Safari

MY THOUGHTS

We have all grown up on a steady diet of comic books; Archie’s Double Digest, anyone? But with time, comic books have evolved. Superhero comics, manga, anime- there is so much to choose from. Which is why I am beyond excited that Pratham Books, known for its amazing picture books, has published three new comic books! But first, how is a comic book different from a picture book?

Rigid boundaries: A comic book uses boundaries or panels through which the story is told sequentially, so readers must follow the sequence to understand the story. A picture book uses full-page illustrations or spreads with text lines or paragraphs without any boundaries.

Narrative style: A comic book uses visuals as its primary narrative, making the reader infer the story, action, emotion, etc from the visuals while the text supplements with dialogue. In a picture book, the text can be read out loud, and it can still make sense. The pictures add supplementary information.

Audience: A comic book is seldom used for a read-aloud, making it perfect for children who are transitioning into reading on their own. A picture book, on the other hand, is perfect for read-alouds and is typically for younger early readers.

Safari
This wordless comic book by Lavanya Karthik had us amazed. In the book, a family of three goes on a holiday to a national park. They drive around in an open jeep, and the guide points out the different types of wildlife that live in the forest, but the parents have their heart set on spotting a tiger. As they drive through the forest, they meet tourists in other jeeps, each with their own version of a tiger spotting incident, strengthening their resolve to see a tiger on their safari. But the tiger eludes them. While the parents pine for a tiger sighting, their son enjoys everything he sees in the forest! From a wild boar to deer, from a flying crane to a herd of animals drinking peacefully at the watering hole. The parents realise what they are missing and change their perspective.

Author and illustrator Lavanya Karthik forces the reader to change their perspective too in a very clever way. She asks the reader to flip the book upside down to continue reading. Safari is interesting and interactive, forcing the reader to become a part of the book. I loved reading this book because of how relatable it was! I can sheepishly admit I have missed the forest for the trees on so many occasions. Her illustrations of the forest and wildlife are truly breathtaking! Rich in colour and detail, each page somehow manages to take the reader on the safari with the family. The turning of the book midway is pure genius and brings so much value to the reading. I absolutely love the expressions on the characters’ faces, especially the ones on the tour guides!

This is a comic book that will bring you and your child endless joy! Add to your bookshelf today!

Use code PBMOR10 for a 10% discount!