Monsoon

by Uma Krishnaswami, Jamel Akib (Illustrator)

Get out your umbrellas!

Children play, birds call, and grownups go about their business during the hot days of summer in northern India. But in the bustle of street and marketplace, everyone is watching, waiting for those magical clouds to bring their gift of rain to the land. Through the observations of one young girl, the scents and sounds, the dazzling colors, and the breathless anticipation of
a parched cityscape are vividly evoked during the final days before the welcome arrival of the monsoon.

Rhythmic prose and vivid chalk pastels flood the senses and take the reader on a tour of diverse urban India.

Genres: Picture Books, India, Asia, Fiction, Cultural, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2003

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl and her family wait for the monsoon to reach their city in northern India in this lovely picture-book from author Uma Krishnaswami and illustrator Jamel Akib. "All summer we have worn the scent of dust - gravelly, grainy, gritty dust - blowing on the winds and sprinkling through our clothes and hair" the girl narrator begins, going on to describe in rich and expressive detail the experiences of a hot Indian summer. The simmering tension that slowly builds, the simultaneous longing for the cool release of the coming rains, and fear of what those rains might bring, in the form of flooding and destruction, are all brilliantly captured, until finally, in a moment of stillness and then release, it comes!

Krishnaswami's poetic narrative in Monsoon is pitch-perfect, evoking that sense of expectancy that accompanies the advent of so dramatic a weather shift as a monsoon, and confirming my impression - gained from another of her picture-books, the immensely poignant Chachaji's Cup - that here is a children's author of great skill! The accompanying artwork by Jamel Akib is simply beautiful, and, with all of its hot red and yellow tones, transports the reader into the sweltering cityscape being depicted. All in all, this an immensely effective book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for children's stories set in India, or who has longed (like the narrator) for the coming of the rains.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from this children’s picture book. I’d always thought of monsoons as unwanted weather events, and yes, they can do damage and those affected do feel some fear about them, but without the rains they bring, the crops would fail and there would be no food, so they’re also anticipated and welcomed.

This especially beautifully written story is about a young girl and her family, who live in Northern India, in the time right before a monsoon season is expected. The story has a lot of suspense and shows close relationships in this rather modern family.

At the beginning of the book, there is a short glossary of Hindi words; in the back of the book there is a very informative author’s note about monsoons.

The superb illustrations perfectly capture many scenes of people, places, weather, and the commotion of life in this community. The colors used are extraordinarily vivid and wonderful. The illustrations are spectacular, and so full of things to look at in each picture.

The book is lovely, engaging, and educational.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an atmospheric book, full of expectancy and tenseness, as a young girl and her family await the coming of the monsoon rains to wash away the heat of the long summer. The descriptions and pictures of life in an city in India made me want to visit there. I also loved the illustrations, especially the beautifully expressive cover picture and the picture on the penultimate spread, where the young girl raises her hands in joy to welcome the rain. I got the sense that the monsoon rains are both very much appreciated and also feared, because too much rain results in floods and loss of life. The note at the end of the book explained that monsoons come at different times of the year and in different directions depending on what part of India and Southeast Asia you live in. Children's books are so informative! I highly recommend this one for its beautiful illustrations and unique subject. Pair it with Karen Hesse's Come On, Rain.

[Tegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about monsoons that I didn't know. A great book that teaches not only about monsoons, but about culture. VCFA faculty.

[Romelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for story
5 stars for its poetic language
A cultural story about a girl anticipating the arrival of the monsoon. Informative fiction with a short glossary list of Hindi words in the front of the book and a full page of back matter of information about the monsoon.

[Morgan Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The multicultural book, "Monsoon" by Uma Krishnaswami is a beautifully written story. The book takes place in Northern India where a young girl describes what it is like in her city/town to prepare for the monsoon. In her home area, they appreciate the monsoon and have a large respect for it. They know it will was the dust away and create water for crops and dry land.

I personally loved this book. It was so interesting to go on a journey with the character and to see what they see through wonderfully done illustrations. The book contains a lot of full bleed pictures, which I really like because it immerses you into the story and almost makes me feel like I am there! I definitely think I will read this book again in in the near future, maybe to my class when I become a teacher or to my children when I become a mother. I think it is important to expose children to other parts of the world.

