How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head

by Harish Johari, Vatsala Sperling

The magical story of how Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, was brought back to life with the head of an elephant

The story of one of the most beloved characters in Indian lore, made accessible for Western children Illustrated throughout with paintings from the classic Indian tradition

Any Indian child can tell you how the beloved god Ganesh got his elephant's head--now American children can know as well.

For centuries Indian children have grown up hearing Ganesh's story--how his mother, Parvati (an incarnation of the great mother goddess), created a small boy from sandalwood soap and commanded that he guard the palace against all intruders while she took her bath. How her husband, Shiva (the fearsome god of destruction), didn't take kindly to being barred from his own home. How Shiva beheaded the boy during the cosmic war that followed, but then, when he realized that the balance of the entire universe was at stake, brought the boy back to life by grafting an elephant's head onto his body and made him the people's intercessor against the powers of destruction.

Ganesh's timeless story teaches children about the steadfast power of dedication to duty, the awe-inspiring power of a mother's love for her child, and the gentle power of compassion, which holds the world together. Accompanied by rich, color illustrations prepared according to the traditional Hindu canon, How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head will transport children to a magical world filled with ancient wisdom.

Genres: India, Childrens, Picture Books, Mythology, Religion, Hinduism

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2003

Reviews

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like it. But there were two many Characters.

[StrictlySequential ArtNarrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is wonderfully drawn and written but doesn't explain how he goes from having two arms to four when it happens within the art! The many other things I wanted explained could not have been in this short format but that one is inexcusable!

[Abdulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book invites children to retell the cosmic battle through comic panels, to redesign Ganesh with their symbols and meanings and to explore values like kindness and courage through the power of visual storytelling.

[Phillias · Rating 5 out of 5]

spectacular

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good illustrations. Beautiful Indian religious folklore. Such an honor to have such a devout son.

[Luci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have enjoyed the Ganesha Ganesh poem in Dragons Dragons for years. Was glad to read the Ganesh story!

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite for the four children's elephant books that I have read today.

[Madison Tumas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for older students when it comes to studying varying religions in the classroom. I love Indian lore and find this really fun to read.

[Maya Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great pre or post book for "Ganesha's Sweet Tooth". The ancient myth provides the reason to frequently asked question the Hindu religion is how did the great get a elephant head. The great god of success has a fat little boy's body with a elephant head. The story provides children to consider and question what the story is saying. The language is appropriate for children to understand and also provides new vocabulary to learn about the religion. This story provides a rich, thick plot with a resolution at the end. It also teaches the lesson on obeying your mother and father at all cost. The illustrations are bold and beautiful at all age groups would enjoy. Also in the book, children will learn about the other gods and what kind of gods there are in the religion in the book. It provides a foundation for young children apart of the children. Harish Johari does a great job of retelling a story that was to told to him to young children of the same faith.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful both in the story and the illustrations. I used this when I was making a collection of religious books for a class project, and this was my favorite one out of all the books I collected. It is a wonderful tale about how the God of removing obstacles, Ganesh, got the elephant head that he is known for. It can be a little confusing because there are a lot of characters, but there is an appendix to show you which God is which and what they represent. Even if you are not a part of or even familiar with the Hindu faith, this is a wonderful book for children to read. If you take out the religious messages of things like duty and compassion to your faith, the underlying message is really to help others and have love for the world we live in.

[Rachel Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled when I came across this book in the religion section of the children's area at my local library. I'm always looking for new books to help me teach my kids about various myths/religions, and it's pretty rare that I come across books that discuss the Hindu deities...and I *love* the Hindu deities.

This book does a wonderful job of introducing kids to the Hindu gods and goddesses, not just Ganesh. The writing is charming, funny and excellent for dramatic readalouds. The illustrations are lovely and stay true to traditional depictions of the deities that I've seen elsewhere.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The LOC description explains that this book is "about the adventure of Ganesh, the Hindu god of prosperity, and how he became the gods' gift to humanity." Additionally, there is a page inside the front of the book that explains the story of the Indian god Ganesh. Following the story is a note for parents and teachers that explains how to make the message of Ganesh relevant to today. Finally there is a long description of how the illustrations were created. This is a quite beautiful book!

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was a religious book, but it does a great job of depicting the Hindu faith. This book is a tale of how the God of removing obstacles, Ganesh, got the elephant head that he is known for. Could be used when talking about helping others and loving the world.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story on how Ganesh got his elephant head. If you didn't know you should read it. Siva is not a good example of a father but you know...gods.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating tale from the Hindu religion that explains how Ganesh got his head. The narrative is entertaining for children and the illustrations are terrific.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Shiva! Ganesh gonna be play on' tricks! Classic retelling of the creation of perhaps the coolest of all Hindu gods. The accompanying art is breathtaking.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing was meh but the book gets four stars for its excellent illustrations. My three year old grandson, whom I can barely get to look at a book, was thoroughly enthralled with this one.