Title: How Buffalo Lost Her Coat: A Children’s Tale from Nepal
Author: Belinda Dupont
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 978-1-5462-8521-2
Pages: 36
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Books
Reviewed by: Leslie Meredith
Pacific Book Review
Author Belinda Dupont has written a storybook for children by telling the tale of how the Buffalo in Nepal lost her coat to a Yak, based upon local folklore. In her book, appropriately titled How Buffalo Lost Her Coat, the author personifies the personalities of the buffalo and the yak, as they converse with the traders seeking help carrying over the Himalayas the spices, tools and weavings from Nepal to Tibet. When asked by the traders for help, the buffalo didn’t want to do the task, but the yak had agreed to do the work. The problem was the cold summit of the mountains required a coat for the yak, and the buffalo’s hairy coat would be a perfect fit for the yak.
So as the story goes, the yak asked the buffalo if he could borrow her coat – just for the trip and he’d return it in the spring. Reluctantly, and after a bit of persuasion, the buffalo agreed. The yak used the coat for the journey, but once in Tibet found the grass to be so tasty he decided to stay there; hence never returning to Nepal to give back the loaned coat. There is a happy ending, however. You see back in Nepal the water buffalo enjoyed the leathery skin without the bulky hair of their coat, so in the long run they were happier.
A beautiful story written in an endearing literary voice, Belinda Dupont educates while she entertains. Interlaced with delightful pen & ink and watercolor drawings by artist P G Rob, the book takes on a mental journey for children to enjoy in their imagination; an ideal book for a rainy day or bedtime story. Dupont also explains why the buffalo always seems to be stretching her neck, as if sniffing the air for some distant scent. She explains the buffalo is trying to see if the smelly yak is coming back to return her coat. A very cute ending as the elements of the story are tied together in a way analogous to the beauty of a Tibetan weaving.
How Buffalo Lost Her Coat will be a fine addition to any children’s library or a perfect present for a single-digit birthday gift. Dupont has taken a local traditional metaphorical proverb from the Nepal culture, and reworked it into a story for children everywhere to enjoy.
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