I was always a pretty cautious and timid kid. But once I became of school age, I found myself craving a little independence. I wanted to cross the street by myself, to play at the playground or go to the library across the street. Getting permission to go off on my own was a bit of a struggle, even as a mature and responsible kid. My parents were hesitant to let me go. But little by little, permission was granted.
Gugulu, the little bear sloth from Srividhya Lakshmanan’s picture book, Gugulu The Little Bear Dares, isn’t the type to ask for permission. This adventurous little bear is so eager for independence that he ignores his parents and races off into the Western Ghats forest on his own.
What follows is a valuable lesson about the privilege of independence and how parents create rules, not to be mean, but to keep you safe. Below is my review of Gugulu The Little Bear Dares followed by an interview with Lakshmanan.
Gugulu The Little Bear Dares plot summary
Gugulu is a rambunctious sloth bear who wants to go to school by himself. When his parents refuse, he naughtily races away without them. While on his own, he encounters several animals in different terrains and finds himself in one dangerous circumstance after another. Some of these animals help him while others are dangerous. And by the end of his journey, he learns to stay close to his mom and dad until they decide he’s old enough to go off on his own.
The characters
Gugulu features a collection of wild animals from the Western Ghats, a mountain range in India that has unique yet familiar-looking wildlife. At the end of the book, Lakshmanan has a guide to the various animals featured in the book along with a few little pieces of trivia about each animal. As a kid, I always loved these additional little keys and charts that helped me to better explore new information.
For western readers like me, I was unfamiliar with the region and its wildlife, even its main character, the sloth bear. So, it was fun to encounter all of the different creatures within the book, particularly ones I had never heard of before, along with the terrain that Gugulu explores in his homeland.
The illustrations
The illustrations by Akansha Krishran are simple and colorful, utilizing basic shapes to form its characters and backgrounds. Almost every page is surrounded by leaves to really put the reader in that forest setting. These leaves obscure Gugulu from the next upcoming animal on his adventure.
I love how the friendly animals are drawn with shiny, big eyes that draw you to them. The less friendly animals have beady or narrowed eyes that are yellow or coal black. They aren’t particularly villains of the book. They’re just obstacles in Gugulu’s journey.
The format and message
Whenever I’m reading a picture book, I tend to look for the message behind the story. This book seamlessly balances adventure with a life lesson in a playful, sing-song rhythm. The story is all about forward motion as Gugulu runs, falls, climbs, and jumps from one part of his journey to the other.
Gugulu doesn’t immediately regret his decision to escape from his parents. In fact, he seems to have fun with it for most the journey. It reminds me of when you’re trying to chase a little kid, and they laugh at you as they run away, thinking that it’s a game while you’re mostly just concerned for their safety.
By the end, though Gugulu realizes that his decision to go off on his own was dangerous, especially after encountering some dangerous situations. And when you see his reaction to another young animal attempting to do the same, you realize that he has learned his lesson.
My recommendation
I recommend Gugulu The Little Bear Dares to young, adventurous readers who don’t always listen, who love danger, and who sometimes get into trouble because of it. This book shows that it’s not bad to be curious and independent, but you have to do it within the limits set forth by your parents. Because they’re not trying to keep you from having a good time; they’re just trying to keep you safe.
Also check out: Do They All Sleep? by Srividhya Lakshmanan Book Review and Author Interview
My rating
An interview with Srividhya Lakshmanan
What made you want to write a book set in the Western Ghats?
I have always lived in towns/cities closer to the western ghats, and I love the forests. As a child, I often travelled around the ghats (which means forests). So, I wanted to write a story featuring the beautiful animals of the region. I thought it would be a great way to introduce children to these endemic animals.
Which animal featured in the book is your favorite?
I think picking one favourite is difficult, but I will go with the protagonist himself.
Were you adventurous like Gugulu growing up?
Yes, but not so troublesome as Gugulu. I was mildly adventurous without getting myself into too many problems.
Is Gugulu based on anyone you know?
Yes, Gugulu is based on an incident from my childhood. Though I don’t remember it, my family always narrated this incident to anyone who came home, describing how naughty I was. When I was five, my grandmama and I had gone to a nearby store. Grandmama met her friend and talked without realising how bored I was. While they were still engrossed in their conversation, I walked back home. Poor grandmamma thought she had lost me and rushed home crying to find me playing in the garden.
How hard was it to come up with the rhyme scheme for the story?
The original version didn’t have rhyming text, but my editor felt rhymes would make it more appealing. So, after multiple attempts, the verses fell into place.
I like how you incorporate sounds into the story. When did you decide to add these?
I wanted to add some sensory effect while the children read the story aloud. It makes the whole reading session a lot more fun.
Do you have a favorite part?
My favorite part is where Gugulu tries to pull the tail of the macaque.
Do you think that Gugulu learned his lesson?
I doubt it. Gugulu is going to have lots of adventures. He is young and bold to learn his lessons so quickly.
Author links
Links will open in a new tab.
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Do You See the Giant by Srividhya Lakshmanan here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Pin it!
Thanks a ton for this review. I truly enjoyed doing the interview. You obviously spent a lot time planning the questions. Thanks Laura.