Read out Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi (Author), Bethany Hegedus (Author), Evan Turk (Illustrator)
The book is presented in the account of the first-person about Mohandas Gandhi through the eyes of his then 12-year-old grandson. In the book, there is a depiction of a time when Arun, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi arrived at his ashram (Sevagram) in Delhi, where he used to live. The book tells the time when Gandhi’s family members greet their famous relative and start participating in the simple lifestyle of morning prayers, chores and pumpkin mush.
The book is presented in the account of the first-person about Mohandas Gandhi through the eyes of his then 12-year-old grandson. In the book, there is a depiction of a time when Arun, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi arrived at his ashram (Sevagram) in Delhi, where he used to live. The book tells the time when Gandhi’s family members greet their famous relative and start participating in the simple lifestyle of morning prayers, chores and pumpkin mush.
It is a challenge for the boy, who had a habit of living in the latest and the basic amenities like electricity; and was used to watch movies and fears of language lessons. The bottom line of the story takes its central point at the moment, when Arun got tripped and wounded at some stage while playing a soccer game. He picks up a rock and feels the weight of familial potential and opportunities. He then discovers various aspects of his grandfather and learns the surprising fact that Gandhi gets angry too. The his grandfather, who is better known as the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi lovingly explains that anger is like electricity: it “can strike, like lightning, and split a living tree in two…. Or it can be channeled, transformed….Then anger can illuminate. It can turn the darkness into light.” The book is rich in symbolic meaning and is valiant and is incorporated with easy-to-read imagery, contribute greatly to the emotional world binding. Especially, watercolor, gouache and cut paper play a major role in setting up of the scenes, while fabric clothes the primary players. Gandhi’s spinning wheel is a repeated pattern in the story which is in the scene signals Arun’s frustration.
This exceptional title has worked wonders by not burdening by its message, this extraordinary title works on manifold levels; it is both a prominent introduction to a singular symbol and forms a compelling story about the universal experience of a child who is in the hunt for approval of a venerated adult.
The illustrations used by Turk in the book have added much to the book. He has aptly used mixed media and offered oranges, purples, deep pinks and more that show the heat, not only of the type of weather but of Arun’s antagonism. Throughout the book, he has used fabrics for the clothing, giving three-dimensional depth to the paintings. When Arun’s emotions flames up in the story, the author has beautifully illustrated it with tangles of black thread that all bring readers back to the image of Gandhi spinning neat white thread. The contrast is delicate and reflective.
The book is a personal and noteworthy read. A must read book for the children of 5 to 8 years. Available at lelobooks, an online bookstore in India, offering attractive discounts on online book shopping from the store!
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