Aaji Vs Daar-ji

MY THOUGHTS

What happens to our strict, conservative parents when we have children? They morph into simperingly sweet creatures known as grandparents! My boys share a special bond with their grandparents that has truly been a joy for me to watch. And over the years, I have read many books on this special bond. Aaji vs Daar-ji is a funny take on how little children view their grandparents.

It is a noisy bus ride back home and best friends, Binny and Timmy can’t wait to get home from school. As they sit side by side and watch the world whiz by from the window, they see a car drive past the schoolbus. Binni claims her Aaji (grandmother) can go faster than the car. Not to be outdone, Timmy boasts that his Daar-ji is faster than Binny’s Aaji. What follows is a hilarious exchange of boasts that where we see Aaji and Daar-ji jumping over oceans, outrunning tigers, lifting trucks, and jumping off buildings!

This is such a funny book because it not only highlights the innocence of little children but it also shows how much children love their grandparents! Their love looks past their old age and feebleness and truly believes they are superhuman. The simple act of picking up kids from their bus stop means so much to children and they begin to look forward to them doing so, daily. Author Mamta Nainy writes a story that packs in so many elements! It is warm and whimsical, exciting with rising tension, and a celebration of everything that is wonderful about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

The illustrations match the story step for step. Illustrator Shubhshree Mathur creates bright and warm illustrations that show Aaji and Daarji jumping, leaping, outrunning tigers, flying, and teleporting! I love how she has drawn the ‘boast’ on one side and drawn the reality right beside it. For instance we see Aaji leaping over the ocean on one side and we see the reality of her leaping over a pothole right beside it. We see Daarji climbing a mountain on one side and him climbing up a flight of stairs on the other side. I enjoyed the whimsy of the illustrations and the adorable expressions on the children.

The use of the words Aaji and Daarji, the image of the grandmother in a sari and the grandfather in a traditional turban, the potholes, the noise all make this book something children can identify with. They can see their daily lives in the book and that’s what makes this book so relevant. This is a book filled with heart and will make a perfect gift for a grandparent to read to their grandchild after school or at bed time.

Perfect for children 5+, add this to your collection today!