Karthika Naïr

A young child longs for more honey in this beautiful picture-book, pleading with someone (presumably a parent) to give him what he wants. In the face of his pleading, the adult tells him the story of Shonu, a young boy living in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, who also loved honey. When a time of hunger strikes his family and people, he disregards his parents' warning about taking honey from the forest before the bees are ready. Shonu's actions, in carelessly grabbing as much honey as he can, damage the hives and anger Dakkhin Rai, the demon-king guardian of the forest. Fortunately, the bee goddess Bonbibi, patron saint of the region, intercedes on his behalf and offers him an opportunity to set things right...

Published simultaneously in France and India in 2013, this gorgeous picture-book from Indian author Karthika Naïr and French illustrator Joëlle Jolivet was subsequently published by Little Gestalten in this edition in 2015. The story, although an original fairy-tale, has the feeling of traditional folklore, both because it uses actual figures (Bonbibi, Dakkhin Rai) from the folkloric tradition of the region, and because it is structured as a teaching tale, in which Shonu learns the importance of responsible stewardship of the natural world. The story is engaging and beautifully-written, with moments - the description of Shonu's hunger as being like something that crawled through his insides like red ants, for instance - that were truly powerful. The artwork, created in a limited but incredibly vivid palette of colors, also feels folkloric, with a stylized aesthetic that is perfectly suited to the text. An absolutely gorgeous book, The Honey Hunter is a title I would recommend, both to those who enjoy fairy and folktales, and to those who appreciate beautiful picture-book art. It's quite text-heavy for a picture-book - more like an illustrated short story in picture-book form - so I would say it's best suited to children at least six and up, although these things do vary.… (meer)

Featuring exotic images and empathetic language, this modern day Indian fairy tale teaches children to respect and appreciate nature. The story of the honey hunter beings in Sundarban, a land of eighteen tides and six seasons, where three rivers meet in a huge mangrove forest. At first, everything is peacefulfor the thousands and thousands of honey-bees that live there not far from the Bay of Bengal. They fly from flower to flower, collecct nectar, and supply both people and animals with their sweet, liquid gold. Everyone who lives in Sundarban loves honey, but one most of all: a small, black-haired boy named Shonu. One year, the seasons in Sundarban get mixed up and the region is plagued by powerful cyclones followed by drought and hunger. Shonu becomes so unbelievably hungry that he sneaks into the mangrove forest and breaks the golden rule: he takes honey from the hives even though it is not yet harvest time. Shonu doesn't quite realize that what he has done could get him into deep trouble with the almighty demon tiger...This modern day fairy tale reveals what can happen when someone interferes with nature's rhythm. It teaches children to respect and appreciate the environment. Inspired by Muslim and Hindu myths, author Karthika Nair and illustrator Joelle Jolivet have created a compelling narrative style and visual language to tell their tale.… (meer)