Electric Birds of Pothakudi

Selected for USBBY's Outstanding International Books List, 2026!

Inspired by a true story about a family of birds nesting in a village's streetlamp, this poetic picture book is a moving exploration of community, solidarity, ecology, and the preservation of wildlife

Karuppu Raja dearly loves his small village of Pothakudi. He takes great pride in being responsible for its only source of light, switching the circuit breaker on every night to power the streetlamps. But one evening, he discovers a bird's nest buried deep inside the box. He's faced with a terrible dilemma: to turn the switch on and destroy the nest or to leave the village in darkness until the fledgelings are born.