Grandfather Gandhi

by Arun Gandhi

Other authorsAnn Bobco (Designer), Bethany Hegedus (Author), Evan Turk (Illustrator.)
Hardcover, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

JP BA GANDHI large

Publication

New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, ©2012.

ISBN

9781442423657

Local notes

inscription: donated by Bevianne Fitch

Description

"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."--Amazon.com.

User reviews

LibraryThing member BrandiMichelle
A young boy travels to India to visit his grandfather, who happens to be Gandhi. The boy struggles to settle into life in India; including family life, school, and socially. His grandfather helps him to deal with his anger in a positive way.
LibraryThing member lrubin75
Story of Gandhi's grandson Arun who is taught to validate feelings of anger but to channel it to lightness, rather than lightning (i.e., violence). Message to delay reaction through action, "we can all work to use our anger instead of letting it use us."
LibraryThing member InstantLaila
The artwork in this book is almost tactile. You can see the texture of the materials used to create this book, as if you could reach out and touch the clothing. Although this story was a good one, I felt a little disappointed in the end. Through the whole story, Arun is hoping that he will not be a
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disappointment to his family, though I don't really know if that is resolved without a little assumption. Though this is a picture book for children, I would have liked it to be a little longer and maybe more in depth. I feel like there could have been more development of the characters.
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LibraryThing member crieder95
Great great book! The Illustrations are almost 3-D looking which makes page after page captivating. I loved that the author was telling his own story about being the grandson of someone so famous like Gandhi. This gives the reader another view into the life of someone like Gandhi, but also learning
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a lesson with this new point of view through Arun.
Arun worries about living up to the Gandhi name which in one way or the other many young readers have felt. They either want to make their parents happy, live up to an older sibling, or follow in a family's footsteps. This story helps a reader see that not all are perfect and can live up to expectations but working hard and trying are honored.
Also with a book containing Gandhi a theme of peace bleeds through. Arun struggles with getting angry during a game and not living up to the name. Children are easily angered and can see through Arun that it is a working process. To live as light.
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LibraryThing member barbarashuler
This is a wonderful story of a young boy's quest to understand peace. He just happens to have Gandhi as his grandfather! I loved the simple yet colorful illustrations in this book as well.
LibraryThing member harrisrm
Through the eyes of Mahatma Gandhi's grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light. On a hot summer day, when Arun Gandhi was 12 -years old he traveled with his family to Grandfather Gandhi's village. When he arrives to the village he is culturally in shock!
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He misses his friends and life in America, When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, his anger is uncontrollable! Will he ever be able to live up to his grandfathers message of peace? A wonderful book with vibrantly illustrations that carries a message of peace.
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LibraryThing member dorthys
Though this falls under the category of picture book, it is a good historical book about the grandson of Gandhi. He tells a brief story of what his grandfather was like in special moments of his life.
LibraryThing member NickiSlater
Arun Gandhi and his family go to live at the ashram with his grandfather, the great Mahatma Gandhi. Arun is so looking forward to spending time with his beloved grandfather. Sadly, every time he thinks he has his grandfather's undivided attention, Gandhi is called away on village business. Arun
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starts to feel badly about himself and this move to the ashram. Finally after a particularly bad day, Arun is able to have a private moment with his grandfather. Gandhi talks Arun through his difficulty and teaches him that anger can be useful. The ultimate lesson is that anger used properly can turn darkness in the world into a peace filled light.
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LibraryThing member Sullywriter
I had the opportunity to see Arun Gandhi several years ago and listen to him tell many wonderful intimate, personal stories about his grandfather that brought him vividly to life and made him very human. This remarkable book does the same. I particularly like the resentment the young Arun expresses
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at having to share his grandfather with so many people. It's emotionally honest and perfectly relatable. Beautiful mixed-media and collage illustrations by Evan Turk.
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LibraryThing member ayala.yannet
Just observing all the artwork is worth enough to open the book, "Grandfather Gandhi". This book a story told throughout perspective of Gandhi's grandchild. It is a great book whille introducing civil right's activists' lives.
LibraryThing member kellycaboose
I would use this book as a read aloud in a class meeting or when sharing peaceful non-violence in social studies. A boy learns that anger is normal, and how to channel it.
LibraryThing member kellycaboose
I would use this book as a read aloud in a class meeting or when sharing peaceful non-violence in social studies. A boy learns that anger is normal, and how to channel it.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
When Arun and his family come to stay with his grandfather, the famous activist and philosopher Gandhi, at his ashram in India, the young boy knows that he has an immense legacy to live up to. He finds himself wishing that he had more time alone with his grandfather, but the Mahatma always seems to
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be surrounded by his followers and assistants. When a shove during a soccer game reduces him to a state of rage, Arun feels that he has disgraced his grandfather and his name. Then he has a talk with the great man himself, and learns that everyone is prone to anger, even Gandhi. Like electricity though, the question is how one channels that anger, whether one chooses to destroy as lightning does, or to illuminate as a lamp does...

Based upon his experiences as a young boy with his famous grandfather, Arun Gandhi, together with co-author Bethany Hegedus, has crafted a tale that highlights one of Gandhi's central ideas: the harnessing of natural human anger to constructive purposes, rather than destructive ones. As someone prone to anger myself, I found the story here quite moving, and know that I will be pondering the idea of being a light for some time. This latter, the idea of living one's life as a light, also reminded me of the Quaker idea of the inner light, or the divine light of God, speaking to each of us through conscience. However that may be, this was a book that has appeal on multiple levels. As the story of a boy and his grandfather, it will speak to many young children who love their elders and long to win their approval. As an exploration of one of Gandhi's ideas, it will expose children to the philosophies of one of the 20th century's most influential figures. Finally, as a physical book, Grandfather Gandhi, illustrated by Evan Turk in variety of different media, from watercolor to collage, will have great visual appeal. The artwork really captures the emotional ups and downs of its protagonist, making excellent use of color, form, and light and shadow, to create a wholly engrossing visual narrative that mirrors and enhances the textual one. An excellent title, one I would recommend to anyone looking for teaching tales, stories that address emotions (especially anger) in the young, or books that deal with the figure of Gandhi and his legacy.
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LibraryThing member lexingtonfriends
Arun Gandhi tells a story of his childhood stay at Gandhi's ashram, learning that everyone feels anger but it's like electricity. "Anger can strike like lightning, and split a living tree in two. Or it can be channeled transformed. A switch can be flipped, and it can shed light like a lamp."
LibraryThing member MayraVasquez
The book depicts the story of the grandson who moves with his grandfather and has to learn a new language, to share his granfather
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
This could make a good bibliotherapy book for children dealing with anger and other difficult feelings, children who have family members they feel they need to live up to, have challenges with sharing, It’s a fine story about the power of stories.

For me the autobiographical story proper was too
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slight for older kids and adults and maybe too mature for the youngest kids, though I do think all ages can enjoy it.

The illustrations were really interesting and I enjoyed their details but aesthetically not my favorite art. I did like them though and thought the pictures fit the story well.

My favorite page in the book was the last page that contained a “Note from the Authors” and touched on their stories. It’s for older (school aged) kids and adults. An extra half star for it. Very touching and meaningful and important.

I’m glad that I read this book. I have always had some interest in Gandhi but didn’t know or remember much about his family life.

3-1/2 stars
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Call number

JP BA GANDHI large

Barcode

6142
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