I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to everyone. This book gives a unique insight into a different culture and makes it enjoyable.

I have never visited Kutch yet, despite living in Gujarat. Kesar and the Lullaby Birds weaved the story very magically and left me aching to visit the region soon and explore its beautiful art!

This is an amazing children's book, which I loved reading with my daughter.

The story is about a little girl called Kesar, who has a sister called Kamal. They live in India. Kamal finds it hard to sleep and she is always crying at night-time, keeping her family awake. One day their grandmother (Ba) comes to visit them and she brings some gifts that help Kesar finally get Kamal to go to sleep. Their parents are so amazed and happy.

I loved the beautiful illustrations in the book, and the story was just so heartwarming. I also loved learning more about Indian traditions and their culture. Highly recommended!


Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

A beautiful read with gorgeous illustrations that celebrates culture and heritage. Loved the detailing of the ethnic clothing and jewellery. A sweet sibling story!

I loved this book! The colors and characters are so lovely! The story was really good too!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC!

This is another story from the other part of India. A land so vast, that contains so many treasury stories like this. Through the book, we learn about one of Kutchi's tradition, where women are usually embroider beautifully patterned cloths, and do handcrafts from colorful fabrics to decorate or to sell. I really enjoyed these kind of stories that brought me to other side of the world I might not have the chance to see. And also learn about some people and their traditions.

Brilliant and stunning!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Set in the Great Rann of Kutch, the salt desert in Gujarat, this childrens' book is pure magic. The beautiful illustrations are incredibly vibrant and make the story come alive. A story about a child who won't sleep, her exhausted parents and her sister, Kesar, who might just know a trick!

This is a beautiful book. It is about a little girl Kesar and her family, living in Kutch in India. India is such a diverse nation hosting so many cultures that even I as an Indian discover new things about it from time to time. The art is beautiful, showcasing vibrant colors and cultural handicrafts and painting in all its glory. The story is beautiful, which I, as a starry-eyed kid would have loved it. Would definitely recommend it.

Kesar and the Lullaby Birds by Aditi Oza is a beautiful children's book set in the Great Rann of Kutch which is one of the largest salt deserts in the world and is located in India.

The entire village of Kutch is kept awake due to baby Kamal's cries. Kamal doesn't sleep no matter how many stories her parents tell her. The story is about Kesar trying to help her baby sister fall asleep when she figures out a creative way to do so with the help of her visiting grandmother.

This little book fits in so much content like family, traditions, arts and crafts, relationships, etc without it feeling too overwhelming.

It gives insight into traditional crafts like Lippan Kaam and their meaning and importance of it. The illustrations pay homage to Indian art, craft and tradition. The colour palette and the lively illustrations transport the reader to the villages of India.

The cherry on top is the glossary to look up the meanings of regional words used throughout the book.

Yali Books has become one of my favourite publishers as they bring in beautiful stories from the South Asian culture.

I didn't quite like the story and the gender stereotypes portrayed in this picture book.
Also, there was a disconnect between the font used and the drawings, it didn't jell well.

Imagination meets rich culture and crafts in a heart-warming tale of siblings and family.

Kesar's baby sister can't seem to sleep at night, only during the day, when everyone else is awake. Kesar's parents do their best to keep the baby happy and don't complain, but Kesar sees that it's wearing on them. When her grandmother comes to visit and gives Kesar some of her beautifully hand-crafted birds, Kesar has an idea which might just finally solve the family's problem.

This is such a lovely read, which comes from the heart...and that radiates from every page. It takes place in the Great Rann of Kutch, a large salt desert in India and portrays an everyday family in the typical living conditions and traditional culture of that area. The illustrations really let these aspects shine, showing the reader/listener the details while letting the main story still have control. It's subtle but clear, at the same time, so it never feels like a lesson...because it isn't.

The tale is something many readers, no matter where they live in the world, can identify with. Plus, even though the culture of the area is obvious on Kesar, she still comes across as normal as any other girl her age. Her kindness and love for her family comes through, but then, the entire family keeps a positive attitude. While a baby's crying can cause frustration, there's never a negative thought in these pages, but rather, the concern and hope to help take the main theme.

