Unlucky Chumki by Lesley D Biswas is a hOle book by Duckbill, that takes a peek into the life of Chumki- a bright fun-loving little girl who lives in an Indian village. She loves going to school and is brimming with life and enthusiasm. But, there is a little problem. Chumki is considered unlucky. Everyone says that she can make things go wrong with her “magic”. Why is this so? How can she get over this obstacle that makes her feel terrible every single day!

As the story cruises Chumki’s life the reader gets many undertones of the gender stereotyping and the prevalence of superstitions in our country and society. The reason why Chumki is perceived as unlucky is rooted in superstition and lack of knowledge. However, this is brought out quite beautifully in a very fun filled story, that is also loaded with humour.

Luckily, Chumki is a spirited girl, and does not allow anything to dampen her spirits, lest of all tradition and superstition. Turning a supposed disadvantage to an advantage is the sign of a winner, is it not? As luck would have it, her brother Aki hatches a plan, and she is a part of it, but on her own terms. The story follows the children as they execute the plan. Will she now get friends? Will she be happier? Does her luck finally turn around? The illustrations by Anupama Ajinkya Apte add to the spunk of the story!

The ‘hOle books’by Duckbill experiment slightly with the book form. As the name suggests, these books with a ‘hOle’, add a fun element to the book. There is a hole at the top right end of each book, which somehow younger children find very fascinating!

Unlucky Chumki is a delightfully powerful book that shows how hope, resilience and a little bravado can go a long way! A great read for 3-7-year olds.