From School Library Journal
Grade 2–4—Rich, colorful art plates by an acclaimed Gond tribal artist in India make this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's
The Little Mermaid unique. This is a fine volume with thought-provoking details. Done in letterpress on heavy stock, the text tells the familiar story of the conflicts of loving another and being true to oneself. The plot closely follows Andersen's, but unfortunately, his name is misspelled the one time he is credited on the back of the book. There is no author's note about the retelling and the original story.—
Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
About the Author
Bhajju Shyam, of the acclaimed The Night Life of Trees, is the finest living artist of the Gond tribe in India. Intricate and colourful, Bhajju's work is well-known throughout India and has been exhibited in the UK, Germany, Holland and Russia. From the walls of his tribal village home to international acclaim, Bhajju's has been an incredible creative journey. An exciting voice in contemporary Indian writing, Sirish Rao has authored over eighteen books, ranging from novels to children's books, re-tellings of myths to pop art collections. HIs books have won international awards and have been translated into several languages. His writing reflects his interest in nature, mountaineering, travel, eccentric people and the oddities of language. Gita Wolf has written more than seventeen books for children and adults. A highly original and creative voice in contemporary Indian publishing, she has pursued her interest in exploring and experimenting with the form of the book and its status as a revered cultural object. Many of her children's books have won major international awards.
