GANESHA GOES GREEN

A young Indian girl champions a green alternative to save the river from pollution.

Prema is looking forward to the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, where idols of the elephant-headed god are venerated and submerged in the river at the end of 10-day festivities. In recent years, painted plaster statues have begun to clog the river, polluting the water. Prema knows this only too well—her mother fell sick from chemicals in the paint. Inspiration strikes when Prema realizes that she can use river clay to create a Ganesh statue. She enlists the assistance of her friends, and slowly other children help her by sourcing natural elements to add to the biodegradable statues. When it comes time for the celebrations, most people still bring traditional plaster statues to the river, but Prema’s statues are the talk of the village—and Prema has high hopes for next year. Lively illustrations feature a range of brown-skinned characters; artist Dasgupta’s note mentions that she incorporated intricate local fabric patterns and geometric art designs known as kolam from Tamil Nadu, where the protagonist lives. Prema’s community is an inclusive one, with a child who uses a crutch and a Muslim child being depicted. The problem and solution feel too pat, however, with explanatory language breaking the flow of the story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Vibrant illustrations highlight the beauty of the region, elevating a lackluster story.