I received the book Cross Connection: The Big Circus adventure by Jugal Hansraj as a review copy from the publisher Rupa Publications and am thankful to them for the book. This book published under Red Turtle Books of the Rupa Banner revolves around the animals in a circus and is the debut work of the author. The illustrations are by Shrirang Sathaye, an animation lover, designer and director for thirty years.
The blurb:
When the animals of the ‘The Great Indian Circus’ found their lives all topsy-turvy, they realized that turning the world around takes a lot more than just circus acts.
Chunky the Funky monkey and Bhole Ram the Brave are among the performing animals of The Great Indian Circus. While Chunky spends most of his time playing pranks on others, Bhole Ram is a shy and gentle elephant who ends up bearing the brunt of Chunky’s mischief.
Things take a turn when their bodies get switched in a freak accident, and they are forced to live each other’s lives. A cosmic cross connection that leads to complete confusion all around!
Trapped in each other’s bodies, Bhole Ram and Chunky learn to put aside their differences in order to make things smooth in the Circus again—both for themselves and for everyone else—learning some important lessons in life along the way.
Cross Connection is a delightful read that will leave you smiling long after the last page has been turned!
The story:
In the outskirts of a charming little hill station called Kamalpur, in the Himalayas in North India, The Great Indian Circus is stationed. Mr Gulshan Circuswala, the owner of the circus, an animal lover, cares for the animals with a lot of love as if they were his own children. And the best part of the circus was that none of the animals were caged but housed in separate enclosures and roamed freely in the circus.
A lot many animals lived in the circus, Uncle Geri, the wise old bluebird, who did not really perform at the circus but had lived there for as long as he could remember and all the animals were his best friends.
Uncle Geri has two favourite animals, Bhole Ram the Brave and Savitri, both elephants. Bhole Ram is a big grey elephant, the star attraction of the circus and part of the famous opening act. He is possibly the most soft-hearted and shy animal in the troupe. Savitri is his female partner, massive, beautiful and equally gentle. He is crazily in love with Savitri but cannot tell her.
Pintu, affectionately called Pintu Da, the Royal Bengal tiger, is a classical singer. Chintamani the Lion, the king of beasts, is a nervous, shrinking violet, scared about anything and everything and even had a stage fright.
And then there is Chunky the Funky monkey is a prankster. And there is a girl monkey, Jenny, who is his best friend. There are the evil panthers, Kaalia and Charlie, who are locked up in the cage for their life threatening crimes.
Chunky and Bhole Ram do not see eye to eye because Bhole Ram does not like the way Chunky plays silly pranks on his friends.
But one day an incident happens and their souls switch, so Chunky is in the body of Bhole Ram and Bhole Ram is in Chunky’s body.
What happens next???
Read on……….
My take:
A simple, well written story with lovable and funny characters, beautiful illustrations and beautiful messages is how I would describe this book in one line, but a one line review would not do justice to this book, so here are the details.
Story is simple written in a simple language, easily understandable. The writing is crisp and there are twists and turns in the plot.
I really liked all the characters in the book, they are funny, lovable and all of them have something to teach. Illustrations inside the book as well as the cover are beautiful and the illustrator, Shrirang Sathaye, has to be applauded for his work.
The descriptions are such that I could visualise a lot of scenes and felt that I was a part of the story. The author has also given messages through various characters. I loved the romance part as well.
The book is unputdownable especially after the switch.
An excellent book for kids and adults alike.
A must must read.
DISCLAIMER: I received the book as a review copy from the publisher, Rupa Publications, in exchange for an honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for the same.
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