Grandfather Gandhi
Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus, Authors
Evan Turk, Illustrator
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Biography, Mar. 11, 2014
Themes: Arun Gandhi’s memories of living with his revered grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Opening: “We arrived at Sevagram, Grandfather’s service village, dusty and dirty. Father insisted we be taken straight to Grandfather’s hut. Bapuji sat serenely on the floor. I hung back, afraid to be in his presence, but Ela, took my hand and we rushed to him. We bent to touch his feet, a sign of respect.”
Book Jacket Synopsis: Arun Gandhi lives with his family in Grandfather Gandhi’s village, where the days are thick and hot. Silence fills the air–but peace feels far away for young Arun. When an older boy pushes him on the soccer field, Arun’s 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?
Why I like this book: It is a true story that Arun Gandhi worked on for 10 years with Bethany Hegedus about his own intimate relationship with his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi. It is an endearing story about a boy’s memories of his grandfather and his mixed emotions about living up to the Gandhi name. The narrative is beautiful and told in first person. Living in Bapuji’s village is hard for Arun. The food is simple and bland. The day begins at 4 a.m. with prayer and is followed by chores and lessons. This is a demanding life for an energetic 12-year-old boy who misses John Wayne movies, electricity and real soccer games with friends. Most of all he misses having access to his grandfather, who is surrounded by aides. He is teased by the other kids and erupts in anger. But there are touching moments when Gandhi checks on his grandson, listens to his frustrations, wipes his tears and talks about how he handles his own anger. Gandhi tells Arun how he can use his anger to make change. “We can all work to use our anger, instead of letting it use us.” This is a picture-book biography that stands out because it is a glimpse of a grandson’s personal account of his relationship with his famous grandfather. Evan Turk’s illustrations are stunning, bold and expressive. He uses water colors and mixed media collages with paper, cotton, cloth, yarn and tin foil. I highly recommend this unique story.
Resources: Use this book to celebrate International Day of Peace on September 21. Talk about what anger feels like. Draw pictures of your anger. List ways that you can channel or turn anger and negative feeling into positive action, as Gandhi suggests. Talk about non-violence and peace. Visit Arun Gandhi at his website where you will find a wealth of information.
Arun Gandhi, born in 1934, is the fifth grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. As a journalist for more than thirty years for the India Times, Arun now writes a blog for the Washington Post. He serves as president of the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute and travels the world speaking to governmental leaders, as well as university and high school students about the practices of peace and non-violence.
Bethany Hegedus is the author of Between Us Baxters and Truth with a Capital T. Grandfather Gandhi is her debut picture book. She heard Arun Gandhi in October 2001, a month after 9/11., after he spoke in New York City’s Town Hall about his relationship with his grandfather. A story he shared “hit her hard” and she contacted Arun and asked him to work with her on a children’s book. Visit Bethany Hegedus at her website.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Children's Books Heal 
Hi, Pat! You won’t ever guess where I am!!! So I will have to tell you. I’m at Bethany Hedgedus’s place, The Writing Barn. I am at a PB workshop!!! And, I have read this book and I’m so happy you added it to the PPBF list because it is just wonderful and beautiful!
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That’s amazing you’re at Bethany’s PB workshop. I hope you are having a great time. Yes, it is a beautifully written book and the illustrations are goregous! Thanks for letting me know.
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Pat, Sounds like a beautiful book. Interesting reading Penny’s comment above. What a coincidence! Great review!
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Robin, I’m delighted you enjoyed my review. It is a beautiful book for kids that adds a personal twist to the story of Gandhi! Yes, it is a coincidence Penny is studying with the author today.
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I am always interested in nonfiction books like this one. Thanks. I had an opportunity to visit the Ghandi memorial in Kanyakumari a few years ago. It was beautiful.
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Lucky you! This is a very personal book about Arun’s relationship with his grandfather. Very moving story. I visited his London office many years ago which housed the International Institute of Peace (not sure I got the name right).
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Great coincidence with Penny! What a fascinating read that will be.
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Thanks Catherine! This is a great introduction to Gandhi for children and a beautiful book.
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Wow! This book sounds terrific, Pat. I love that it’s a first person account from Ghandi’s grandson. So interesting! And what great themes to explore – what anger feels like and how to manage it – so important! Thanks so much for adding this one to our list!
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I’m so happy you enjoyed my choice today. I love the personal account about dealing with anger. What better teacher could a child have than his grandfather — Gandhi. Also goes with International Day of Peace on Sunday.
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Pat, I have been wanting to read this one and I love your review.
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Thank you! I hope you get to read the book. It’s in the libraries. Did you see Penny’s comment about being in a author Bethany Hegedus’s PB workshop today! How wonderful is that!
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This one is on my list. Interesting how the story took so long and about the collaboration on the story. I can’t imagine being a kid and dealing with anger as the grandson of someone so famous. Can’t wait to read this.
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You will enjoy the book a great deal. It is very simply written so kids understand.
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Now this is one I thought you would like – I’m catching up on you, Patricia!
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It’s about time! You would love the artwork collages in this book. The use of yarn to show how anger can strike like lightning. Also long dark shadows used to show the struggle within.
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I do, I do!
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You will. You will.
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What a lovely book and story. Thanks for sharing the back story as well. Very interesting. I have found that a wagging tail diffuses much anger.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed my review. It is a unique angle and very personal. Great way to introduce Gandhi to children.
Yes, I’m sure Archie would agree that a wagging tail diffuses anger.
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This is amazing, a book for children about Ghandi and written by his very own grandson. An entire new generation will come to know and love this incredible man. Thanks for this review and bringing this book to light.
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There are many Gandhi books for kids, but this one is so very different and so personal. It is a beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations.
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WOW! This sounds marvelous. What a cool perspective to read about a great man! 🙂
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Glad you like Arun Gandhi’s book about his relationship with his grandfather. You would enjoy the artwork.
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Wow, what an amazing story! This looks like a must-read. Thanks Patricia.
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Thought you may enjoy this unique story. It is very special and the illustrations gorgeous!
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