MONSOON 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. Rights Information Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Hardcover (October 6, 2003) Territory: World English Rights Available: Translation; Film/TV Reviews: "Younger children will enjoy listening and looking at this book, but it has a subtle complexity that makes it even more appropriate for older ones." - Diane Frook, Children's Literature "An evocative portrait of the tension preceding the start of monsoon season in northern India and the sense of relief accompanying its arrival...Krishnaswami's poetic text rides faithfully on the child's sensibilities...Akib's impressionistic, pastel illustrations make stunning use of extreme perspectives, as his characters shift from hope for the monsoon to fear of its power to excitement as the sky opens. Full spreads capture the stillness before the cloudburst and the energy it brings. Text and illustrations depict the flavor of the city...This powerful book depicts a universal occurrence, while relating the expectations, customs, and needs of a particular locale." - School Library Journal "Richly colored illustrations and lyrical text...An expressive story about seasons, extremes, and waiting." - Kirkus Reviews "A welcome glimpse into another culture and climate...The girl's heightened language nicely captures the intensity of both her longing for the rains and her relief when they finally arrive. An afterword provides details about the nature, geography, and dangers of monsoon rains, and a glossary defines the four Hindi words used in the story." - Booklist "Krishnaswami (Chachaji's Cup) offers a lyrical slice-of-life story...The author evokes the oppressive weather in tense images...Debut illustrator Akib suggests the heaviness of the air in the thick strokes and hazy palette of his stylized, almost dreamlike illustrations, capturing the bustle of the streets with slightly off-kilter perspectives. American readers will enjoy the exotic clothing and customs (when it rains, the adults offer coins to "potbellied Ganesh, god of beginnings"), all the more so because they will recognize the girl's feelings as very much like their own." - Publishers Weekly Blurbs: Purchase at Amazon.com

MONSOON

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.

Rights Information

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Hardcover (October 6, 2003)

Territory: World English

Rights Available: Translation; Film/TV

Reviews:
"Younger children will enjoy listening and looking at this book, but it has a subtle complexity that makes it even more appropriate for older ones." - Diane Frook, Children's Literature

"An evocative portrait of the tension preceding the start of monsoon season in northern India and the sense of relief accompanying its arrival...Krishnaswami's poetic text rides faithfully on the child's sensibilities...Akib's impressionistic, pastel illustrations make stunning use of extreme perspectives, as his characters shift from hope for the monsoon to fear of its power to excitement as the sky opens. Full spreads capture the stillness before the cloudburst and the energy it brings. Text and illustrations depict the flavor of the city...This powerful book depicts a universal occurrence, while relating the expectations, customs, and needs of a particular locale." - School Library Journal

"Richly colored illustrations and lyrical text...An expressive story about seasons, extremes, and waiting." - Kirkus Reviews

"A welcome glimpse into another culture and climate...The girl's heightened language nicely captures the intensity of both her longing for the rains and her relief when they finally arrive. An afterword provides details about the nature, geography, and dangers of monsoon rains, and a glossary defines the four Hindi words used in the story." - Booklist

"Krishnaswami (Chachaji's Cup) offers a lyrical slice-of-life story...The author evokes the oppressive weather in tense images...Debut illustrator Akib suggests the heaviness of the air in the thick strokes and hazy palette of his stylized, almost dreamlike illustrations, capturing the bustle of the streets with slightly off-kilter perspectives. American readers will enjoy the exotic clothing and customs (when it rains, the adults offer coins to "potbellied Ganesh, god of beginnings"), all the more so because they will recognize the girl's feelings as very much like their own." - Publishers Weekly

Blurbs:

Purchase at Amazon.com