While I do love the culture in this read, the tale is wonderful on its own as well, making this a read many listeners are sure to enjoy. Plus, it works as a great way to open up a theme in a group setting and for homeschoolers as well. The author's love for the area is obvious, and her extra statements at the end of the book add quite a bit of insight. As an extra bonus, the author does encourage the readers/listeners to try to create similar birds/animals on their own...which while with cloth and a needle might be difficult for the age group, would work very well with paper forms, too. I received a complimentary copy and found this to be a rich read in so many ways.

My Thoughts:

We have forgotten to pass along the value of folk art to hold our stories for our children and grandchildren. The ability to bridge cultures and countries through technology has created a gray monocrop of experiences. The value of this picture book is that it brings back into our consciousness the folk art, architecture and stories of regions that are not usually in picture books or any books.

The back matter introduces the reader to the villages in the harsh climate of the Rann of Kutch. The different cultures and traditions in this area have given Kutch the reputation of creating some of the most beautiful handicrafts in the world. This book represents some of the handiworks. It also highlights a bhunga, which is a unique house which is both an engineering wonder and a work of art. It is important to link up to non profits that allow these crafters, mostly women, to earn a living wage for their work, and this book helps readers to do just that.

As a secondary teacher who brings picture books into the classroom, the back matter and pronunciation guides act as mentor text for research.

From the Publisher:
Kesar’s baby sister Kamal will not sleep. Their entire village in the Great Rann of Kutch is kept awake by the infant’s cries and her parents are exhausted. When Kesar’s and Kamal’s ba comes to visit, her stories give Kesar a wonderful idea. Perhaps what Kesar needs to put her baby sister to sleep is a little bit of desert magic!

A vibrant celebration of traditional artisans from India, this picture book is a sweet sibling bedtime story at heart, featuring a big sister who figures out how to care for her baby sister with some help from her grandmother’s lovingly made gifts.

Author: Aditi Oza
Illustrator: Debasmita Dasgupta
Publisher: Yali Books
Publication date: May 31, 2022

I love picture books that show other cultures than the typical western views, and this is set in the Great Rann of Kutch, in India tells the story of a baby who would not go to sleep and what her big sister did to get her to do so.

A common craft of her people are little cloth birds, with little mirrors, beads and sequins. Tey are believed to bring prosperity, according to the author, and are hung in doorways and windows. In this

In this story, Kesar, the older sister, realizes she can tell a story with the birds, and so uses them to talk to her sister, and tell her a story that puts her to sleep.

The author said she grew up near the Great Rann of Kutch, which is the largest salad desert in the world. She thought of the cloth birds, and how they might be good to use in a story.

The illustrations are lush and beautiful, with all the different fabric colors of the people of the area. A lovely book to stare at, and enjoy.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. </em>

I love this wonderfully illustrated book filled with Kutchi words and culture! My kids asked so many questions and I was grateful for information in the back of the book to learn alongside them.

This was such a cute and adorable book!
Plus the illustrations were absolutely stunning!
Thank you publisher for sending an advanced reader copy, absolutely recommend this to all young kids

This book was a very sweet and interesting tale about a young Indian girl and her siblings bedtime routines. Just as all children experience at some point, the youngest child has trouble sleeping and it is up to the older sister to help save the village from the wailing child.

Kesar and the Lullaby Birds is a lovely picture book with beautiful illustrations inspired by traditional folk art practices from India. The story is about Kesar trying to help her baby sister fall asleep, and she figures out a creative way to do so with the help of her grandmother. It was wonderful to see a loving family represented in this book, and to see Kesar care about her sister, parents, and grandmother. The story is sweet, the art is vibrant, and I think this is a book everyone can enjoy.

A charming story for little readers. Kesar is a responsible and caring big sister and very creative. I especially loved the illustrations which pay homage to Indian arts and crafts and traditions, and the fact that there are Gujarati and Kutchi words (plus a glossary so you can look up the meanings). You can see my full review on Open Letters Review.

Every family with a new baby will relate to exhaustion involved when a baby takes a long time to settle down. The connection Kesar has with her grandmother and the concern over the baby from other villagers gives us a glimpse into a beautiful communal way of life in this village in the Great Rann of Kutch in India, one of largest salt deserts in the world. The value of the story lies in the colorful illustrations and folk art of lippan kaam, a unique mud paste wall decor, and the cloth bird danglers. The careful depiction of the traditional house and cradle is further described in the author’s end notes. The Kutchi and Gujarati words used throughout the story are also defined at the end.