Reviews (2)

beautifully crafted activity set based on Indian legend
I awaited the arrival of the Vrindavan activity set with some trepidation. As a native of India, I am wary of well-meaning but misguided interpretations of Indian culture. However, this time I was pleasantly surprised.

The Vrindavan activity set consists of a stiff, fold-out temple an altar, and several stand-up figures of maidens, trees, cattle and the Hindu god Krishna. The temple is flat-topped, which is not the typical shape of Indian temples, but the artwork is intricate and beautiful, a cross between traditional Indian and more modern styles. Children will enjoy playing with this set.

There is an information sheet provided with the set about the various characters; however I don't think there is sufficient detail for people unfamiliar with Indian culture. This is a pity, because the story of Krishna's childhood adventures and antics in scenic Vrindavan, is one of the most enjoyable stories ever told. I recommend buying a good book to supplement the little information provided with the set. You might try Diksha Dalal-Clayton's The Adventures of Young Krishna.

However even as it stands the Vrindavan activity set is a great deal of fun. Enjoy!

beautifully crafted activity set based on Indian legend
I bought this activity set for my 5-year-old daughter and awaited its arrival with some trepidation. As a native of India I am especially sensitive to well-meaning but inaccurate renderings of Indian culture. However I was pleasantly surprised. The artwork was intricate and wonderful, a cross between traditional Indian styles and a more modern approach, and the figures were charming. My daughter enjoys playing with this set and I have also sent it to children of friends.

The Vrindavan Activity set has a fold-out temple, altar, stand-up trees, maidens, cows and figures of the Hindu god Krishna. It is beautifully illustrated and well suited for small fingers. There is a page of explanations of the figures and characters, which might not be sufficient for Western readers unfamiliar with the Krishna legend. This is a pity, because the legend of Krishna as a young cowherd in scenic Vrindavan is one of the best and most enjoyable stories ever told. A good book on the subject would supplement the little information provided with the set. You might try "The Adventures of Young Krishna" by Diksha Dalal-Clayton.

However, even as it stands, this activity set is a great deal of fun. Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simple informative book with beautiful photographs
This book's virtues are its simple text, interesting facts, and beautiful color photographs. There are just 1 or 2 sentences on each two-page layout, with just a couple of pages displaying as many as 3 sentences. However, with these limited words, the book educates the reader about the Hindu story behind Holi, the celebratory traditions of Holi, and the significance of Holi. I especially recommend this 31-page book for readers age 4-8; however, even adults will learn interesting facts about Holi. I never knew what the colored powder was made of, and I had never heard of Princess Holika until I read this book. I also loved the photographs of typical Indian families smiling, celebrating, and enjoying each other's company.

This book would be educational and enjoyable for both Indians and non-Indians, but it does have a couple of minor flaws. One is when the author writes, "Some people visit the temple on Holi." The accompanying photograph shows a kid wearing sneakers, so I doubt he's in a Hindu temple. It's probably some kind of community hall because Hindus never wear shoes in a temple. (However, this flaw is minor because the sneakers are in the background, and you'd have to pay pretty close attention to even notice them).

One thing that is slightly more troublesome is the repetition of 4 non-English words throughout the text; the author never indicates which language they're from. I wish the author had added one sentence like, "These words are from Hindi, the national language of India." I think this would have made things clearer for the many non-Indians who assume all Indians speak the same language, and it's called "Indian."

Minor flaws aside, I did enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it. I learned a lot and loved looking at the pictures!

illustrated with photos of real Indian families celebrating
My 3 year old son just loved this book, the pictures are great, very relevant, and appealing to his age group, and older(visiting 4-6 yr olds have also appreciated this book). They understand the story of good vs evil a little better than he does, but this is an indispensable addition to any S. Asian Hindu who would like to share memories, and create new festival traditions with their children. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An easy to understand adaptation...
This was a short adaptation of a relatively well-known Islamic tale. I felt that it was well suited to young readers, especially as a part of the larger series "Tales of Heaven and Earth" which introduces children to myths, legends, and religious beliefs of several different cultures. I do not know enough about Islam to say that this is or is not accurate, but I do think that it was a interesting story.

Not interesting
Pictures are nice, I don't know about the authenticity but definetly not interesting.

Third rate book
This book contains inaccurate information about muslim beliefs. In addition it is extremely poorly written. The illustrations are done well for the most part. Dont waste your time or your money. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Compressive Introduction
Clear, well organized and an easy read, this book is an excellent introduction to Japan's native religion. Sections are a well organized range starting form the history of Shinto, to its mythological roots, and its rituals to its place in the last century. Despite this berth of subject matter the book occasionally feels as if the author is hiding behind his works cited rather than forming original conclusions. Though disappointing at first this is understandable if we read the author's short biography on the final pages. Kallen having written more than 150 works for young readers is obviously an expert in writing youth oriented non-fiction, NOT an expert in Shinto. This fact worried me slightly, because one does not known how far to trust the particulars of the work. However for projects and quick and concise reference, particularly for a basic grounding in the concepts of Shinto it is an excellent reference. This book has no pretensions of being academia's bench mark reference for Shinto, but it is an excellent start for those of us who don't have a degree in East Asian Studies. A must have for any school library. ... Read more