'Magic Camera'- a snapshot of warmth and wisdom

Dr Maya Gopinath 

"Magic Camera" is a captivating book - a casket of wonders written by Mini Suresh, a talented and enthusiastic author writing in Malayalam.

The book carries a vitalising spirit of its own which is seamlessly inspiring. Her books on children's literature are highly commendable for her peculiar way of presentation, enhancing empathy and emotional intelligence in children as well as helping them to improve their creative skills.

Her work goes way beyond target age groups - they are more than capable of acting as a medium for adults to explore their struggles, or face the questions they have to grapple with in their daily lives.

The story, as the name indicates, is about a hidden magic inside a camera. When one looks through, it unravels mysteries of the future.

Aju stumbles upon it accidentally during an expedition through the forest, whilst being accompanied by his father, a wildlife photographer.

Aju becomes dejected to see the forest getting dried up, and the animals going extinct through the lens of the camera.

Conversely, he was exhilarated to see himself as an environmentalist in the future. When they were leaving, his dad wisely reminded him not to take pride in owning a camera he found accidentally. He exhorts him to keep it back where he found it

The story bears the writer's signature trademark in explaining the hazards of destroying natural resources, and she uses an incredibly powerful tool to depict it - the magic camera. Here, the writer is able to instil the flame of love for nature as a calming balm in the minds of young children in a world filled with corporate greed and internet-inflicted paradoxes of panic and fear.

The story of an AI dog given as a gift to a young boy explores the realm of fostering a collective support system with the help of AI. Here, the AI dog helps the kid and his family to overcome trouble from a chaotic drug peddler.

The merits and demerits of WhatsApp are interestingly depicted in a beautiful story where animals in the forest form a group and start texting each other.

The following of moral and ethical values in a group is presented through the messages of various animals and birds. It is indeed an excellent story for adults, who time and time again need to be reminded of how to regulate impulsive and negative behaviour on social platforms to avoid conflict and depression.

The story about Hena is particularly meant to foster a profound sense of nationalism, respect and patriotism.

In the story 'Orio,' the author is putting an emphasis on trust and loyalty. Gratitude and love can shape young hearts in profound ways. The author is trying to induce generosity and compassion in the hearts of young readers that can light up their world with a sense of contentment.

“Nature's Gift” is a heartwarming story of a young boy teaching a grandma how dangerous it is to burn hay and dry leaves during summer. Usually, in such stories, it is the grannies who teach the young ones wisdom, but here the author is diving deep into child psychology and behaviour as well. Children can be suitable teachers too.

In her story about water, she emphasises the importance of preserving water. The river bed is the life bed for all creatures.

Elephants are huge animals that need a large amount of drinking water. When humans are busy constructing cities, no one is concerned about the conservation and preservation of forests and wildlife.

Children have to grow up with an awareness that water is the oasis of life and it is the responsibility of every individual to preserve it for future generations.  

“Water Warriors” is yet another inspiring story of two young boys determined to clean a nearby stream by removing plastic and other waste accumulated at the riverbed. The adults become inspired by them in the process, and a tiny act by two kids ends up creating a big impact on environmental preservation.
The author is educating kids to have awareness of choosing healthy food in the story "Ice Cream."

Magic Camera, the exquisite collection of 19 stories, is a good read for both adults and children. Through diverse characters and varied backgrounds, these narratives help children develop desirable behaviours conducive to living a better life.