Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale
Roaring Brook Press, 2013
Agent: Sandra Dijkstra
Once upon a time, in a little village in India, there lived an old woman. Everyone in the village called her Grandma. One day, Grandma received a letter from her daughter, who lived on the other side of the jungle. "Please come and visit me," said the letter. "I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you."
And so, Grandma begins a perilous journey to the far side of the jungle. Can she use her keen wit to escape the jungle animals and make it safely home?
Chitra Divakaruni's sharp, rhythmic retelling of this Bengali folktale is complimented perfectly by Susy Pilgrim Waters's brightly colored, captivating illustrations.
Accolades:
2014 CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Reviews:
“Clever and crafty, this well-told tale will be a fun addition to most collections.”
—School Library Journal
“With its references to Indian design, architecture, and delicious food dishes, this retelling of a Bengali folktale will appeal to families of Indian descent. More than that, it should appeal to all children enamored of fairy tales and folktales centering on a hero’s peril-riddled journey through a forest… Colorful in more than one sense of the word.”
—Booklist