This week, we tried to make head or tail of a children’s book illustrated by Dahisar-based Sefi George. The book opens with the story of a tail, followed by one more on the second page, and then another; this book is about tails. Banku’s Terrific Tails (Niyogi Books), a compact 24-page illustrated title, introduces readers to 23 species, and the stories behind their tails through the eyes of Banku, a budding naturalist.
Banku swims with the Whale Shark, Pomfrets and a Hermit Crab. ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY/SEFI GEORGE, NIYOGI BOOKS 2025
In the fantastical story written by children’s author Rachna Chhabria, a restless Banku traverses farmlands, deep waters, treetops and snow-capped mountains in search of a tail that suits him. At least a few of these escapades are inspired by true stories — the illustrator’s. A naturalist at heart, Sefi spends most of her weekends perched on benches and rocks in Mumbai’s green oases. “I started nature journalling in 2016, when I was studying Anthropology at St Xavier’s College [Autonomous, Dhobi Talao]. The practice helped me study how animals behaved in their habitats, something that you can only observe outdoors,” she reveals. One of her earliest works is the Living With Leopards series, available at the souvenir shop at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli.
Sefi George sketches outdoors
Banku’s story comes to life with the crayon-style illustrations that make the animals seem approachable, sans the scientific jargon. Characters like the Whale Shark, Scorpion, and the Langur are all in on Banku’s plans, each lending him their tail for a test drive. We learn that the scorpion’s tail is a defence mechanism against predators, while the langur’s tail is an evolutionary adaptation to swing across treetops. We like that the first and last pages present a list of the featured species, encouraging readers to revisit the story to spot all of them.
Rachna Chhabria
Having sketched Mumbai’s common fauna over the years, Sefi leaves more than a few Easter eggs in each panel. The one dedicated to the furry dog, for instance, also hides the lesser-known Wagtail bird in the background. While Banku swims with the massive Whale Shark, readers can spot the Hermit Crab, or the Pomfret that is incidentally facing a population decline in Mumbai’s seas owing to overfishing (log on to knowyourfish.com to learn more about ethical seasonal consumption). “I don’t know if children will pick up on these city-centric nuances, but the book is not just for them. It’s also for the parents who will read it out to their children,” Sefi explains.
While Banku’s tales are a great starting point to get young enthusiasts talking about wildlife, it’s just the beginning of a slew of nature-inspired works for Sefi. Next in the pipeline is a booklet for the much-anticipated new Gorai Mangrove Park. “I have been visiting the mangroves in Airoli to study the fauna. The spot shares many common species with the upcoming park in Gorai. The illustration series will be ready soon,” she reveals. If we had a tail, we’d be wagging it right about now.
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