Visit The Bhil Carnival - Hardcover

Wolf, Gita

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9383145110 ISBN 13: 9789383145119

Publisher: Tara Books, 2015

Synopsis

Each year, people of the Bhil tribe from Madhya Pradesh in central India celebrate a wonderful carnival called Bhagoria. Subhash Amaliyar, Bhil artist, paints the carnival in his traditional style. Collaborating with him are writer Gita Wolf, and designers Catriona Maciver and Oliver Mayes – who turn his joyous rendering of celebration into an interactive children’s book.

About this title

About the Author:

Gita Wolf was born in Calcutta but educated in different cities in India, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. She received her Masters degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Erlangen/Nuerenberg, Germany. In 1994, she started Tara Books, as an independent publishing house based in India. Beginning with The Very Hungry Lion in 1995, she has written over 20 books for children and adults. Several have won major international awards and been translated into multiple languages. One of her latest books – Do! – was honored with the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi New Horizons award. Subhash Amaliyar is an artist from the "Bhil" tribe of India. He paints in his traditional style and lives and works in Bhopal, Central India. Catriona Maciver lives in Chennai, India, and Oliver Mayes lives in London.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 1–5—In this interactive story, Neela and his younger sister Peela join hands as they make their way to the Bhagoria Fair, a yearly event celebrated by the Bhil people of Central India. On the first spread, readers follow the siblings and their dog along a narrow red path that transforms into the string of a balloon and an invitation to enter the carnival. The second spread, which unfolds to an illustration several times the size of the book, is where the fair takes place. An endnote comments that Amaliyar, a native of Central India, paints in the "typically joyous, colorful style" of the Bhil people. Here, elongated, stylized folk-art figures and creatures in yellows, purples, and reds featuring dots of various colors, enjoy activities from the balloon, ice cream, and photo stands to dancing. A pop-up opens to reveal a Ferris Wheel. Text on the page is limited to signage ("Snake Tree," "Shops," etc.), but attached to a corner of the spread is a small book of "Stories" detailing the children's adventures (though mainly serving the illustration). Readers will encounter a few Briticisms, learn about some tasty treats, and eagerly enter into the spirit of this carnival. This book could be used as a writing prompt by asking children to choose a few characters at various activities and write a scene or two about them. VERDICT There's much here to explore, and fans of books such as "Where's Waldo" (Candlewick) are likely to be fascinated.—Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Tara Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 9383145110
• ISBN 13: 9789383145119
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Amaliyar Subhash