The Boy and The Drum written by Umesh P.M. and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe published by Pratham Books is a book written in a play format for you to read aloud to kids even as you enact it. The book gives a very detailed description of how you can actually put it up on stage like a play.

The story is a folktale retold in a wonderful manner about a little boy who is very poor but wants to have a drum. His mother gives him a piece of wood instead, which he takes with happiness and decides to take it around. Then he meets an old man who is in need of wood to cook his food. And then the cycle starts. From wood, to bread to pot to clothes to horse and finally does he does the drum? How does he get it? What does he do with it?

The book passes a simple message to us - Goodness gives more goodness. The boy's giving nature gets him what he wants and despite having things of far more value than a drum, at the end of the day, he just wants his drum. The simplicity in the story is very endearing. Umesh PM does a wonderful job retelling the story. His lyrical poetry and the way he has written it in a play form makes the book unique and fun. I loved the way he has given details on how to enact the play with children and what should each actor in the play be doing. He also gives us tips on how to sing the songs what kind of speed to use and what each of the other characters does on the stage.

Theatre is The Most Powerful Medium of Both Expression and Introspection Says Umesh P N