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Padmini is Powerful
This primer introduces our readers to Hindu gods. Padmini is wise like Ganesh, she is generous like Lakshmi, and energetic like Parvati. Through Padmini, we will meet these Hindu gods, and learn that power has many forms.
-from the back of the book
-from the back of the book
9 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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February 11, 2017I liked the idea of this, but found the execution somewhat disappointing. Each two-page spread has a one-line summary of some positive elements of a Hindu god, but in each Padmini is mirroring a standard artistic depiction of said god, so unless you know the symbolism and can convey that to the child-reader, I'm not sure there's much to help them retain that Ganesh is wise, or Brahma creates, or whatever. I guess this book is aimed at Hindu parents, in which case that's less of an issue, but I still feel like it doesn't do a great job of helping kids learn about the Hindu gods.
November 5, 2017
I learned a lot about Hindu gods. My 3YO liked it too. Awesome to see a girl from a South Asian background as the protagonist!
February 4, 2021
I like it
May 12, 2021
Different deities and how she can be just like them.
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August 1, 2021Sadly no longer available
September 11, 2016
This boardbook is a solid 5 golden stars from me. Woo-hoo!
Hindu deities are complicated to explain and requires excessive abridgment to describe to young children. Books published in India are oftentimes long winded and difficult to read through with a squirming toddler, so I was waiting for a book that described them simplistically. Ms Joshi does a superb job condensing the important aspects of each god into a single sentence each, while addressing the universal message that the multiple gods is merely different iterations and personifications of godly characteristics.
The art is also pleasant and child-friendly, though some of the representations, such as Vishnu, felt a little lackluster. The female gods were well realized and I can't wait to have a daughter to share this with. My son enjoyed the book and actually brought it to my hands to read.
This is one of the first books (and the first boardbook) from the Bharat Babies publishing company, and I am really wanting more.
Hindu deities are complicated to explain and requires excessive abridgment to describe to young children. Books published in India are oftentimes long winded and difficult to read through with a squirming toddler, so I was waiting for a book that described them simplistically. Ms Joshi does a superb job condensing the important aspects of each god into a single sentence each, while addressing the universal message that the multiple gods is merely different iterations and personifications of godly characteristics.
The art is also pleasant and child-friendly, though some of the representations, such as Vishnu, felt a little lackluster. The female gods were well realized and I can't wait to have a daughter to share this with. My son enjoyed the book and actually brought it to my hands to read.
This is one of the first books (and the first boardbook) from the Bharat Babies publishing company, and I am really wanting more.
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May 14, 2016Here's the summary from the publisher: "This board book introduces our readers to Hindu gods. Padmini is wise like Ganesh, she is generous like Lakshmi, and energetic like Parvati. Through Padmini, we will meet these Hindu gods, and learn that power has many forms."
April 11, 2017
This is a fun twist on the usual color primer, animal primer, vehicle primer snoozefest—a Gods primer!
Each two-page spread introduces a different god and has one simple sentence showing that Padmini (our child character) shares a powerful attribute with that god.
But even though the words are sparse, that one single sentence introduces two very tricky demands on a child: the name of the god (likely unfamiliar) and an abstract attribute that makes that god powerful. What I mean by “abstract” is that it’s not that Ganesh is big or has an elephant’s head that is mentioned—it’s that he’s "wise.” The list of attributes the book uses are: “wise,” “creative,” “full of energy,” “generous and kind,” “can focus,” “creates,” and “can protect what she creates.”
The attributes are depicted in the illustrations, but subtly. For “wise,” Padmini holds a toothbrush (She’s smart about dental hygiene!) and Ganesh is meditating. Some of the pages do a better job. The spread for “generous and kind” is more clear: Padmini shares a milkshake with a chipmunk while the Goddess Lakshimi shares coins with the reader.
Despite these challenges, the brightly drawn Hindu gods are interesting to children in and of themselves, and that exposure is great. It’s fun to tact (label) the many different objects the gods are holding, and my sons are greatly amused to count how many arms and heads each god has. This kept their interest up from page to page. I’m also pleased to have a little girl depicted as “powerful” in a book they read.
Last but not least, there is a good sensory addition. The last page of the board book has a small mirror to bring the reader into the book.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids with autism that have South Asian themes: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/7-south...
Each two-page spread introduces a different god and has one simple sentence showing that Padmini (our child character) shares a powerful attribute with that god.
But even though the words are sparse, that one single sentence introduces two very tricky demands on a child: the name of the god (likely unfamiliar) and an abstract attribute that makes that god powerful. What I mean by “abstract” is that it’s not that Ganesh is big or has an elephant’s head that is mentioned—it’s that he’s "wise.” The list of attributes the book uses are: “wise,” “creative,” “full of energy,” “generous and kind,” “can focus,” “creates,” and “can protect what she creates.”
The attributes are depicted in the illustrations, but subtly. For “wise,” Padmini holds a toothbrush (She’s smart about dental hygiene!) and Ganesh is meditating. Some of the pages do a better job. The spread for “generous and kind” is more clear: Padmini shares a milkshake with a chipmunk while the Goddess Lakshimi shares coins with the reader.
Despite these challenges, the brightly drawn Hindu gods are interesting to children in and of themselves, and that exposure is great. It’s fun to tact (label) the many different objects the gods are holding, and my sons are greatly amused to count how many arms and heads each god has. This kept their interest up from page to page. I’m also pleased to have a little girl depicted as “powerful” in a book they read.
Last but not least, there is a good sensory addition. The last page of the board book has a small mirror to bring the reader into the book.
****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids with autism that have South Asian themes: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/7-south...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews