Title: Marlu: The Mango Lunchkin
Author: S.S. Ravula
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-7960-2233-9
Pages: 44
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Multi-talented author S.S. Ravula along with her creative illustrator P. Narayanan have written an original children’s book titled, Marlu – The Mango Lunchkin. In it, the main character is a personified mango named Marlu. The world in which Marlu lives has many other “Lunchkins;” animated food-related friends and family such as a carrot and a blueberry, all frolicking in the beautifully manicured fields of vegetable crops, sheep grazing areas and geometrically perfect soil-tilled rows for spring planting.
Although the story progresses in where Marlu is initially shunned-away from playing with the other lunchkins because he is too young, it really isn’t the storyline which captures the imagination of this fanciful world. Sure, as Marlu is upset because the others are playing with a kite and he isn’t invited, he finds solace when talking with his Daddy. Then when the string of the kite gets stuck in a tree, it is Marlu that runs so fast he begins to fly! Reaching the top of the tree he retrieves the string, and learns quickly a lesson about flying – in which you best know how to land before you take off.
It is, however, the marvelously original computer-enhanced art which captivates the attention of readers. The lunchkins have shapes and features incorporating shading, soft colors and shadowing over backgrounds of various focal-lengths with fauna and patterns. The illusion of using 3-dimentional depth of the drawings along with the galley text superimposed over the pictures creates wonderfully artful pages; ideal for the wandering eyes of youngsters seeking out the details of the story both by reading the words and by viewing the pictures.
As an added bonus, at the end of the story are fun- filled facts about the mango, referred to as “The King of the Fruits.” With a long history of over 4,000 years and a part of many cultures, reading about Marlu will have everyone going to the market to buy a mango to enjoy. Not just any mango, but organic mangos! Yes, healthy choices are at the core of the author and her colleagues from the www.lunchkins.com organization.
Simply stated, “It’s all good.” A good story, with excellent artwork, offering healthy advice on eating organic, and supporting the love of a family unit – it all comes together in Marlu – The Mango Lunchkin. One more thing, when I first saw the word “Lunchkin,” it made me chuckle inside to myself; very cute indeed. Your family library is not complete without this gem.
