Luka and the Fire of Life/Just Sisi

by Salmon Rushdie/Wendy Hartman

Publisher: Jonathan Cape/Human & Rousseau
Genre: Children's books
Verdict: Listen to the music of the human voice
Book Reviewed by: Jay Heale

Already well inside another new year. Perhaps a suitable time to ask, “What on earth are children’s books doing on Fine Music Radio?” Well, I believe that the earliest musical instrument of all was the human voice. And that the best authors use that voice well. And that my task is to introduce your children to books that share a voice worth listening to.

Salman Rushdie has endured a fair amount of success and notoriety as an author. Perhaps it isn’t so well known that he is an exquisite teller of tales. Haroun and the Sea of Stories was written as a gift for his elder son, and now, celebrating his younger son’s twelfth birthday, comes LUKA AND THE FIRE OF LIFE (published by Jonathan Cape). It’s a magical quest, working its way through the folds of time. Listen to the very first sentence:
There was once in the city of Kahani in the land of Alifbay, a boy named Luka who had two pets, a bear named Dog and a dog named Bear …
Rushdie is playing with words, challenging us to believe the incredible. At one point a character exclaims with amazement, “Just a story? My ears must be deceiving me. You of all boys should know that Man is the Storytelling Animal.”
Language entwines itself like an oriental carpet, rich and rare and multi-coloured. A flying carpet, perhaps? Somewhere in the depths of its adventurous, twisting story lies the suggestion that children must go to the rescue of adults. Surely that’s worth weaving into words?

The other example I present to you is from South Africa – JUST SISI by Wendy Hartmann, illustrated by Joan Rankin (from Human & Rousseau). This is one of the best local picture books I’ve seen for years, but let’s concentrate on the voice. It is deceptively simple, offering five little stories about a small rabbit who is quite clearly living in a bright, cheerful, modern Africa. In the final tale, she and her small brother are preparing for bed. Just listen to the text:
A kiss on the tummy.
A kiss on the toes!
A kiss on the cheek.
A kiss on the nose.
A cuddle, a hug, snuggle up tight.
Warm blanket, warm bed … and a kiss for goodnight.
Isn’t that gorgeous! What small ears will fail to be enchanted with that voice – aided, of course, by your voice. There’s no such thing as an ‘opposite’ to Salman Rushdie, but Wendy Hartmann is using simplicity instead of complexity.
I have to mention that the illustrator, Joan Rankin, is hardly a silent spectator. Her artwork is bouncing with colour, fun and homely imagination. And for a practical detail, most picture books have 36 pages. This one has over a hundred. There’s value for money in South African publishing – as well as many voices worth listening to.
Reviewed for FMR BOOK CHOICE, February 2011:
www.fmr.co.za
JAY HEALE is a freelance reviewer specialising in youth literature from South Africa and around the world. Editor of www.bookchat.co.za

Luka and the Fire of Life/Just Sisi

by Salmon Rushdie/Wendy Hartman

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