A library is a space full of books. It is a magical place that takes the readers to an unknown world. A library is also a vibrant space, for readers to come, browse, sit, talk about books, read and borrow. When one talks about vibrancy in this space, it is not the movement of people coming and going or something happening. But it is also the movement of books. Books being taken by readers, books being returned by readers, books moved around in the library, being displayed prominently in shelves, taken down to be rested or new books arriving in the library.
Every library keeps adding books regularly to its collection. The modes may be different but additions rejuvenate a library and make it fresher. Bookworm too loves to refresh its collection by adding to it regularly. We get books by ways of gifts, donations and many a times, we order new books.
When new books arrive, there is a mad rush and everyone wants to read these books before they are even barcoded and displayed on the shelf. I am one of them too. At any given point when I am in the library, my eyes always stray towards the New Arrivals Shelf to check out new books. And on one such occasion, I managed to lay my hands on some of the new arrivals.
The first book that I read was ‘Water’. With a catchy cover design, I pulled the book out and promptly took it to read. Every human being on the face of our earth needs water and we all know that water is a very precious natural resource which is depleting slowly. The book is about water and its importance from the perspective of an artist Subhash Vyam who has migrated from a village to a city and wonders about our greed and its repercussions on this life giving resource. The book has some amazing Gond artwork, which is a visual treat to the reader. But along with the imagery, it forces us to start thinking of our needs, our pursuit and our relationship with water.
The second book that I read was “WHERE HAS THE TIGER GONE?” The majestic animal Tiger is not an unknown animal to us. We have heard numerous stories about a tiger since our childhood and have feared and revered it since olden times. This book has some unusual forgotten folktales retold to us by yet another Gond artist Dhavat Singh Uikhey. The rich illustrations of this magnificent animal present the Gond traditions vividly.
Till I joined the library, I was unaware of the fact that children’s picture books receive awards. It was only after joining Bookworm that I heard about the Newbery and the Caldecott awards. These are the two most prestigious children’s book awards. The Caldecott is awarded for illustrations while the Newbery is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. But then who was Newbery and why was his name given to this award? Aha!!! Without spilling the beans, I would love to recommend the latest book that has arrived in our library called “Balderdash! John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books” by Michelle Markel and Nancy Carpenter. This is an absolutely marvelous and rollicking biography about John Newbery and his passion and beliefs about what a children’s book should be. John Newbery was an 18th century English publisher who was among the first to publish books exclusively for children. A must read book that makes us realize how fortunate we are to have had a visionary like John Newbery because of whom we can now have such good and diverse books for children.
Having recommended these three books, I must add that there are many other marvelous, mind boggling books full of joy waiting to be read and enjoyed at Bookworm. For now, my roving eye has started wandering around again to look for yet another book to be read.
