SHLOKAS

A small collection of short verses used in Hindu worship presented in both English and Sanskrit.

Each spread in this slim volume presents one Sanskrit shloka, or verse, with a phonetic transcription and an English translation. Each verse is dedicated to a particular deity and paired with a digital illustration, attributed to “Team Campfire.” The illustrations draw inspiration from Indian calendar art, a genre that has historically had impact on worship in public and private spaces, and will feel rather ordinary to those familiar with this mass-produced art form. Although the introductory text reads, “We hope this book proves invaluable in helping create an awareness among children of the spiritual legacy of Sanskrit texts,” it offers limited scaffolding for readers unfamiliar with Hinduism. The one-page survey of Indian scriptural traditions is thin, and the deities described are not contextualized. In addition, these verses are sacred and are believed to have psychological and spiritual powers only if pronounced perfectly. To mitigate this, there is an inadequate pronunciation guide and a QR code on the back cover that can be scanned to access an audio version of the book. For readers familiar with Hinduism and/or growing up in Hindu homes, this likely replicates many texts readily available in temple retail spaces or via community connections.

While a decent addition to any basic, multicultural, multifaith library, it is not outstanding in any way.