Trunk Call for Ajju

There’s something special about animal stories for children.
I’ve never had a pet and I’ve never worked with animals, yet I remember devouring books like the Animal Ark series. There were dozens of others too – Saddle Club, every Dick King-Smith book I could lay my hands on, stories about dolphins, whales, dogs … Something about animals touches the heart of every child, and that’s what made me love Trunk Call for Ajju.

Have you ever met a child who would not want to do something to help a distressed elephant in Zimbabwe? Even if said child has no idea where Zimbabwe is, I cannot imagine a child who would not help an elephant if they could! Enter Ajju, who sees that his beloved Kini Maasi is out of sorts. It has nothing to do with him, but he soon pries out the reason–Molly, an orphaned baby elephant in Zimbabwe, needs care. The problem with needing care is that care costs money. And so, Ajju must somehow earn money, put it together, and give it to Kini Maasi so that Molly is safe.

Of course, Ajju has no idea how much money he needs. In fact, most of the details are fuzzy. Yet, one thing is crystal clear–he can’t sit back and do nothing. Enterprising and determined, he ropes in his friend Karthik, convinced that they can chip in, whether by walking dogs or by winning a talent competition. When plan after plan fails, though, is having your heart in the right place enough?

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’, leaving the reader feeling warm and fuzzy.
With its relatable characters and a theme close to my heart, Trunk Call for Ajju is an endearing tale that reminds us that children can and will save the world.