Book Review: Karukku Norukku
Updated: Sep 17
By Saritha Rao
Illustrated by Vibha Surya
Published by Karadi Tales
At first glance, Karukku Norukku is a delightful story filled with lighthearted moments. The protagonist, Guru, loves murukkus and has but one wish: to enjoy them in peace without the obligation to share. He devises a clever plan to hide a packet of murukkus in his bag, avoiding the need to share them with others. However, as the story unfolds, Guru’s plan is continuously thwarted, and despite his efforts, he is unable to eat even one murukku.
The story concludes with a seemingly fortunate turn of events as Janmashtami arrives, a day when fried snacks like murukkus are plentiful, and all is well. On the surface, it feels like a happy ending.
But let's look at some plot points if I may.
Firstly, the central theme of the book revolves around Guru's reluctance to share. The narrative implies that because of Guru's unwillingness to share, he has to go into a lot of trouble to eat even one murukku. This moral feels heavy-handed and counterproductive. Teaching children to share should stem from fostering an understanding of the joy it brings, not through unnecessarily punitive consequences.
Secondly, the use of language in the book is problematic. The attempt to incorporate colloquial phrases—presumably to reflect South Indian speech—comes off as an exaggerated stereotype. The notion that "We all South Indians/Indians in general speak like this only no?!" is both inaccurate and reductive. Mainstreaming these phrases diminishes the potential for authentic representation and perpetuates unwarranted caricatures of regional speech.
The redeeming aspect of Karukku Norukku lies in its illustrations. Vibha Surya’s art is creative and detailed, bringing a quirky charm to the book that elevates its visual appeal. The artwork is indeed splendid and adds an engaging layer to the story, making it visually stimulating for young readers.
Appropriate for children aged 2 and above.
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