Ammu and the Sparrows

MY THOUGHTS

This is not a picture book that is funny or filled with nonsense verse or exaggerated illustrations. This isn’t a funny picture book but it is one that is extremely moving and poignant for kids. 

Ammu and the Sparrow is about a young boy who is waiting for his parents to come home. He waits for them and spends his days watching birds on the balcony. His Ammamma tries to reassure him by saying his parents need a little more time and that they both love him and will return soon. And then one day, the sparrows come to visit. 

The book leaves it to the reader to infer where the parents are. Vinitha sensitively paints a picture of a boy who longs for his parents and for the love of a family. Through tender and nuanced words she shows how his longing. This would be a beautiful book to read to a child that could help segue into conversations about loss, divorce, or abandonment. This book won the Neev Literature Award in the emerging readers category for the tender way it tells the story of a child whose parents are going through divorce. The illustrations by Jayesh Sivan do not distract the child from the issue at hand.

I have always believed books help in having tough conversations with children and this may be one of those books. When we read this book, my younger son told me a boy in his class could be Ammu. We spoke about what he was feeling and what a tough time it was for him.

This is a book that belongs in every home library. Tender, nuanced, and beautiful, bring your copy home today.