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Grandma and the Great Gourd

A Bengali Folktale
3.86 goodreads logo

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( 316 ratings, 71 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In a quaint Indian village, Grandma, an avid gardener, embarks on a daring journey through the jungle to visit her daughter. Along the way, she meets three hungry animalsβ€”a cunning fox, a formidable black bear, and a sleek tiger. Using her cleverness and wit, Grandma must outsmart these creatures to reach her destination safely. This charming tale, retold by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni with vibrant illustrations by Susy Pilgrim Waters, highlights themes of courage, cleverness, and love.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$1999

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for young children and families seeking engaging folktales that celebrate bravery and cultural heritage, as well as educators and librarians looking for enriching read-aloud stories with vibrant illustrations.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A vibrant and clever picture book by an acclaimed novelist about a grandmother who hides in a giant gourd to avoid danger.

A vibrant and clever picture book by an acclaimed novelist about a grandmother who hides in a giant gourd to avoid danger.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Once upon a time, in a little village in India, there lived an old woman whom everyone called Grandma. She loved gardening and had the best vegetable patch in the village. 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. Along the way, she encounters three very hungry animals: a sly fox, an intimidating black bear, and a sleek, striped tiger. Can Grandma use her sharp wit to escape the jungle animals and make it safely home? Award-winning novelist Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's first picture book for children speaks of courage, cleverness, and most importantly, love. Her words are perfectly complemented by the rich, vibrant illustrations of Susy Pilgrim Waters.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

"Colorful in more than one sense of the word." — Booklist

"This fresh new version will soon have young listeners and readers telling the story themselves." — Kirkus Reviews

"Clever and crafty, this well-told tale will be a fun addition to most collections." — School Library Journal

"Grandma's witty resourcefulness and the opportunity to compare cross-cultural story traditions make this a useful resource and a good readaloud." — Publishers Weekly

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250895288

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 December 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 4.0mm

Width: 232.0mm

Height: 232.0mm

Weight: 139g

Pages: 32

About the Author

Chitra Divakaruni's first book in the Brotherhood of the Conch series, The Conch Bearer, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, and a Booklist Editor's Choice. Her other work includes five highly praised novels for adults, two prize-winning short story collections, and two volumes of poetry. Among the awards she has received are the O. Henry Prize, two Pushcart Prizes and the American Book Award. Born in India, she currently lives in Texas where she teaches creative writing at the University of Houston and lives with her husband Murthy, her two sons Anand and Abhay. Susy Pilgrim Waters is an illustrator, designer and painter. She has created murals for the New York City Public Library as well as other large scale commissioned work. Originally from England, Susy lives in Boston with her husband, Keith, their dog, Tillie, two cats and two bunnies. They have two children. This is her first picture book.

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