The Great Toy Debate

It is an exciting day for cloth doll Gudiya and her friends, as they arrive in Kolkata right during the Durga Puja festivities. It is her first time in the big city, and there is so much to look at! The cloud-catching tall buildings, the thousands of people on the roads, the lights and the strange pink toys in the neon-lit toy shop. Surprised at how different they look, Gudiya, the terracotta horse, the shola dolls and all their other friends strike up a conversation with the very stylish and slightly mean Bettys, teddies and action figures. As they discuss their VERY OPPOSITE lives, purpose and origins, the chat soon turns into a GREAT BIG DEBATE. Who will be the winners, the lovingly crafted handmade toys or the cleverly designed factory-made toys? Can these two opponents ever become friends? Sudha G Tilak only takes up jobs that allow her to tell stories—tall and truthful. She has worked for over 20 years as a journalist with Indian and international publications. Currently, she lives in Gurgaon with her husband, son and imaginary pets: Posto, the ginger cat, and Idli, the labrador. She is the author of the bestselling Temple Tales. This is her second book for children. Born and brought up in Chandannagar, a historical city in West Bengal, Rupak Neogy is a self-taught artist with a deep passion for all things creative. His explorations within the world of art led him to his current profession of art director in advertising. He is also an illustrator in his spare time, and he has illustrated multiple Bengali and English books over the years.