Hari and His Electric Feet, illustrated by Sam Usher
ISBN:
9781781127551
Publisher:
Barrington Stoke
Publication Date:
first published 1 February 2018 (Barrington Stoke)
Hari and His Electric Feet is a joyful new novel for younger readers chasing big dreams.
Hari is an ordinary boy with an extraordinary talent. He has an easy smile, a spring in his step and likes nothing more than watching—and learning from—his beloved Bollywood films. Then one day Hari’s fancy footwork is spotted by the kindly Mr Ram, a man on a mission to resolve conflicts near and far. Hari’s magical dancing so entrances everyone that soon he’s summoned to the White House itself where his electric feet bring harmony to the world—and an easier life for his family.
With a wonderful Indian backdrop, this is a feel-good story that shimmers with Alexander’s trademark wisdom and joy.
Hear Alexander talk about Hari and his Electric Feet.
A dyslexia-friendly or super-readable book
Hari and His Electric Feet is published by Barrington Stoke, the ‘dyslexia-friendly’ publisher—although these days they prefer to say ‘super-readable’ instead. This is because a book that is accessible to an individual with dyslexia or visual stress in not ‘for’ them and them alone.
Barrington Stoke books are designed with an eye to text accessibility. This means:
- Not skimping on paper quality to minimise show-through, and avoiding bright whit stock, which hurts lots of people’s eyes
- A clear font with no ambiguity and good spacing to help to ensure a smooth read for more readers
- Illustration to aid recall and comprehension – and because we love pictures.
Reviews
“This exuberant tale, recalling the last scene of Slumdog Millionaire, is about a boy, inspired on a Bombay film set, who starts to dance and discovers not only an exceptional talent but that his dancing has the power to make everyone else dance, too… Funny, clear, with a kind message and a moral purpose characteristic of McCall Smith, this is also a celebration of the power of art.”
Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week
“The story of Hari and his unusual talent is a feel-good story of young kids chasing big dreams that shimmers with all of Alexander McCall Smith’s trademark optimism and joy—an outlook on life that makes him one of the world’s best-loved storytellers”
lovereading4kids
“Alexander McCall Smith is a great author to explore especially if you are a starting to read as a lot of his books are not too complicated. I think all his books are brilliant!”
Reader review, bisland.co.uk
Excerpt
This is the story of a boy who could dance. Lots of boys can dance, but there was something special about the way Hari danced. It was so special that it changed everything for Hari and for other people too. It was so special that when I heard about it, I decided that I should write the whole story down. And here it is – the story of Hari exactly as it happened.
This is the story of a boy who could dance. Lots of boys can dance, but there was something special about the way Hari danced. It was so special that it changed everything for Hari and for other people too. It was so special that when I heard about it, I decided that I should write the whole story down. And here it is – the story of Hari exactly as it happened.
