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    Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale
    Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale
    Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale
    Ebook32 pages39 minutes

    Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale

    By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Susy Pilgrim Waters

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Once upon a time, in a little village in India, there lived an old woman. Everyone in the village called her Grandma. One day, Grandma received a letter from her daughter, who lived on the other side of the jungle. "Please come and visit me," said the letter. "I haven't seen you in so long. I miss you."

    And so, Grandma begins a perilous journey to the far side of the jungle. Can she use her keen wit to escape the jungle animals and make it safely home?
    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's sharp, rhythmic retelling of this Bengali folktale is complimented perfectly by Susy Pilgrim Waters's brightly colored, captivating illustrations.
    Grandma and the Great Gourd is a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateMar 5, 2013
    ISBN9781466830226
    Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale
    Author

    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the author of sixteen books, including Oleander Girl, The Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, Palace of Illusions, One Amazing Thing, and Before We Visit the Goddess. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The New York Times, and has won, among other prizes, an American Book Award. Born in India, she currently lives in Texas and is the McDavid professor of Creative Writing at the University of Houston.

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    Reviews for Grandma and the Great Gourd

    4/5

    30 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      A Short and sweet story, kids will love it !!!
    • 3/5
      A variation on the Billy Goats Gruff, where Grandma tricks the animals into not eating her until after she fattens up at her daughter's house. A good read-aloud to share with ages 5 and up.
    • 4/5
      Entertaining folktale about a clever grandma who outwits several hungry, fierce beasties wanting to eat her. Lovely, lush illustrations.
    • 5/5
      Summary: This children's story is a folktale that takes place in India. In this story, a grandmother has two dogs and a garden and lives in the heart of the jungle. One day, the grandmother decides to go on a journey to visit her daughter-she leaves her dogs in charge and tells them to come to her if she calls. Along her journey, the grandmother comes in contact with a bear, fox, and tiger who all want to eat her. She convinces them to wait until her way home because she will not be as skinny and they agree. When she is fatter and ready to come back home-her daughter places her inside a giant soft gourd that will protect her from the animals trying to eat her. She tricks the tiger and bear but the fox discovers that she is inside the gourd. She then calls her dogs to scare off the fox and come to save her. She finally arrives home, safe and sound, with her dogs and her garden. Argument: This was my first time reading this book and I really enjoyed it. The illustrations and story depict another culture and a folktale of a different origin. I think children will not only find it interesting but educational. I think it is told in the same way as some of the nursery rhymes in the United States which makes it relatable to most children. It reminded me of the three little pigs because there were a repetition of animals that the grandmother encounters. I also like the use of onomatopoeia during the different sounds in the book. For example, on page 2 it says, "At times she could hear herds of elephants lumbering on forest paths, thup-thup-thup, or giant lizards slithering over the dry leaves, khash-khash". I also think that children will like the use of repetition in the story. Each time the grandma sees the animals she says the same thing creating a sense of unity within the book. I also think there is a main theme or message that can be seen throughout the book. I think the main message is that is it is not always a good idea to trick people to change your fate. The grandmother tricked these animals but if it wasn't for her dogs she would not be alive. It may have been safer to stay at her daughter's home. I also think that not traveling alone is another good message that should be taken away from this story. But most importantly, this book is a reminder of a culture and their folktales told through generations.
    • 4/5
      This beautifully illustrated story is a a retelling of a Bengali folktale. Grandma lives in a little village in India, and decides to leave her two loyal dogs behind and go visit her daughter, who lives on the other side of the jungle. She sets out alone, and uses her wits to survive encounters with a fox, a bear, and a tiger. She explains to these would-be prey that she is too thin for them, and if they wait till she comes home, she will be fatter and taste better. After a wonderful visit with her daughter, she decides she better go home in disguise, and hides in a giant gourd. The tiger and bear both give the gourd a push, but the fox is too smart, and breaks open the gourd. Grandma asks him to let her sing before he eats her, and she uses her song to call for her dogs. They scare away the fox, and they all live happily ever after.Evaluation: Children will love this rhythmic story and the colorful cut-out collage pictures by Susy Pilgrim Waters. The onomatopoetic Indian phrases for sounds (“khut-khut”, “daraam-daraam”, “kutur-kutur-kut”) make this a great candidate for reading aloud.

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    Grandma and the Great Gourd - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

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