A lighthearted, beautifully illustrated lesson on appreciating multiplicity through a Hindu lens.
Hindu deities argue over who has the best beast transport in this children’s picture book.
In Hindu mythology, the term vaahana, usually translated as mount or vehicle,refers to the animals that carry deities around. As explained in rhyming verse, eight divine children gather to play but then start debating the merits of their vaahana, each claiming theirs is the best. For example, Vishnu praises his eagle vaahana for its speed and strength, while Sariswati’s swan is said to be “the most perfect mix / Of beauty, brains, and brawn.” After a lengthy argument, the deities hear laughter nearby, which turns out to be the sound of their vaahana playing happily together; as far as they’re concerned, their differences don’t matter. The deities, “humbled and impressed,” decide to carry their vaahana home that day. In his third picture book,Jatkar entertainingly introduces elements of Hindu mythology, providing helpful character lists with pronunciations. Although the verses doesn’t always scan well due to inconsistent meters, the text vigorously conveys the mounts’ qualities. Durga’s lion, for example, “can crush many a bone / In his magnificent jaws!” The author’s collagelike, full-color images depict richly patterned characters that are all the more vibrant against the pages’ simple backgrounds.
A lighthearted, beautifully illustrated lesson on appreciating multiplicity through a Hindu lens.Pub Date: July 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-9977181-3-3
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Monkeymantra
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land.
A magical intergenerational story of gifts and cultural rituals shared between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
A Tlingit grandmother takes her young granddaughter to a nearby island for a berry-picking adventure in the forest. To alert the forest bear and the various types of berries that glow “like little jewels” of their presence, the pair sing a harvest song: “Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Soapberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.” Grandma teaches the girl that “we speak to the land…as the land speaks to us,” and “we sing too, so the land knows we are grateful.” As they gather berries in the misty rain, they listen to the sounds of insect wings, inhale the sweet scent of cedar, and feel the soft moss on tree branches. Back at home, “the kitchen glows like a summer sky” as the girl, her grandmother, her father, and her younger sister make syrup, marmalade, jelly, jam, pie, and scones to share. When winter comes, the forest is described as “dreaming, waiting for berry song.” Seasons change, marking the passage of time and leading to a bittersweet, full-circle ending. This beautifully written story by Caldecott medalist/debut author Goade features breathtaking, atmospheric artwork inspired by the wild landscape of her hometown, Sheet’ká, Alaska, and incorporates rich symbolism and imagery from Tlingit culture. A closing author’s note elucidates sacred Tlingit principles mentioned in the story, and dazzling endpapers identify different berry varieties. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A touching story of familial love and of respect and gratitude for the bounty of the land. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 14, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-49417-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
Those who think they've seen everything in the ubiquitous color concept-book genre haven't seen Cabrera's debut, an irresistible take on the subject. An orange-and-black kitten takes children on a trip through his world and invites them to discover his favorite color. In a series of involving spreads, the kitten explores the world and introduces both concepts and colors. Each time the kitten asks if a particular color is it, viewers are treated to a boldly gestural, accomplished oil painting in green, pink, black (``the night when bats swoop and soar''), red, yellow, purple (``the yarn I tangle in my claws''), brown, blue, white (``the clouds floating in the sky''), or orange. ``Is it orange? Yes! . . . the color of my mother.'' The art is childlike and comforting, with broad, visible strokes of the brush. Impish and informational. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: May 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-8037-2090-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1997
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