Chiu’s Power

MY THOUGHTS

I had to wear glasses when I was 8 years old. I was the first child in my class to wear glasses, and the name-calling began then, only to subside around middle school when wearing glasses was a lot more common. I understand firsthand the trauma a child experiences when they suddenly need help seeing, and that’s why I love Chiu’s Power.

Chiu can’t tell if her red bottle is a water bottle or a rocket. The numbers on the board in maths class look like swimming fish, and Chiu is now convinced she has magic powers! When she tells Ajji about her magic powers, Ajji takes her to the eye doctor. Chiu is scared of getting glasses because she thinks her magic powers will go away. And that’s when the doctor tells her how she can retain her powers and still see clearly.

This is a Pratham Level 1 book meant for children just beginning to read aloud. The text is minimal and the pictures bright and vivid to hold their attention. This is also the age at which many children these days begin wearing glasses. I loved the way author and illustrator Shrujana Shridhar adds a magical spin on the task of getting glasses. She makes the whole experience interesting for the child, all while creating a sense of whimsy. She uses round, geometric, bold outlines with solid colour fills to keep the reader hooked. She turns everyday objects into whimsical objects, like numbers into swimming fish, letters in the doctor’s office into marching ants.

This is a book that is all heart and definitely a book your child will love, especially if they wear glasses or if a trip to the ophthalmologist’s office is imminent!