GANESHA'S GREAT RACE

Haynes and Patel retell the story of Ganesha and Kartikeya’s race around the world.

Divine siblings Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of beginnings, and Kartikeya, the god of war, find a mango that they are unable to share. Their parents, the god Shiva and the goddess Parvati, explain that because the family received the mango from the gods, it has magical properties. Notably, it can only be eaten by someone who wins it in a competition. Delighted, the athletic Kartikeya suggests that the two brothers compete by racing around the world. Ganesha, who is no physical match for his brother, tries to change his sibling’s mind. The tactic backfires: Shiva, overhearing the conversation, declares that the two boys should circle the Earth three times instead of just once. While Kartikeya eagerly jets into orbit, Ganesha decides to do what he does best and uses his brain instead of his body. Ganesha is sure he is going to lose until the last minute, when a revelation from the Vedas—Hinduism’s holy scriptures—gives him the solution he needs. This version of a popular Hindu tale is witty, clever, and entertaining, focusing on the story rather than the moral. Ganesha is an endearing hero, and laudably, the vibrant, quirky illustrations, full of geometric shapes and eye-catching patterns, include dark-skinned versions of the gods. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A charming interpretation of a Hindu myth.