The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi

The Circus Comes to the Village by

Yutaka Kobayashi is a new children's book published by Museyon Books. It is a sad and true story,about war, future, new beginning and the end of a place.

We are in Afghanistan, in a little, tiny agricultural village where existence knows the circularity of seasons, and where agriculture and hard work are the reality met everyday by people.The beginning of the end started with the arrival of a circus in a close village. There is an endless war in Afghanistan.

Yamo and Mirado are great friends and once completed the hard work in the field their relatives approve the decision of the two children of going to see the Circus as a moment of relaxation.

Children are electrified by the perspective. Mirado loves to sing a flute left behind bu his dad, who once went to the war and since then no one have news of his destiny. He feels a great melancholy and he hopes that singing soon or late he can re-appears in his existence.

Circus for children is wonderful because thereis just projection of joy, happiness, of joyous and sunny, funny moments. It is what happens to Mirado and Yamo as well. They try various different games, they assist at wonderful shows, 'till at the moment that a beautiful lady makes her appearance on stage. Mirado starts to sing with his flute and everyone is surprised by his talent. People in the circus asks him if he wants to join them. Considering everything, Mirado is alone, her grand-mother accepts this decision and set free Mirado, blessing his decision.

Good-byes are sad but there is till hope of finding somewhere while singing his flute Mirado's dad. After that Mirado left, he was a good omen for the area, everything changed; the arrival of war, and other problems created a situation impossible to resist and people abandoned that place going all somewhere else.

Another book pretty delicate where adults and children will dialogue at long, I guess.

What will happen to Mirado? Will he be happy with his new large family? Will he find his dad while singing his flute? Will he never meet again Yamo and all his friends and relatives left behind? Your kid would want to abandon you for joining a circus? And you as a parent or relative would permit him to do that?

Then there is the meaning of war and. What does mean to living in a place completely devastated by hate, blood and human losses everyday?

Why peace is so precious?

What kind of meaning of life is it important to find in these situations and conditions?

Losing the house where a person maybe lived for a long time because of war and lack of food can be traumatic. What do you think of this passage?

They're big questions and thematic these ones, left, completely left in your hands and eyes dear reader, little or big that you are.

Beautiful and melancholic, this book is dedicated to all the children of Afghanistan with the hope of a new peace and a new future one day.

Highly recommended.

I thank Museyon Books for the copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori