The Blue Boy

by Martin Auer

In a poignant fable about the consequences of war, a little blue boy, orphaned and alone, who lives on a distant, war-torn planet, spurns the company of all living things as he searches desperately for someone safe from the horrors of war--and safe to love.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 1992

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blue Boy by Martin Auer, Hindi language translation by Vidushak- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture book- The book narrates the story of a tribe of people who were blue in colour. This tribe in from another planet. After the war with men of this planet, when the parents of the blue boy die, he is left alone on the earth to fend for himself. The blue boy has seen war. People of the earth find him lonely and shower kindness on him. The blue boy rejects any form of kindness. His aim is to seek companionship of weapons for his safety. His is also in search of a friend who will never die. He is able to locate an aeroplane and a gun. The blue boy checks and finds that both the aeroplane and and the gun are operational. He flies and finds that there is a small house in which an old woman is cooking food. He lands his plane, shows his gun to threaten her and asks her to serve food to him. The lady informs him that he talks with love, she can serve him food, there is no need to threaten her. A young girl arrives and she suggests that they both should become friends. The blue boy has never experienced love, good behaviour in his life, therefore, he rejects the request of the old lady and the girl. He enquires from the old lady about whether she know any person who will not die. Old lady informs that there is an old man on the moon who will never die. The blue boy boards his plane and reaches the moon. Here he finds the old man watching the earth with a telescope. He enquires from the old man about what he is doing. The old man says that he will not die, therefore, the blue boy should leave his gun. Second, that he is observing the life of the people of the earth. He informs the blue boy about his conclusion that war is not a solution for people. Only love, good behaviour, mutual respect can bring peace to the people of the earth. The blue boy lives with the old man on the moon and understands that the vies of the old man are correct about war and lasting peace on earth. This is an educative book for all. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the contents of the narrative. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.