THE ELEPHANT-HEADED GOD AND OTHER HINDU TALES

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THE ELEPHANT-HEADED GOD AND OTHER HINDU TALES

Name: THE ELEPHANT-HEADED GOD AND OTHER HINDU TALES
Author: Debjani Chatterjee
ISBN: 0-19-508112-9

adapted by Debjani Chatterjee & illustrated by Margaret Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1993

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Twelve classical Indian tales, including an affectionate introduction to elephant-headed Ganesh, a wonderfully concise version of the Mahabharata, and the humbling of several proud heroes and demons by the gods. The demons here are particularly rambunctious: Bali conquers both Earth and Heaven; ten-headed Ravana steals Rama's wife; in ``Ashes to Ashes,'' Bhasmasura chases his master Shiva into a garbage dump. The combination of fresh humor and a text only lightly burdened with ritual behavior, morals, or long Indian names makes this a good gateway to both the great epics and the Jataka tales. Frequent ink drawings, with figures in traditional dress and stylized poses, add an exotic touch. A simultaneously published companion, The Adventures of Young Krishna by Diksha Dalal-Clayton, overlaps a bit but seems aimed at older readers. (Mythology/Folklore. 10-12)

Pub Date: April 1, 1993

ISBN: 0-19-508112-9

Page Count: 88

Publisher: Oxford Univ.

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1993

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
LET'S PLAY!
edited by Debjani Chatterjee ; Brian D'Arcy ; illustrated by Shirin Adl

- BOOK REVIEW
LET'S CELEBRATE!
edited by Debjani Chatterjee Brian D'Arcy & illustrated by Shirin Adl

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PAPER MAGIC

CREATING FANTASIES AND PERFORMING TRICKS WITH PAPER

by Ormond McGill & illustrated by Anne Canevari Green ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 1992

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Step-by-step directions for creating 12 paper projects and magic tricks. The projects include a shaggy tree, Jacob's ladder, a popper, a snowflake, and a whirligig; the directions given in the text and in the soft blue and black illustrations are fairly clear. For the magic tricks, McGill explains what materials are needed, ``what you appear to do,'' and ``what you really do,'' providing magician's patter as well as practice tips. The tricks include sleight of hand and tricky paper-cutting; some, like the ``number mindreader'' and the ``Chinese compass,'' may require much practice. Approachable format with a slick permabound cover, glossy interior pages, and excessively wide margins. An adequate choice for budding magicians. The ``further reading'' is too limited to be useful. Index. (Nonfiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 1992

ISBN: 1-56294-136-4

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Millbrook

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1992

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
VOICE MAGIC
by Ormond McGill & illustrated by Anne Canevari Green

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CACTUS

by Carol Lerner & edited by Carol Lerner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 14, 1992

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A clear, visually attractive introduction by the author of several fine nature titles. Carefully describing the special features that help the cacti survive dry environments (e.g., accordion-pleated skin that expands without splitting), Lerner makes a strong plea for conservation and notes that there is at least one species native to every state except Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Her illustrations are detailed and carefully drawn, though scale is not given; scientific names appear in the back. Useful and unusually well written. Glossary; limited index (omitting some species, e.g., night-blooming cereus, described at length in the text). (Nonfiction. 10-12)