[Kayla Yirdaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great addition for students learning about the Dust Bowl in the U.S. Students should be able to make direct comparisons between the impact of no rain in India and the dry land in the Midwestern states. Though across the world, the impacts of not having rain can be similar— mainly, crops are unable to grow without the rain. Students could then contrast the differences of rain received in the U.S. and monsoons in India.

The book includes a four-word glossary of Hindi terms at the front of the book. The illustrations are fitting for depicting an arid and dry land, in desperate need of rain. The author occasionally uses words that rhyme and conveys an anticipatory tone within the writing.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures of India and family life help tell this story about a little girl's excitement for the monsoon rains.

Ages: 5 - 9

Cleanliness: people throw a few coins to an idol in thanks.

#geography #asia #india

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and rhythmic storytelling in this picture book. While my daughter didn't find the topic of monsoons particularly interesting, I found this book to be very informative on the topic.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures of India were interesting to show my children and talk about differences between the US and there. But, the storyline was a little long and my 3 year old wandered off to find other interests.

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, lyrical storytelling as an Indian girl progresses through a week, waiting for the monsoon rains to arrive. The illustrations are truly a highlight of this book.

#passportaroundtheworld #india

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last sentence sums this up the best - the monsoon is loved and feared. And for those of us living in America this is something mostly unknown. A good introduction.

[Beth Huddleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely beautifully written in rhythmic prose.

[Chandni Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book really puts me in 'monsoon' mood! A nice mentor text for a first person narrative!

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I learned some new interesting facts. I also enjoyed the Jamel Akib illustrations.

[Adrian Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Global warming is a topic that I believe is necessary to consider while teaching the next generations. Sustainability, current environmental problems as well as future environmental predictions, and the relationship between nature and human should all be considered while teaching so that students may be familiar with these topics throughout their life. All cultures, all around the world are facing these issues and will continue to face these issues together. Monsoon is a beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of India's nature patterns. In many ways, the natural responses of India are similar to what happens in America, but there are different affects on the Indian culture. While the characters in the book are dressed similarly to children in America, the illustrations of the land are quite different. America has its environmental issues and natural disasters that have increased over the years and are predicted to increase, but our weather has always been on the milder side of things. India, on the other hand, has an economy that is highly reliant on certain crops, and these crops are suffering due to a major decrease in rainfall. India is also a poorer country than America. They are more self-reliant; therefore, the nature that directly affects them is more severe. The India-African Monsoon area has counted on large amounts of rain, and this change in climate is beginning to affect their communities. What is the long term affect? How is America partly responsible for this?

Activity:
How can you help be more sustainable as an individual?
1. Measure the amount of water that you use in a day. What amount of that water was wasted/not used? How can you change your daily activity so that the water is not wasted. Can it be saved or reused?
2. Measure the amount of wasted material that is thrown in the trash can (this material eventually goes to the land fills). Can the materials be recycled? Is there a way to get through the day without using that particular material? Can the material be replaced with something that is reusable?
3. Walk around your house and see what energy is currently being used. What energy can be shut off? What energy cannot be shut off? How can this be decreased?

Art activity:
Discover an item or a type of energy that you found wasteful from the above activity. Using the materials in the art room, create a product that will replace your trash, or wasteful energy source. Make a drawing or a diagram. Build the structure out of sculpture materials or clay. What areas of the world will this new product benefit directly?

