Shelf Awareness--Namaste Is a Greeting

PB Review: Namaste Is a Greeting

Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam, illus. by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, 32p., ages 4-8, 9781536217834)

In this charming, sparely worded picture book, Namaste Is a Greeting, a child shares possible definitions--and associated kindnesses--of the word "namaste."

The big-hearted, bindi-wearing narrator informs readers that "namaste is a greeting" as they lift hands to forehead in acknowledgement of their elderly neighbor and the new day. The brown-skinned child, dressed in a sunshine-yellow dress, acts upon other meanings of namaste--"A smile. A friendship. A celebration"--as they leave home and engage with their vibrant neighborhood. Namaste is a bow to a juice vender, an acknowledgment of a yoga practice, enjoyment in a moment of silence, an understanding that "namaste is loving the world." But namaste is more. Namaste also "calms your heart when things aren't going right," serves as "a path when the road is unclear" and can be offered as a way "to heal and comfort." Because, above all, as this loving child explains, "Namaste is the divine in me honoring the divine in you."

Debut author Suma Subramaniam has penned a lyrical narrative that thoughtfully explores the impact of a series of respectful and earnest interpretations of namaste. Sandhya Prabhat (I Am Brown) guides the plot with her brilliantly colorful digital illustrations, which showcase the caring acts the child performs. Namaste Is a Greeting poetically shows how small actions can spread comfort and goodwill throughout a neighborhood--and perhaps even the world. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

December's Book of the Month--Poo-Dunnit?

December’s Book of the Month is really funny—and you just might learn something from it. POO-DUNNIT? A FOREST FLOOR MYSTERY, is written by Katelyn Aronson and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis.

When “once upon a forest floor, a snout poke[s] out a burrow door,” it’s Mouse, who finds a pile of poo sitting there. With a “sniff, sniff!” and a “whiff, whiff!” the investigation begins, because of course Mouse wants to know “Poo-dunit?” First on the suspect list is Squirrel, who says the poo is too big, then Skunk, who says it’s too thick, then Porcupine, who says it’s too long, then, well, you get the idea. None of the animals fesses up. But this big, thick, long, un-pointy, dark, messy poo must belong to someone!

The extremely entertaining story, fabulous to read aloud, is told in bouncy, clever rhyme, punctuated by Mouse calling out the progressively larger animals in an attempt to solve the mystery. Lively digital illustrations are expressive and comical. But the genius of this book is that there really is a non-fiction element to all the fun—it’s a beginner’s guide to scat! Back matter includes a guessing game and a brief introduction, while end papers use animal tracks to reinforce who poops what.

POO-DUNNIT? A FOREST FLOOR MYSTERY will surely delight kids of all ages. C’mon, who can resist a funny, rhyming book about poo? Not me!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Storyteller's Handbook

PB Review: The Storyteller's Handbook

The Storyteller's Handbook by Elise Hurst (Compendium, 128p., ages 4-up, 9781970147766)

Elise Hurst's The Storyteller's Handbook is a marvelous volume of intricately rendered illustrations expressly intended to serve as doorways to creativity. In a foreword, Neil Gaiman sets the stage with a welcoming tale of his own--a story about stories. Hurst then issues an invitation to readers to "fire your imagination," with her art offering "fragments--pieces of story, intriguing characters and animals, strange lands, and mythical beings." More than 100 pages of Hurst's detailed and fanciful art include outlandish structures, never-before-seen flora, "emotions," "possibilities, and many things out of place and out of time." Hurst intersperses her scenes with statements meant to encourage dreaming, storytelling and creativity. It's a splendid compendium with "no rules and no set stories... but so many peculiar ingredients waiting" within! --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.