Book Title: I Am The Best
Author: Swati Bhise
Illustrator:
Genre: Children
Age Range: 5+
Summary:
The story introduces five elements—Earth, Air, Water, Space, and Fire—each with its own name: Vayu for Wind, Apa for Water, Agni for Fire, Akash for Space, and Mother Prithvi for Earth. The elements boast about their importance, each claiming to be the most powerful. However, Mother Earth helps them realize that they must work together in harmony to maintain balance in nature, as one cannot function without the others.
Themes:
The book I am The Best aims to teach children about the five elements and their significance. The central message is that while each element (or individual) is important, true harmony in nature is achieved when everyone works together with mutual respect.
Writing Style:
The author’s writing is simple and well-suited for young readers, making the story easy to understand and accessible.
Illustrations:
The illustrations are vibrant and thoughtfully designed, with each character visually representing their element—Fire has fiery hairs, Water is surrounded by bubbles, Sky has clouds, and Mother Earth is depicted in a green dress with a crown of leaves. However, the first two pages are a bit crowded, making it difficult to grasp the story initially. Once the story unfolds, the illustrations effectively complement the narrative and help clarify the author’s message.
Characters:
The story features six characters: the five elements and a mouse, who silently observes the events while skating through the streets of New York with headphones on. The characters, full of life and energy, resemble young children with their playful and competitive attitudes.
Personal Reaction:
My son loved the illustrations, especially the lively characters that he could easily relate to. The characters’ playful nature and “I’m better than the rest” attitude resonated with him. However, I noticed that the story’s flow was somewhat disjointed. For instance, Agni (Fire) is reprimanding Vayu (Wind) for being reckless, but their conversation suddenly gets interrupted by Water introducing itself and complaining about Vayu. Before Water’s dialogue is complete, the story abruptly shifts back to Agni’s conversation and then switches back to Water again. This back-and-forth made the narrative feel choppy, leaving some dialogues unfinished and making it difficult to fully engage with the story. It might have been more effective if the transitions between characters were smoother, or if the mouse had been used to help guide the reader through the different elements’ perspectives.
Educational Value:
The book does a good job of teaching children about the elements and the importance of working together. It subtly conveys the idea of interdependence in nature, making it a valuable read for young minds.
Strengths:
The book’s strengths lie in its simple language, relatable characters, and the thoughtful design of the illustrations, which bring the elements to life in a way that young readers will enjoy.
Areas for Improvement:
The beginning of the story could have been clearer, with fewer elements introduced at once. Additionally, the story’s flow might have been improved by giving the mouse a more prominent role in narrating the story or by smoothing the transitions between characters to avoid abrupt shifts.
Recommendation:
Overall, I am The Best By Swati Bhise is a delightful read for young children, offering both entertainment and education. The story’s message about harmony and teamwork is timeless, making it a great addition to any child’s bookshelf.
