Tradewind Books

The Flute

by Rachna Gilmore

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Description

Her parents swept away by a catastrophic flood, Chandra finds solace in her mother's magic flute. Set in India, The Flute is an enchanting tale of the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.

Awards

• Finalist for the Shinning Willow Award 2012
• Selected for the Year's Best Picture Book 2011 by Resource Links Magazine

Reviews

"This is an engrossing story, very well written in a style that evokes its setting and context and more crucially, its emotive content. The question it may raise among young readers are relevant to real life events they may hear of in the news, so the story provides a useful stimulus for considered and sensitive discussion. The unusual style of these illustrations is very well matched to this thought provoking tale." - Books for Keeps

"Gilmore knows how to tell a compelling tale and make a picture book story sing...Stylized and simple almost to the point of starkness, the images by celebrated New Delhi illustrator Pulak Biswas effectively convey the elemental nature of the story." - Quill & Quire

"Rachna Gilmore's enchanting story of hope and Pulak Biswas' simple east Asian rural scenes flow with depth and grace . . . This inspiring book is sure to be a permanent fixture in an library and one to be handed down from generation to generation." - Resource Links

"The Flute is ornamented and further interpreted with stunning black and white paintings with vivid splashes of red for Chandra's dress, blue for the river, and yellow for the overlooking moon. This author/illustrator team is first class and deserves further high awards for artistry, authenticity and design." - Midwest Book Review

"Chandra is a strong yet realistically vulnerable figure who withstands adversity without appearing too saintly, while the magic that saves her offers some compensation for the misfortune she has suffered." - Publishers Weekly Children's Review

"Chandra is a resilient character who overcomes many obstacles, from the destructive forces of nature to human unkindness. The healing power of music is a central theme, and there are other well-crafted, recurring images such as the moon and shadows. Pulak Biswas is one of India's most well-known illustrators. His striking artwork has the appearance of woodcuts or engravings. The mainly blakc and white illustrations have splashes of deep blue, crimson and yellow.

With the many recent disasters around the world in everyone's thoughts, this lyrically written book speaks of 'hope and enduring strength.'" - CM Magazine

"The story is well told, lyrical, and evocative, exploring themes of hope, loss, and healing in creative ways. The unique style of artist Pulak Biswas, one of India’s most accomplished illustrators, also serves to create mood by using stark black and white images contrasted with only splashes of primary colours. The Flute lends itself to all kinds of extension activities, from exploring imagery and symbolism, to discussing the healing power of music. It is refreshing to see a story about an Indian girl overcoming her very real world struggles/life circumstances." - Books My Boys Love

"The illustrations are stylized, with a flat, blocky appearance and a reliance on a single hue (dark brownish black) that makes them resemble prints; smudgy textures and additional colors (only one or two elements per spread) add interest." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Author Biography

Rachna Gilmore is a Governor General's award-winning Canadian author of numerous children's picture books and novels. Her books have received multiple honours and awards and have been translated into several languages. She currently lives in Ottawa.

Illustrator Biography

Pulak Biswas is one of India's most celebrated illustrators. He has received many awards for his illustrations, including the Grand Prix from the Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators & Writers, New Delhi.