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Book: My Space My Body
– starring Taka Dimi
Author: Roopa Pai
Illustrator: Archana
Sreenivasan
Publisher: Fitkids
Education and Training Pvt Ltd
For: Children above 3
years
Books for children is an
important responsibility; not just for the publishers and authors, but also for
the parents and teachers. It is essential that the books we share with our
children should not just be informative and engaging but also educational. My
Space My Body (MSMB) is an interesting blend of all the above elements.
With the help of two
characters – Taka & Dimi – siblings, the author tries highlight the
importance of respecting personal space – physical and personal, both. The book
revolves around these siblings and how their parents on a Sunday – a regular
day try and inculcate these behavioural changes in them.
To understand this better I requested
the author to clarify that why is it important to teach rather introduce the
concept of ‘personal space’s’ to children in India?
Roopa replied that, “An
understanding of personal space - both one's own and everyone else's - is vital
for both children and adults. For children, it is important to understand
'physical' personal space - which is why the bubble concept has been used in
the book. If they can learn to respect another's physical personal space, they
will not indulge in disruptive behaviours like pushing, shoving, snatching,
grabbing, etc. By the same token, they will not allow their own physical space
- their bubble - to be breached by others. As they grow up, they will
appreciate that people have other kinds of personal spaces - emotional, mental,
spiritual and religious - which should be respected too. Understanding personal
space is really about understanding how to respect oneself and the other.”
The second part of the book deals
with accepting oneself (physically), with the help of a visit to a zoo on a
Sunday. The parents of Taka & Dimi, in a fun way make them understand why
they have been created they are and that there’s a lot more to do then they can
imagine, with what they have been blessed.
Also the book has few activity
sheets for children, to keep them engaged.
Overall, MSMB is a good and
interesting book to get your kids to read. It attempts to introduce the value
of personal and emotion of respect for oneself and others.
I received this book from the publisher against an
honest review.
You can buy the book from Amazon.
My rating: 3.5 Stars
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