THE CLOSET GHOSTS

Faced with the universal fear of finding a welcoming place, Anu must rid her new home of the ghosts that are in her closet, as well as find friendship with her new classmates. Comforted by the promise of help from Hanuman (an important figure in Hindu mythology), she ultimately realizes that she will have to find the solution herself. She settles on a plan that changes a scary place into one that is friendly and welcoming, and the ghosts can’t stand it anymore. Bhabha’s color-drenched paintings perfectly complement Krishnaswami’s tale that incorporates a contemporary setting with the tradition of the Hindu Monkey God. The ghosts (“with backward pointing feet”) are outlined in white, but wear brightly colored clothing over nearly transparent bodies, and Bhabha’s visualization of the Monkey God is perfect. A unique tale that is worthy of a wide audience. (Picture book. 4-7)