Ganesha goes green

Gr 1--5--"Prema said, 'But I can't make a difference by myself.' Mani smiled. 'Maybe not…but together, we can.'" With this exchange, a young girl's dream to make a cherished holiday tradition more environmentally friendly changes her village and empowers young people to take a leading role in that change. Prema is excited to join with her community to celebrate the upcoming Ganesha Chaturthi festival honoring the "elephant-headed Hindu god of new beginnings." Part of the celebrations include placing statues of Ganesha in the river. Unfortunately, many of the statues used contain harmful chemicals and other materials that damage the river ecosystem. Prema's family has been directly impacted by the pollution and she wants to find an alternative. With youthful optimism and a can-do spirit, Prema creates an eco-friendly Ganesha statue, and other young people join her in reimagining how the holiday can be celebrated in a way that protects the river. Digital illustrations capture the setting and the energy of a young activist and her desire to create change. Particularly thought-provoking is the environmental component that challenges readers to examine their own holiday traditions and to look for ways to mitigate the environmental impact of those. Back matter includes information about the festival and instructions on how to make an earth-friendly statue. An illustrator's note indicates that Tamil Nadu, the location of the story, was captured in the fabric motifs and kolam art design. VERDICT A must-have for holiday collections.--John Scott

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. (information on Ganesh Chaturthi, instructions for creating sculpting dough and making a statue, author's note) (Picture book. 5-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.