Shelf of the Month: Peace Theme

Written by Deepali

A new section in the library has been introduced at the beginning of this month called the ‘Shelf of the Month’. This shelf will have books based on a particular theme which will change every month. The theme for July was ‘Peace’ and what a selection of books…..The Big Book of Peace, The Story of Ferdinand, Miss Rhumpius, Zen Shorts, Tree of Cranes, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, The Watchtower Warrior, Smokey Nights, The Butter Battle Book, Gullu and the Hangul……the list is marvellously endless. It was a veritable treasure and a lovely opportunity for me to get my hands on these books and devour them.

I took Sadako and the Thousand Cranes first as I had heard a lot about it. As I sat with it, my daughter another avid reader at home snatched it and sat to read it. We arrived at a compromise to read it together. It was a heart wrenchingly sad story of a girl who wants to run but cannot because of an illness but never loses hope and keeps making paper cranes hoping to get better. A simple book with simple words but it made both of us shed tears. At that moment, we both shared the pain of losing a young life.

This started a hunger in our house to read more such books TOGETHER. The next book we read was ‘The story of Ferdinand’. It is the most sincere story of a young bull who wants to do something different and his mother lets him be. And I was asked by my children if I will let them be different too. My answer in the affirmative brought a sparkle in my children’s eyes. Hana’s Suitcase was disturbing as it brought out the stark reality of the World War atrocities which till date were only chapters from the History textbook. The Tree of Cranes brought stillness to our thoughts as we understood what the mother in the story wanted to silently convey.

The words, ‘You must do something to make the world more beautiful’ made us eager to know what Miss Rhumpius from the book of the same name would do to fulfil the same. And what a beautiful world she made. The lovely illustrations made me want to get up and get out and do something to make our world beautiful too.

This month of peace has brought a sense of calm in me and closeness between my children as they shared and discussed why they loved a particular book. It has been a long time since we read a book together and the books from the shelf of the month have initiated that ritual again.