Book Uncle and Me

Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishaswami (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $12.99
ISBN 978-1-74283-672-0
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Yasmin loves to read. She is easily sticking to her goal of a book a day for the rest of her life. And Book Uncle, who runs a free lending library on the corner of her street, always has the perfect book for her. But when he has to shut down his library by order of the city council, what can she, a nine-year-old girl, do to help change this decision? Could Yasmin and her friends possibly influence the upcoming mayoral elections to get Karate Samuel, an eccentric superstar who has said he will help Book Uncle, get elected?

Book Uncle & Me is a gentle story which demonstrates strongly the power that books and communities can hold. It is beautifully written and brings modern urban India to life through the characters and their setting. Through this story, the more adult concepts of elections and local government become understandable, interesting and relevant to the world children inhabit.

Short chapters, fabulous characters and lovely illustrations make this an enjoyable book for children from 8 up. Book Uncle and Me is the winner of the 2011 Scholastic Asian Award.