SuitabookAnya’s Quest
Jasbinder Bilan
- Reading
- Read it in short sections, pausing to look closely at the illustrations and identify unfamiliar mythological or cultural references. Afterwards, connect the environmental ideas to actions children can realistically discuss.
- Themes
- Friendship across difference: Anya is separated from Pria and is reluctant to play with Mahi, the cook’s daughter; a song links the two children. The situation creates an opening to discuss friendship, hesitation and social boundaries.
- Care for the natural world: The adventure connects environmental damage with a message that children can affect positive change. Environmental care and children’s capacity to act are presented positively and form a clear strand of the book.
- Mythology and cultural storytelling: Ganga, Makara and other mythological elements accompany a journey through time and space, with references to Indian culture and regional foods. Mythological and cultural material appears to be a major imaginative component of the tale, but whether it is explanatory or primarily narrative is unclear.
- Worth knowing
- Pollution, habitat loss and climate change are part of the adventure, alongside separation from a friend and encounters with gods and deities. The portrayal of environmental problems may merit conversation.