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KATHA SAGAR, OCEAN OF STORIES

Name: KATHA SAGAR, OCEAN OF STORIES
Author: Sarah Conover
ISBN: 978-1-55896-776-2

HINDU WISDOM FOR EVERY AGE

by Sarah Conover with Abhi Janamanchi ; illustrated by Shanthi Chandrasekar ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2016

The co-authors struggle with only limited success to bring a variety of memorable stories of Hindu mythology together into...

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Lakshmi, a pauranika (trained storyteller versed in the ancient Hindu epics), lives in a village in southern India and narrates legends and folk tales from various Hindu epics to its children.

Text boxes tinged with gray describe Lakshmi’s contemporary daily life. Interspersed on white-backgrounded pages are the stories she tells: authentic adaptions of well-known tales from Hindu mythology depicting the values, traditions, and culture of ancient India. These include a lively variety of gods and asuras (demons), fearless warriors, wise sages, arrogant kings, and clever children. Although the connections from story to story are bumpy, resulting in a fragmented feel, Lakshmi passes on life values, moral messages, and spiritual instruction as she recounts the drama of various incarnations of the gods and the constant fight of good against evil. A few full-page color illustrations authentically depict the dark-skinned heroes and villains of these stories, and a small, color illustration brightens the start of every new chapter. Some unfamiliar aspects of Hindu culture and society, such as the caste system that found Dalits at the bottom, and churning yogurt into butter by hand, are briefly explained. However, while some stories have distinct, easy-to-comprehend morals, others rely on an understanding of the concepts and philosophy of Hinduism that may be beyond a child audience.

The co-authors struggle with only limited success to bring a variety of memorable stories of Hindu mythology together into one cohesive tale. (authors’ note, story notes and sources, glossary) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-55896-776-2

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Skinner House

Review Posted Online: Nov. 1, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2016

Categories:

CURRENT EVENTS & SOCIAL ISSUES | PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION | GENERAL CURRENT EVENTS & SOCIAL ISSUES

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THE GLASS MOUNTAIN

26 ANCIENT POLISH FOLK-TALES AND FABLES

adapted by W.S. Kuniczak & illustrated by Pat Bargielski ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1992

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A hearty collection of Polish and Ruthenian tales recalled from Kuniczak's youth, featuring plucky peasant lads, imprisoned princesses, cruel squires, ghosts, hidden treasures, sorcerers, and plenty of demons. Jauntily told, the stories combine quick action and familiar motifs (magic shoes, tasks, journeys) with clever twists (a ``Changeling'' helps a needy family by capturing Gnawing Poverty and knocking out its teeth). Kuniczak mentions ``the marvelous geography of the fantastic,'' but there's little sense of a particular culture here, and most places and people are unnamed. Sex roles are drearily traditional (all the independent women are old witches) and, despite many happily-ever-afters, the last story—a malicious gossip teaches a devil how to ruin a marriage—ends the collection on a sour note. Still, lively and readable. Illustrated with a few mannered pen drawings. (Folklore. 11-13)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1992

ISBN: 0-7818-0087-0

Page Count: 153

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1992

Categories:

GENERAL CURRENT EVENTS & SOCIAL ISSUES | CURRENT EVENTS & SOCIAL ISSUES

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LUCRETIA MOTT

A GUIDING LIGHT

by Jennifer Bryant ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 1995

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Mott may be best known as one of the founders of the women's movement, but she really spent most of her life fighting for the abolition of slavery. This serviceable biography puts her work in the context of her personal life and the politics of the era in which she lived. Bryant (Marjory Stoneman Douglas, 1992, etc.) makes clear to readers the connection between Mott's later work and her upbringing in a strong Quaker community on Nantucket, where the belief that all people were equal was put to practical use: The men were so often away at sea that the island's affairs were largely left up to the women. As a result, Mott received a good education at a time when most girls only learned their letters and numbers. Bryant ably limns the dilemma for a person who believes in equality but risks economic and social distress to live by that belief. She also provides a picture of 19th-century attitudes, politics, and lifestyles. Useful. (b&w photos, not seen, bibliography) (Biography. 10-14)