On January 27, the children’s book “Maleesha, the Sunbird, and the Elephants,” written by Mats Thorner in collaboration with the Sri Lankan illustrator Oshidie Charithapani, will be released in Sweden.
“Maleesha, the Sunbird, and the Elephants” is a whimsical, exciting, entertaining, and emotionally rich tale. It also serves as an inspirational example that even a small person can make a difference if they have a strong enough will and work together towards a common goal.
The story is set in Sri Lanka, where the girl Maleesha and the people in her village live in harmony with nature. Maleesha possesses a unique gift—she can talk to animals. When a road construction project begins to devastate the untouched and sacred natural area where Maleesha and the animals reside, they take the initiative to stop the project together.
The main character, Maleesha, is brave, wise, and determined. She, along with the sunbird Sini and the gecko Liza, devise a strategy that engages all the animals, birds, and insects in the threatened forest.
The question remains: Will they succeed in stopping the project and persuading the region’s governor to reverse the decision on the road construction?
Mats Thorner is a Swedish freelance journalist who has sponsored several impoverished families in Sri Lanka for over a decade. Illustrator Oshidie Charithapani is the wife of one of the children Mats began sponsoring in 2011. Now, the two are writing books together – which itself is a wonderful story! More book projects are in the works from Mats and Oshidie.
About the Book
Title: Maleesha, the Hummingbird, and the Elephants
Author: Mats Thorner
Illustrator: Oshidie Charithapani
Release Date: January 27, 2025
ISBN: 9789181014006
Genre: Children’s Book (Ages 7-15)