Handmade in India




Grade - 4th 
Genre - Folklore 

Theme - Culture 

Author - Olivia Fraser 

Illustrator - Olivia Fraser

Publisher, Year: Pratham, 2006


Biography of the author-

Olivia Fraser was born in 1965 and after graduating with a MA in Modern Languages from Oxford, she spent a year at Wimbledon Art College before moving to India in 1989. Following in the footsteps of her relative, James Baillie Fraser, who painted the monuments and landscapes of India in the early 1800’s, Olivia set out to continue where he had left off, painting the architecture of Delhi and its people. Olivia Fraser has travelled around India painting for the last ten years. “Handmade in India” has arisen from her observations of the vast colourful array of people she has come across during her travels. 

Synopsis

The author shares her experience of travelling across the country. She makes the children visit states such as Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Goa, etc. Beautiful illustrations are used in the book which translate the text into a graphical representation. The author writes about the speciality of the state and familiarises us with what the people do in that particular state. For example, in Bengal people were making bricks where clay bricks are specially prepared.


Reading - Writing Strategies  

Pre- reading

 1. A class discussion can happen where you can ask children to share their cultural background and what is special about it 

2. Before reading the book, from a random page a picture can be chosen. Ask the children to describe what they see, for example, if the picture is about sculpting, a question can be put if they have sculptors at their home or if they have seen a sculptor

During reading 

1. Unfamiliar words can be selected from the book such as chisel, papier-mache, and predictions can be made of their meaning following by sharing the real meaning. Later a visual representation can be shown to the children by either presenting it on the screen or by showing them a picture. 

2. As we flip through the pages, cultural information can be shared and discussed about the states mentioned in the book. 

 Post reading 

1. Ask the children to make a story out of a picture that is in the book. 

2. A fancy dress competition can be held based on the states of India. 

Reflection -

Handmade in India is a fun and engaging book for young children. It becomes easy for the teacher/facilitator to talk to them about the country and its states. I liked the pictures used in the book and it was very interesting for me to know that the author is a painter and has put thoughts for each picture in the book. The book is appropriate for young children, to know about the diversity of the country. It will also help the children to appreciate and respect the cultural differences, values and their classmates who belong from different parts of the world. I also was impressed by how the author decided to also show the difference between cultures of one state. 

 Sources:

https://naturemorte.com/artists/oliviafraser/

https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/9838-handmade-in-india?mode=read