PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Jhupli's Honey Bee Box by Achintyarup Ray & Shivam Choudhary

 

JHUPLI'S HONEY BEE BOX

words by Achintyarup Ray & pictures by Shivam Choudhary

Amazon Crossing Kids, 2023

ISBN: 978-1662514678

Source: Blue Slip Media/publisher

Ages 6-9

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & other materials provided by Blue Slip Media.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A girl’s love for her dad shines in this exquisitely illustrated story about the honey gatherers of the Sundarbans. Where is Baba? Why isn’t he back yet? Jhupli is restless as evening sets in. Her father, Baba, has gone into the dense jungle to gather honey, and she’s worried. There are tigers in there―and sometimes people go into the jungle and don’t come back out. Jhupli wonders, Why must Baba be in danger every day? Then Jhupli has an idea, one that might help keep her father and other honey gatherers honey bee boxes! In this striking picture book first published in India, gorgeous artwork brings to life the magnificent Sundarbans region, a place as menacing as it is beautiful, and highlights the love between a resourceful young girl and her dad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Achintyarup Ray lives in Calcutta, a large city in India, but his mind lies in the village where he spent many early years of his life. He works as a journalist. His passions are reading, writing, and translating the books he loves. He has a special interest in people and the environment. Jhupli’s Honey Bee Box is his first book for children. Follow him on Instagram @achintyarup.

Shivam Choudhary is a visual artist who lives in Chhattisgarh, in Central India. He can mostly be found sitting under a tree, painting pictures; pondering ideas; and chasing sunsets. He tries to observe and absorb the mundaneness of his surroundings and take pleasure in the little joys of life. Follow him on Instagram @bhukkkad.

REVIEW

In the book, a young girl, Jhupli lives in the Sundarbans region of India and Bangladesh. The large river delta contains islands with inhabitants as well as a national park where wild animals roam free. Each day Jhupli's baba (father) enters the Sundarbans to gather honey. Jhupli worries that on one of these trips her father, like so many others, may not return. In an effort to protect her father, Jhupli approaches her teacher with an idea: honey bee boxes, which would allow honey gatherers like her father to make a living without having to enter the mangrove forests. I appreciated the introduction to a remarkable place in the world, both beautiful and dangerous. The digital illustrations provide a lovely accompaniment to the story. While the story ended a bit abruptly and the illustrations were a bit more abstract than I prefer, the book still provides a fascinating glimpse into another way of life. The back matter includes a map (always appreciated when the setting is in an unfamiliar location), a glossary, and additional information about the Sundarbans and those who live there. A nice introduction to a unique lifestyle and unusual setting.