Mother Goose Goes to India

by Kabir Sehgal, Surishtha Sehgal, Wazza Pink (Illustrator)

Overview

An NCTE Notable Book in Poetry

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534439603
Publisher:	Beach Lane Books
Publication date:	01/04/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	324,027
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 8 Years

About the Author

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.

Wazza Pink lives in Ha Noi, Vietnam. She’s loved to read comics and picture books ever since she was a kid, and learned to draw by mimicking the styles of her favorite comic book artists. She kept practicing and learning through books, the internet, and her artist friends. Wazza likes to listen to music while working. It helps her focus, and some tunes really inspire great ideas for her art pieces. She love cats and has two kitties at home. She believes that having a pet is truly a way to perfect your life.

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/27/2022

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

School Library Journal

2021-11-16
The matriarch of European nursery rhymes heads south.

This distinctive new collection imagines what 15 classic European lullabies and sung poems for children would sound like set in India. Here, “London Bridge” becomes “Tunga Bridge,” in reference to an old bridge in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka. “My Fair Lady” is now “My Fair Mahila,” the Hindi word for woman, and so on. Mother Goose is pictured on the cover playing a shehnai (Indian oboe). Although some of the updated verses feel a bit flat, the rhymes are fun to chant and introduce young children to basic Hindi, since each verse includes at least one word in the language. Readers will learn how to count from one to 10 in Hindi in “Ek, Do, Time To Go,” the Indian rendition of “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.” Pink’s memorable and colorful digital illustrations pay homage to Indian folk art and time-honored motifs—buildings with Mogul-style architecture are depicted, and characters wear traditional Indian clothing. The artwork also captures the sights and sounds of modern India, showing the country’s emblematic decorated trucks driving along modern-day highways. Glossaries conveniently placed at the bottom of each page provide definitions and pronunciations for the Hindi words included in each poem.

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

Kirkus Reviews