Activity:
Have a discussion about the weather in America. Looking at a map, see if the students can figure out which areas of the North America continent may be similar to the climate in India. How are they similarly affected? How are they affected differently? What types of climate issues have we had in our area recently? (ex: Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Katrina, tornados and earthquakes along the east coast)

[Camille Tesch]

India ages 6-8

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monsoon is a book about a family in India, narrated by the daughter. The family and city prepare and wait for the Monsoon season to begin. The Monsoon is the season of rain in India. This book is a helpful resource for a Literacy teacher as there are lots of rhyming words throughout the text. The illustrations show life in India, the market, and a household as they prepare for the yearly rains. The book brings context to culture differences and can be used interactively to discuss seasons, lifestyles and families from different cultures. The author of this book also wrote Chachaji’s Cup and is a native born Indian. The illustrator Jamel Akib grew up in Malasia. The text is simple but informative about a family and city waiting for the Monsoon. The illustrations in this book are precious. The book demonstrates qualities about family and city life in India as they wait upon the celebration of the rains. The pictures are realistic and capture the spirit of India and the warmth of family.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written about India by Uma Krishnaswami for younger children. The people wait for the rain to come to their very dry city. The girl's mother worries about the floods, but a bigger worry would be if the rains never came at all. The details are specific. Lines like, "like a crocodile crouching snap-jawed" lend themselves to lessons on literary devices like similes and metaphors.

Categories:
Monsoons
Rain and rainfall
anticipation
worry

Author website:
http://www.umakrishnaswami.com/

[Ambika Sambasivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book written in first-person is a rarity and the style works well for this book. There is a palpable sense of growing excitement, tinged with anxiety, as the neighborhood waits for the monsoons. Having grown up in India, the atmosphere rings true. However, it is the artwork that must be given the lion's share of the praise. Beautifully textured scenes from a typical community in Northern India have carefully researched detail and a very authentic feel. A superb book to introduce young readers to the magic of the monsoon season!

[Alejandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book represents settings in India very well. The illustrations depict buildings and posters covered with language spoken in India. One thing I liked about the books is that it uses two or three words like Neem tree to describe the setting and the words are relevant to the culture in India.

The characters in this book aren't fully developed because the book focuses more on describing the atmosphere before a monsoon hits the main characters town. The main characters feelings and thoughts are well developed and she describes her surroundings in a detailed way.

[Somona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Jamel Akib
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Genre: Picture Book
Summary: Follows the daily activities of a girl in Northern India as she and the rest of the city await the coming of Monsoon season.
Response: I liked the illustrations, they were very vibrant. I think this would be a good book to introduce the relationship between climate and agriculture.
Theme/Concept/Connection: Monsoon, Climate

[Amanda Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place in India, where a young girl is waiting for the monsoon rains to come. The reader gets to see beautiful illustration from an Indian town and learn about the monsoon rains. This story could be used to integrate science, while talking about weather, or with social studies, while talking about Indian culture.

[Hannah Morrison]

Our 2nd grade did an author study on Krishnaswami and the students truly enjoyed her writing style and the accompanying illustrations. During and after reading this book, we were able to talk about weather and climate around the world, and why some people value rainfall and others complain about it. Students insight and knowledge really comes out when they hear a striking story.

[Kellee Hao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who remembers learning about Asian countries when they were younger? I don't, and most of my friends agree with me as well. I came across this book doing a text set for my classroom and found it really interesting. It brings me to an understanding that even though the economy and environment is desperate, the hopes of the people are still high, and together a lot of things can be accomplished.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monsoon is a story that tells us that do not experience this weather phenomenon, how the storm affects the lives and livelihood of the people. With rich, expressive illustrations and descriptive text, Jamel Akib and Uma Krishnamswami paint a picture that is hard to forget, yet easy to visualize.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this this summer during a week on Asia and honestly, I just don't remember that much about it. I forgot to review it at the time, and now here we are. I remember generally liking it, I think. I like the idea of a monsoon as not something to dread (which is what it sounds like to me), but something you actually want. Generally, it was a nice book.

[Elizabeth]

This story weaves teaching information about the monsoon with the primary narrative of the little girl narrator and her surrounding community waiting for the monsoon.

I appreciate the depiction of modern city life in India, with women wearing saris and cows in the streets and other more subtle indicators of India but not wholly Other for e.g. white USian/European readers.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations tell the story of a young girl waiting for the monsoon season to start in India. The author's note in the back gives a more detailed explanation of the storms, why and where they must occur.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that I can read this to my kids here in Arizona since we also have a monsoon season. They will love it! There is an "About the monsoon" section in the back, (that taught me a few new things I wasn't aware of) which is always a bonus for a book like this in the classroom!