I read ‘Pedru and the Big Boom’
Review and recommendation
Short review
Once upon a time, I read a story set in a scenic fictional Goan village and I still find myself thinking about it.
Pedru is a fun-loving, adventurous boy who is curious about the world beyond his idyllic village and his father’s cashew plantation. While he plans his escape to venture into the city, things go awry. Set in a rural scene, this is a story about a boy, his pull towards modernity, and his deeper love and attachment to nature and his land.
The story is evocative, funny, and inspiring. The text is simple and effectively paints a redolent Goan landscape. The author ingeniously weaves facts and information about the environment into the story, making this an educative read. The illustrator has created detailed and striking images in black and white that complement the story well. The paperback uses high-quality paper; there are no smudges or faded ink. This book is suitable for 9–14-year-olds. Available Here.
Author: Nandita da Cunha | Illustrator: Niharika Shenoy | Publisher: Kalpavriksh
Why I recommend it to adults
Pedru’s internal struggles are quite similar to what many of us feel; especially those of us who grew up away from the city but not so far away from civilization. The in-between is always more complicated and swaying; either side lures and entices you — the bucolic life, the greenery, and the peace versus the relative material comfort, fast pace, and “purpose”. And yet, the truth is that this confusion of picking a side should not exist — we as humans consider ourselves as a species alien from nature and claim to be wise men (homo sapiens) born to conquer nature. By taking ourselves out of the equation and othering nature, we have destroyed ecosystems and annihilated species all in the name of progress. Pedru’s story reminds us that indulging any lure modernity presents must not be by sacrificing our bond with nature. Reading this story would transport city-dwellers to a picturesque world that juxtaposes alien tranquility and the familiar reality of pollution and encroachment. To people who have a small-town experience, it is a window to reminisce. Either way, you are gently nudged to ponder about nature and sustainability. By rethinking our personal relationship with nature in our modern world, maybe we can learn to be more conscientious, kind, and accommodating to the life around us.
Kalpavrish is an Indian non-profit organization working on environmental and social issues. They publish beautifully illustrated and well-written stories for children to teach them about the environment.
This is not a paid promotion.
