Mother Goose Goes to India

by Kabir Sehgal (Author) Wazza Pink (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

From New York Times bestselling authors Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal comes a charming and brightly illustrated spin on classic nursery rhymes that celebrates rich Indian culture and introduces Hindi vocabulary.

Mother Goose takes a trip to India in this unique collection of nursery rhymes with a distinctly Indian flair. This little sooar (pig) goes to the bazaar. Little Miss Muffet eats dahi (yogurt) until a makadee (spider) scares her away. Little Jack Horner eats Diwali sweets. Rhymes and characters that are familiar to young readers bring to life the beauty, wonder, and diversity of a vast and vibrant country in a way that is accessible and fun.

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Kirkus Reviews

A welcome addition that both subverts and pays tribute to Eurocentric nursery-rhyme tropes. (Picture book/poetry. 3-5).

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—Mother Goose gets a whole new look in this vibrant retelling of some of her most famous rhymes. Set in rural India, these childhood standards get a South Asian makeover, complete with new foods, characters, and locations, as well as some new rhymes. In "Jai Be Nimble," Jai is told to "be free" and jump over "the momabatee" or candle. Instead of three little piggies heading to market, readers will see three "sooar," or pigs, going to the bazaar. Colorful and energetic, the illustrations serve as an introduction to rural India, providing a unique view of some traditional art, architecture, and clothing. In order to include cultural references as well as maintain the essence of each story, near rhymes are used more often than in the originals. This, however, does not detract from the overall appeal, look, or message of the retellings. Pronunciation guides and descriptions of Hindi words are a useful bridge for some readers; it's a delight to see these cherished stories cast in a new light, one that is more global and inclusive. VERDICT A must-have for poetry collections, this will find multiple uses by educators and anyone seeking a new approach to these classic tales.—Louie Lauer

Kabir Sehgal
Kabir Sehgal started his class newspaper in second grade and has been writing ever since. A bestselling author of several books, he is also a jazz bassist and Grammy Award-winning producer. Kabir and his mother, Surishtha Sehgal, are a mother-son writing team whose books include Festival of Colors, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, and Seven Samosas and the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings, both illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong. He lives in Atlanta. To learn more about the Sehgals' books, visit Bucket.art.

Surishtha Sehgal was a university professor for many years and now enjoys reading to children during story time. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization that promotes social responsibility among students, and she serves on the boards of two universities and a national arts center. Surishtha and her son, Kabir Sehgal, are a mother-son writing team whose books include Festival of Colors, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, and Seven Samosas and the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings, both illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong. She lives in Atlanta. To learn more about the Sehgals' books, visit Bucket.art.

Jing Jing Tsong is a mom, musician, and surfer whose grown-up job is drawing pictures. Her technique, which layers color and texture, is influenced by her experiences working in traditional stone lithography and monoprints. She is the illustrator of Seven Samosas and the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings, both written by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, First Morning Sun by Aimee Reed, and Feathers and Hair, What Animals Wear by Jennifer Ward, among others. Jing Jing and her husband live on an island in Washington state. Visit her at JingJingTsong.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534439603
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Beach Lane Books
Publication date
January 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV055000 - Juvenile Fiction | Nursery Rhymes
JUV070000 - Juvenile Fiction | Poetry (see also Stories in Verse)
Library of Congress categories
Children's poetry
India
Nursery rhymes

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