Ganesha Goes Green
During her town’s Ganesha Chaturthi festival, young Prema comes up with an innovative plan to save the river from pollution. Persevering through multiple obstacles, she convinces her friends to help her create natural clay Ganesha statues to replace the plaster ones that harm the river when they dissolve. Created by an author and artist from different parts of India and set in modern-day India, this inclusive tale of activism, ingenuity, and sustainability is sure to inspire young readers. Endnotes include information about Ganesha Chaturthi, a recipe for homemade sculpting dough and instructions for making an earth-friendly statue.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Title!
You can find more information about the book and purchase it on the publisher’s website here, as well as from Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Barnes and Noble.
Navya Sings for Navarathri
A young Indian American girl named Navya is empowered to face her fears while celebrating Navarathri, the nine-night Hindu holiday honoring the divine feminine, with her female relatives in this picture book by Indian American creators Lakshmi Thamizhmani and Avani Dwivedi.
From visiting with family to golu hopping and more, Navya loves everything about Navarathri—except singing in front of a crowd. She’s too afraid. Will the support of her female relatives and the goddess Durga help Navya overcome her fear?
This empowering story of girlhood, Shakti, and the nine days of Navarathri is perfect for festival celebrations!
Back matter includes an author’s note, glossary, more information about the holiday, and a recipe for a chickpea snack.
“Emphatically recommended. Readers will fall in love with Nayva and her family.” – School Library Journal (starred review)
“A sweet and uplifting tale about an oft-overlooked Hindu holiday. A gently empowering tale of triumph.” – Kirkus Reviews
Lakshmi Thamizhmani 