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. Winner of the 2023 Prix Felipé for Ecological Children’s Literature.

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.