Farmer Falgu Stays at Home (2024)

It's springtime on the farm, and Farmer Falgu needs to take his eggs to the market. His daughter Eila wants to come, but he tells her that she must stay home. Upon his return, they have a discussion about why it is necessary to stay home, as much as possible, in order to protect themselves and others from the spread of an unnamed illness. Farmer Falgu uses the example of a game of hide-and-seek, in which the illness might seek one out, he also confirms that it is important not to bring harm to others. In the end, Eila decides that it will be fun to stay home and play with her father and mother...

I have thus far read three of the four picture-books about Farmer Falgu and his travels -

Addendum: For parents looking for online resources and ebooks for children addressing this crisis, the New York City School Library System has put together a list of free titles available worldwide, which can be found here:
https://nycdoe.libguides.com/COVID-19...

The Farmer Falgu series is a multicultural experience that features a kind farmer concerned about his family and community. In Farmer Falgu Stays at Home, the farmer is again able to show children why their actions resonate farther than just themselves--they must stay at home to help everyone. The illustrations are a real winner--vivid, colorful and full of life. The text has a balance to it ("we must stay at home") but also varies in size and color, which would appeal to children's senses. The text uses repetitive sounds and phrases, and onomatopoeic to control pace and sounds, adding to the rhythmic beat from the musicians. The read aloud also features a distinct Indian dialect, and that too pulls in the reader. The last page of the book explains how children can stay safe by washing their hands, maintaining social distancing, and seeking medical help when needed. The book is relevant to the world today but could apply to any illness the child is around, and Eila is encouraged to find ways to have fun in their home rather than risk getting others sick flying a kite near others. I would enjoy reading the entire series, and I believe adding this book to the library or classroom collection would go one step further in creating an inclusive culture.

The time has passed (at least for now), thank goodness. Very short, entirely message driven. But it does make me want to reread the rest of the series!