(2) K-3 This small square book depicts animals of India screenprinted on textured paper. The diversity is both biological (tiger, deer, snake, etc.) and cultural, with the images coming from more than a dozen artists from different areas of India. Color choices for backgrounds complement the mostly two-color images of the animals, each given its own spread. Full art notes are appended.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) 4-6 This volume focuses on the tiger as it exists in the folktales and legends of central India's Gond tribe, whose villages were located along forests teeming with tigers--"a creature to be feared, revered, and appeased." Gond artist Uikey shares his own art and memories alongside traditional Gond tales about the tiger. Attractive, unique, and accessible; a welcome addition to folklore collections.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jagdish Chitara. An unusual fusion of the African American Brer Rabbit tales with Indian folk art. Told by performance poet Flowers using elements of Black Vernacular English, the stories are illustrated in striking black, white, and red in the Mata-Ni-Pachedi tradition of textile art from Gujarat. Includes a CD of music and film that, like the handsome book, may be of greatest interest to adult folklore enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Concept by Gita Wolf. This beautiful handmade book of folklore about the sun and moon highlights India's different Indigenous traditions. The silkscreen-printed illustrations by ten artists are striking, but without context, the accompanying text is obscure. Back matter includes two additional stories and a page explaining which tribe and region each spread represents. Despite the disjointed approach, the art helps this book stand out.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA With Mahalaxmi Das and Shantanu Das. In this large-format picture-book memoir, a Mithila artist from Bihar, India, pays tribute to his mother and the other women creators of the folk art that draws visitors to their town and that he and his disciples have adopted. A luxurious volume rich with Indian myth and Santosh Kumar Das's own creative history and illustrated with dramatic black ink art on thick recycled paper, bound by hand.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) 4-6 Translated by Carol Della Chiesa. Illustrated by Swarna Chitrakar. Edited by V. Geetha. Della Chiesa's excellent 1925 translation of Collodi's 1883 classic is trimmed to about half its original length for a well-paced version of the unruly marionette's adventures. This handsome Indian edition features traditional Patua scroll paintings; stylized compositions are made eloquent by energetic slashes of black line and a rich palette. A curious cross-cultural matching of art and iconic tale.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) YA Illustrated by Matthew Frame. This unusual book is set during the Sri Lankan civil war (1983–2009). An alienated orphan boy leaves the destroyed Small Village of Fat Hopes with his Kind Uncle Who Never Speaks. They enter Kettle Camp for refugees, run by imperious Aunty. Astute readers may be able to negotiate the satirical text, but most will find the elusive narrative challenging. Surrealistic red, yellow, and orange illustrations are powerful.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Subhash Amaliyar. The paper-over-board binding opens to reveal a large foldout picture depicting, in traditional Bhil style, a carnival celebrating the annual Bhagoria festival. The picture offers much to look at and for (and a pop-out human-powered Ferris wheel); a smaller inset book in the lower right quadrant offers a forgettable narrative captioning vignettes from the main illustration.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gangu Bai. With illustrations in the traditional Bhil dot–style and a text drawn from anecdotes from the illustrator, this picture book explains the economic and spiritual value of the forest to India's Bhil people. While the illustrations are attractive and well-set as vignettes on crisp white backgrounds, they aren't always well matched with the text, which is strong in detail but less effective as a whole.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(1) PS Illustrated by Sunita. After gulping down animal after animal, greedy Jackal bursts (he survives, as do his victims). It's a surefire tale made splendid by gorgeous illustrations and bookmaking. Meticulously, the art is silkscreened onto sturdy kraft paper and hand bound. The tactile effect of the flat silkscreen on the faintly mottled paper is a treat--a true work of art.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Joydeb Chitrakar. An accordion-style pictorial narration of the Flood unfolds to a nine-foot spread of Noah and his wife gathering creatures; the reverse side follows the Ark to its landing. Wolf's well-phrased account--an Indian version of the story common to many cultures--is generally straightforward, a fine complement to Chitrakar's striking art in the Bengal Patua style of scroll painting.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Bhajju Shyam. This tale of a child venturing outside his usual sphere is set among the forest-dwelling Gonds of central India. Musa's mother sends him to fetch firewood. He marches confidently into the forest--until a "crack!" and a "boooom!" ignite his fears. A simple, satisfying story, much enriched by its cultural grounding and handsome, energetic, boldly outlined art.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014