NEEL ON WHEELS

ABOUT THE BOOK

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

• Neel on Wheels is narrated from the perspective of a younger brother who adores his older brother and thinks he can fight dragons and monsters and chase away scary creatures of the night. After all, Neel – being in a wheelchair – has wheels!
• The idea that a child in a wheelchair can be a superhero and not necessarily a ‘victim’ is marvellous, and very welcome. By ‘normalizing’ or even celebrating that which is usually derided or pitied, author Lavanya Karthik strikes the right note of inclusivity.
• The story deals with several of a child’s fears – caused by an active imagination that sees dragons and tigers in lurking shadows and rustling leaves. For a child, these fears are real, and it is assuring to know that help is at hand – from another child!
• There’s a wonderful rhythm and metre in the text, which is vital in a book meant for a young reader.
• Habib Ali’s illustrations so effectively capture both the fearsome stillness of a dark night and the mind-boggling madness of a busy street, that one can’t but help going through the book again and again to feast one’s eyes on them.
• This picture book is the winner in the Children First writing competition organized by Parag, an initiative of Tata Trusts, and Duckbill Books.

CONCLUSION