Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Xiaojun Li

Do you Bas Bleu? Bas Bleu is a wonderful mail-order catalog that offers well-chosen and erudite books and bookish items for the precise segment of the population that would appreciate these things (yes, you). I have met the owner, Eleanor, several times and she is a sharp, savvy woman who has turned a love of the literary into a prosperous company dedicated to sharing that love.

Enough plugging for Bas Bleu. Here’s why I mention them: this morning, I received a fax from their ordering department requesting the completion of a new vendor form and sales information for the book I edited and published earlier this year, Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll and Xiaojun Li. Not to mention the selling power this spunky little catalog generates, but just being chosen for inclusion in their holiday catalog is such an honor for me.

When I read Virginia’s manuscript, I knew I had to publish this book. It tells the true story of an Indian boy whose life is saved by the family dog, Selvakumar, during the 2004 tsunami disaster. When his father yells for his family to run, seven-year-old Dinakaran misunderstands and runs toward his house by the shore. Luckily, Selvakumar knows better and drags him out, forcing him to flee up the hill to safety. The book is accompanied by the most brilliant paintings by Xiaojun Li. And just to make the book even more compelling, we worked it out with the Give2Asia for a percentage of the proceeds from the book to be donated to the Tsunami Recovery Fund.

Bas Bleu’s inquiry was just a preliminary one, and we haven’t received the actual purchase order yet, but I do believe that baking brownies yesterday must have triggered a change of luck for my week. I’m crossing my fingers and waiting for the PO to arrive in October. And then, hopefully, Bas Bleu’s customers will think this book is as great as I think it is.


Selvakumar Knew Better by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Xiaojun Li

Tags: children's+books 2004+tsunami dogs Virginia+Kroll Xiaojun+Li