By Sarah Berry
“Who are your friends?” These wise words conclude The Wizard Khizr published by Katha. The book with its breath-
As I browse through the book, I recall, vividly, a bookseller near my grandmother’s home, who used to sell second-hand books from Russia. His ‘treasure’ would comprise of different genre, addressing different age groups … in short, he had everything for everyone …cutting across divides, and he did, with his collection. And, I never forgot those books — not for their depth, and not for their tremendous visual appeal.
The book begins with the search by a king for The Wizard Khizr. The king believes that the wizard can help him with his woes. Belief moves mountains, as is known. He begins the search with a hefty reward.
The book traverses through Persia, through the country as it once must have been, enchanting the reader with the turn of each page. Not only do the illustrations captivate, but so does each twist and turn the story has to offer; what next? Yes, what next? But the page feels difficult to flip, for the eyes want to rest on the colours, the design, the forms, the text, and so much more.
What happens when a man from the king’s kingdom offers to help? What happens when the truth is laid bare? How does the king react? Whose advice does he take? So many questions, all waiting to be answered — the answer to all of these being just one simple one! This book is a must-read, indeed!
The words and illustrations in the book introduce an appetite within the reader to know more, culminating in a “Wow!” effect. The book ends with important facts on Persia, leaving you wanting to know more — exactly the purpose of the book!
In today’s world, where multiculturalism and intercultural intelligence is the call of the hour, this book is such an eye-opener on the subject, encouraging a child (and even an adult) to discover more about the big, wide world! And, why not?! It is time, don’t you think?!
Another beautiful aspect of the book is its crux—TADAA!—Think, Ask, Discuss, Act, and Action. What more can you ask from a story — a story that is not just a story, but a revelation of sorts. A story that inspires, motivates and encourages that deep thirst to know more, that once so prevalent was.
About the author: Sarah Berry heads External Affairs at Katha and hails from a multicultural background — her father being Indian and mother being German. She brings with her 24 years of diverse professional experiences covering public diplomacy/advocacy, training, outreach, content generation/management and communications, amongst others.
This article is a part of Katha’s segment titled ‘Conversations On Books’, a space for the Katha family, and friends of Katha, to talk about Katha books.