Education
Curated Exhibition Highlights 130 Years of Children’s Book Illustrations
A Mumbai exhibition titled "Becoming" showcased more than a hundred illustrations spanning 130 years of children’s books. Curated by Richa Jha, writer and publisher at Pickle Yolk Books, the show featured 65 illustrators from India and abroad and works from 25 publishers. The gallery, located in the P.L. Deshpande Gallery at Ravindra Natya Mandir, displayed large canvases of illustrations such as Poonam Athalye’s depiction of a grandmother and grandson from "The Glass Tree" and Sunaina Coelho’s dreamy scene from Rabindranath Tagore’s "Clouds and Waves".
Jha explained that the exhibition’s theme revolves around the concept of “becoming,” encompassing people, relationships, and the environment. She highlighted the historical significance of the 1896 reproduction of Abanindranath Tagore’s "Khirer Putul," considered the first illustration printed in a children’s book for leisure reading, alongside works by Nandalal Bose, Sukumar Ray, and Satyajit Ray.
The curator also discussed the logistical effort involved: selecting illustrations, obtaining permissions and digital files, printing them on large canvases, and shipping the collection in a 20‑foot container from Delhi to Mumbai.
The author of the article, Sonya Dutta Choudhury, a Mumbai‑based journalist and founder of Sonya’s Book Box, noted her personal connection to the exhibition. She recalled the shame she felt during her first menstruation and expressed gratitude for contemporary books that address such topics openly, such as Mamta Nainy’s "Laali" and Neha Singh’s "Is It the Same for You?".
She also mentioned her interest in books about trees, citing titles like "Finding Trees" by Geeta Dharmarajan and "The Spring of Life: How Moirangthem Loiya Saved a Forest" by Canato Jimo, which she believes would be relevant for children in the Himalayas.
The article ends with a call to readers to share their favorite picture books and a note that the author will visit Kahani Tree, a bookstore in Mumbai, to purchase books for a library for children of migrant workers in Manali.
For book requests or questions, readers can email sonyasbookbox@gmail.com.