The Doll that Bommakka Made
by Sheela Preuitt and Praba Ram & illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta
“The Doll that Bommakka Made” by Sheela Preuitt and Praba Ram. Illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta. Published by Pratham Books. A charming story of how the handcrafted dancing dolls are made.
The South Indian Thalai Atti Bommai from Thanjavur, the land of the great Cholas holds a special place in the golu arrangements during Navarathri. The story is narrated by the doll herself. She traces her journey from the artist Bommakka’s place to the home of the little girl where she finally lands.
The process of how these dolls are made from a little ball of clay has been beautifully explained in a repetitive way. The rhythmic description makes the little ones chant along as they read the story. The vibrant illustrations add to the charm of the story. These dolls are passed from mother to daughter and this tradition has been portrayed so well.
This is a level 2 Pratham book and well suited for children aged 4+. My (then) six year old connected well with the story as we had done two trips to Thanjavur and he had seen these dolls. This ancient city is famous for its bronze sculptures, Tanjore paintings and the dancing dolls. Loved the fact that this topic has been chosen to write a story so that the legacy of these evergreen dolls continue to charm our future generations.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Pratham Books here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.
PS - The book is available online for free on storyweaver website by Pratham here.