We Are The Dancing Forest by Raj Shekhar (English)

translation Devashish Makhija    design Nina Sabnani    

We are tall tumbling trees
We are berries in the breeze
We are tigers, we are hares
We are rumbling rolling bears…

The rhythm of the verse draws us beat by beat into a forest, lush and alive. But who are the ‘we’, so steeped in every part of it? Words and pictures sing together in this light and glorious ode to nature and those who live among it. Inspired by an adivasi song from Telangana and with stunning art by a well-known Gond artist, this taps right into the instincts of children – fun with words and rhythm, and a yet unspoilt ability to be aware of the connectedness of the natural world.

Originally in Hindi