I AM A CREATOR

In Aggarwal’s illustrated children’s book, a mother explains to her son their connection to the universe.

Somewhere in a lush, palm-laden landscape, a woman in a sari, referred to as Maa, walks barefoot in the dewy grass with her son, Manu. She likens the dewdrops to the ocean, because the droplets can come together to create a much larger whole. That whole is already within the dew, she explains, just as the universe is within each person. Maa draws on humans’ connections to the Earth, moon, sun, and planets to explain how they’re conduits for the astronomical objects’ energies. For example, she notes, the moon’s tides ebb and flow with its fluctuating gravity, just as our emotions push and pull at us. When she and Manu return home, Maa uses the mango she’s slicing for his meal to explain that a seed learns from the moon the desire to see the sun and live in the earth: “Nature is like a big puzzle, where everything fits together. It’s what makes life possible. It’s like how pieces of a puzzle come together to create a beautiful picture.” Humans have all they need within themselves already, she asserts, and they’re connected to everything else. Maa teaches Manu a Sanskrit mantra to help him remember this whenever he feels like giving up. This message is one in which readers of all ages can find solace from loneliness or insecurity. Although Maa’s analogies may initially seem murky, Aggarwal beautifully explains each philosophical point through natural, understandable images that are easy to understand. An author’s note states that the ideas in this, her debut picture book, are rooted in Sanskrit mantras and Hindu traditions. Bagade’s sweeping, full-color illustrations are full of curves that emphasize the cyclical aspects of life and energy, from a rounded tree to abstract arcs that bend out from mangos.

A comforting, well-illustrated picture book that reaffirms the power of creation.