Ted and Betsy Lewin,
Balarama: A Royal Elephant
Lee and Low, 2009.

Ages 6-11

In Balarama: A Royal Elephant, Caldecott Award winners Ted and Betsy Lewin travel twice to Mysore, India. They visit an elephant camp in the Karapur Forest, where they learn about royal elephants, one of whom, Drona, is the Ambari Elephant, the royal elephant who carries the statue of the goddess Chamundeshwari in a procession that marks the end of the Dasara Festival. After meeting the imposing Drona, the Lewins decide to return to India in the fall to see the festival for themselves.

Unfortunately, Drona is killed in a freak accident before their return, but the Lewins meet his successor, Balarama, who “may not have the aura of Drona,” their guide cautions. But Balarama does not disappoint. “He is very impressive. We back away in awe…We think Balarama has plenty of aura.” They watch the mahouts prepare their elephants for the procession, painting their bodies and dressing them in dazzling silks and satins. They observe the careful way the goddess and her palanquin are lowered onto Balarama’s back, and they are “bursting with pride” as he performs magnificently in the ceremonies.

Young readers will learn much about elephants and the mahouts who care for them from this charming story and its fabulous illustrations. Interspersed with Ted Lewin’s full-page paintings of the forest, the animals, and the glorious spectacle of the Dasara procession are Betsy Lewin’s delightful colored cartoons of children playing with baby elephants, Drona tipping a truck over (and eating “all but one case of the bananas” it carried), and the Lewins’ visit to Drona’s pink marble grave.

An introduction to Mysore and the royal elephants explains the cruel way they were captured in the past and the traditional role of mahouts. Following the story are a page of “elephant facts,” including a comparison of African and Indian elephants; a brief biography of several recent Ambari elephants; and a glossary and pronunciation guide. It’s easy to imagine Balarama inspiring children to make their own pilgrimages to India for Dasara in years to come!

Charlotte Richardson
October 2009