Mother Goose takes a trip to India in this unique collection of 15 classic European nursery rhymes with a distinctly Indian flair. This creative book introduces young readers to basic Hindi vocabulary by smoothly weaving in Hindi words. “This Little Piggy” becomes “This little sooar goes to the bazaar”, and Little Miss Muffet eats dahi (yogurt) instead of curds and whey. The artwork features bright, saturated jewel tones like turquoise, deep saffrons, and rich fuchsias. The characters are drawn with soft, round features and joyful expressions that appeal directly to toddlers and preschoolers. Each page spreads the action across the entire layout, drawing the child’s eye to small cultural details. Characters are dressed in beautifully detailed, authentic Indian attire like colorful saris, lehengas, and kurtas. Key scenes depict recognizable Indian settings, from bustling local bazaars to illuminated homes decorated with diyas (clay lamps) for Diwali. Traditional European animals are replaced with native Indian fauna, showing playful monkeys, decorated elephants, and local birds.
Title: Mother Goose Goes To India
Author: Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrator: Wazza Pink
Publisher: Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1534439603
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture book. Poetry
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Vietnam
Awards: NCTE Notable Book in Poetry
Subjects: Asia, Counting, Diversity, Hindi, Numbers, Nursery rhymes, Poetry, Rhymes
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