Synopses & Reviews
Mahatma Gandhiand#8217;s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light in this uniquely personal and vibrantly illustrated tale that carries a message of peace.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;How could heand#8212;a Gandhiand#8212;be so easy to anger?andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;One thick, hot day, Arun Gandhi travels with his family to Grandfather Gandhiand#8217;s village.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Silence fills the airand#8212;but peace feels far away for young Arun. When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, his anger fills him in a way that surely a true Gandhi could never imagine. Can Arun ever live up to the Mahatma? Will he ever make his grandfather proud?andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;In this remarkable personal story, Arun Gandhi, with Bethany Hegedus, weaves a stunning portrait of the extraordinary man who taught him to live his life as light. Evan Turk brings the text to breathtaking life with his unique three-dimensional collage paintings.andlt;Iandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"Collaborating with first-time picture-book author Hegedus, Arun Gandhi recalls his own childhood experiences, relating the stories in an immediate first-person voice. Working in mixed media, with pieces of fabric clothing and hand-cut, hand-painted figures, Turk mixes carefully detailed renderings with abstracted expressions of emotional struggle, achieving a powerful balance. A personal portrait of a legendary figure."
Review
andlt;bandgt;*andlt;/bandgt; "More than 10 years in the writing, this true story by Gandhiand#8217;s grandson and Hegedus (andlt;Iandgt;Truth with a Capital Tandlt;/Iandgt;) gives a personal window inside the peacemakerand#8217;s teachingsand#8230;. Turkand#8217;s illustrations are stylized, strikingly patterned, and rendered in contrasting purples and golds, blues and creams, blacks and whites, highlighting the tension between anger and peace. Dynamic visuals and storytelling create a rousing family story that speaks to a broad audience.and#8221;
Review
andlt;Bandgt;* andlt;/Bandgt;"This first-person account presents Mohandas Gandhi through the eyes of his thenand#8211;12-year-old grandson.... Turkand#8217;s complex collages, rich in symbolic meaning and bold, expressive imagery, contribute greatly to the emotional worldbuilding.... Never burdened by its message, this exceptional title works on multiple levels; it is both a striking introduction to a singular icon and a compelling story about the universal experience of a child seeking approval from a revered adult."
Review
"Mahatma Gandhi, as seen through the eyes of one his grandsons, is depicted in this picture-book biography as a loving grandfather and a revered figure...an ode to a great man by an adoring grandson...memories of Gandhi himself are sharp and specific, lending an air of intimacy. The accompanying artwork is stunning, the use of mixed media collage is effective and beautiful, with varying perspectives and intriguing materials on display on every page. With so many biographies about Gandhi published recently, this one stands out for its unique point of view and gorgeous art, and makes a fine supplement to any collection."
Review
"Unusual for its child-centered and intimate portrait of Gandhi (we learn, for example, that he smelled like peanut oil), the graceful narrative is nearly outdone by the vivid mixed-media illustrations, rendered in watercolor, paper collage, cotton fabric, cotton, yarn, gouache, pencil, tea, and tinfoil. The cotton yarn, handspun on an Indian book charkha, gives the pictures such a three-dimensional look that one feels as though it could be plucked right off Gandhiand#8217;s spinning wheel. But itand#8217;s more than just an attractive effectand#8212;the yarn becomes a visual metaphor for anger channeled into light."
Review
"The grandson of Mahatma Gandhi tells this true tale of how he learned to use his anger to work for him rather than letting it take control of him. . . . The spare text in this magical, transformative anecdote is paired with mixed media artwork. . . . Turk brilliantly uses broader, thicker strokes and darker colors to show anger. By telling the story of Gandhiand#8217;s approach to civil disobedience in this manner, it becomes a relevant, approachable concept for youngsters today."
Synopsis
Mahatma Gandhi s grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light in this uniquely personal and vibrantly illustrated tale that carries a message of peace.
How could he a Gandhi be so easy to anger?
One thick, hot day, Arun Gandhi travels with his family to Grandfather Gandhi s village.
Silence fills the air but peace feels far away for young Arun. When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, his anger fills him in a way that surely a true Gandhi could never imagine. Can Arun ever live up to the Mahatma? Will he ever make his grandfather proud?
In this remarkable personal story, Arun Gandhi, with Bethany Hegedus, weaves a stunning portrait of the extraordinary man who taught him to live his life as light. Evan Turk brings the text to breathtaking life with his unique three-dimensional collage paintings."
About the Author
Arun Gandhi, born in 1934, is the fifth grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi. A journalist for more than thirty years for andlt;iandgt;The India Timesandlt;/iandgt;, Arun now writes a blog for andlt;iandgt;The Washington Postandlt;/iandgt;. Arun serves as President of the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute and travels the world speaking to governmental leaders, as well as to university and high school students alike, about the practices of peace and nonviolence. He lives in Rochester, New York.Bethany Hegedus is the author of andlt;iandgt;Between Us Baxtersandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;iandgt;Truth with a Capital Tandlt;/iandgt;. She owns The Writing Barn, a writing workshop and retreat center in Austin, Texas, with her husband Vivek Bakshi. She teaches widely and speaks across the country. andlt;iandgt;Grandfather Gandhiandlt;/iandgt; is her first picture book.Evan Turk is an author, illustrator, and animator working in New York City. He is originally from Colorado, and loves being in nature, traveling, and learning about other cultures through drawing. He is a graduate of Parsons and continues his studies as a member of Dalvero Academy. andlt;iandgt;Grandfather Gandhiandlt;/iandgt; is his first picture book.