an ancient forest. The forest was rich with trees which bore delicious fruits and fragrant flowers. One day, a tree in the forest was struck by a bolt of lightning and burst into flames. All the creatures of the forest fled or flew in fear towards the river to save themselves from the fire. Only a little parrot continued to sit on a sandalwood tree. The tree advised the bird to fly away like the other birds to save herself.
The little parrot could not bring herself to do that. How could she abandon the tree to be burnt? She was born there. The tree had given her a place for shelter and to play. It was where she had learnt to do everything. But what could she do to put off the fire? She was so little. Would she be of any help to the tree at all? Read the heartwarming story to find out. The simple and charming illustrations are the result of an art workshop that was conducted at Isha Home School in Coimbatore with 9 year old children (Laasya Karumanchi, Aashish Chitturi, Arya Sridhar, Sharath Vishnu, Shreyasi R, Deeksha Vivekanandan, Rithvik Bodapati, Oviyah Karuppanathan, Srimayyi Sarathi and Vibhu Aravindan).
My almost eight year old has loved this book for three years now. He had done a project in school on parrot and enjoyed reading a story about a courageous one. He was amused by the fact that the illustrations had been done by children. The book portrays the message of “where there is a will, there is a way” so well. Bravery, courage, perseverance, smart thinking and loyalty are the qualities that are seen in the little parrot.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 4/5+.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Karadi Tales here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.