THE GREATEST RIVER

A young Indian girl journeys to the river Ganga.

Ananda’s mother regales her with stories about how the river springs from a Himalayan glacier and is revered as a goddess. She tells her that the Ganga is “the greatest mother of all.” When Mamma falls ill, Ananda and her aunt travel to bathe in the Ganga’s healing waters and pray for her. As they enter the freezing river, light clay lamps, and chant Mamma’s favorite prayer, the weight of Ananda’s sadness is lifted away by a sense of hope. On a river boat ride, as she listens to devotional songs her mother often sang, she feels a connection with the ancient temples and ashrams. Walking along the sandy banks, Ananda asks the river goddess for permission to take a pebble—“a solid thing to hold on to.” As she collects holy water for her mother, she’s filled with a sense of calm. For this poignant tale, Moolani Mehra drew on her own experience of visiting the Ganga and of grappling with her mother’s illness. With metaphors about mothers woven throughout the narrative, the book offers thought-provoking musings on nature. Le’s fluid illustrations in blues, sunset pinks, and oranges mimic the flowing river, while the focus on Ananda’s point of view carves out a space for reflection.

A contemplative story on the healing power of nature.