| Rating:
*** 3 stars
Anita Ganeri, author and illustrator,
The Divali Story Big Book.
Evans, 2002.
A big book of this wonderful story is welcome especially
as it has an excellent text. The illustrations are
a little disappointing as the characters all look
the same — with the exception of a picture of
Ravana disguised as an old man. The artist's decision
to make Rama blue, in the style of religious representations
of Hindu gods, may provide opportunities for discussion,
but is this necessary when there is already such a
wealth of material to explore in the story? Still,
this is worth having for Year 3 upwards I think. There
are useful paragraphs on celebrating Divali and the
Ramayana at the end, along with a recipe for coconut
barfi, an Indian sweet.
Urmi Chana
Guide to the rating system:
***** 5 stars, unmissable
**** 4 stars, very good
*** 3 stars, good
** 2 stars, fair
* 1 star, poor |
sign up for our 
