Sam gets ready for school, and Benny (her dog) wants to tag along. Sam tells him dogs aren’t allowed at school but takes him anyway. What follows is Sam’s dilemma and Benny’s antics at school.

This is a sweet book (and the fourth in the series) with Sam and Benny. Kids will love the story and want a similar adventure for themselves (parents and teachers, be prepared). The teacher is stern yet understanding and playful.

The illustrations are done in watercolors and have a cartoon-like feel. What I love are the messy hairstyles and long noses of the characters. Kids, right! They have messy hair (heck, even I do).

The kids even sit in different ways on their chairs. I couldn’t help but chuckle at their expression in the class. The teacher’s corkscrew curls are so cute! I love how the kiddo books these days show diverse classrooms.

To summarize, Benny Goes to School is a playful and heartwarming story about the bond between a little girl and her pet dog.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.

#clavispublishing #NetGalley

Rukmini is usually shown as a docile spouse, while Satyabhama is the feisty and outspoken one. The famous Thulabaram emphasizes the difference between Rukmini and Satya and how they express their love for Krishna.

It does seem surprising to see her so mellow, especially since her marriage to Krishna was an elopement. Rukmini, the Princess of Vidharba, sends a letter to Krishna asking him to take her away right before her forced marriage with Sisupala, the prince of Chedi.

What if Rukmini is the same fiery woman who chose her own fate? What if she held the fort in Dwaraka when Krishna was away saving the world? Someone had to manage the kingdom. Maybe it was Rukmini who did it all.

This book by Saiswaroopa Iyer is based on this wonderful premise. It starts right at the end when Dwaraka is drowning and moves straight to the time when Rukmini first hears about Krishna and her role as a vital part of the Yadu clan.

The book covers a lot, and understandably, some of it had to be edited. I’m curious why the author chose to leave out incidents involving the Semantaka mani (the Vinakaya Chaviti story), Krishna’s marriage to Satyabhama and Jambhavati, Narakasura vadha, and Thulabaram. My guess is that she didn’t want these incidents to take the focus away from Rukmini. Still, a passing reference would have been enough.

I was also surprised that Narada muni was nowhere in the book. He was the catalyst who ensured that the acts on Earth were in accordance with the plan of destiny. Was it because the author wanted to keep the characters real, as humans and not as an incarnation of God?

Most of the conflict in the book is either internal or between Krishna and Rukmini. While the entire backdrop is conflict-ridden, the focus on the disturbances in the relationship of the couple. I rather liked it. But I did wish that the co-wives weren’t so ready to agree with whatever Rukmini decided.

All my minor complaints aside, this book is a lovely read. I’d say it’s her love and devotion for Krishna and Rukmini that helped her achieve it. I’ll go back and pick up Draupadi now that I’ve read this one and feel assured enough.

To conclude, the Rukmini in this book is as vibrant and full of life as the beautiful yellow cover.

This review is posted as a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club. Thank you, Indic Academy and Indic Book Club, for the review copy.

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Read the full review here.

4 Stars

A little scary fairy reaches the Wicked Wood in her teapot balloon, bringing with her a whirlwind of changes and attitude. The hedgehog, dormouse, and squirrel are annoyed. But the wise Owl knows the reason. She helps the scary fairy become a friendly little thing in the Wicked Wood. Of course, the scary fairy has enough wit and attitude to keep the fun going, one way or another. The animals have different adventures as the seasons change. And one day, the scary fairy gets called back home. It’s no surprise that the animals of Wicked Wood are sad to see her leave.

This is a cute middle-grade story with beautiful illustrations in pastels. The storyline felt a little abrupt as scary fairy suddenly started to be good but then it settled and flowed well. The animals and scary fairy have some silly and some serious adventures that make the book interesting for kids.

I wasn’t prepared for this kind of ending. It’s a little bittersweet but suits the storyline. The story is pretty much similar to fables, folklores, and fairytales. The illustrations up the impact by another notch. The sketches are neat and still have a whimsical quality that brings a magical feeling to the story. There isn’t any magic as such, though I wish it did.

A few moral lessons are woven into the storyline and will make good discussion topics for kids. Overall, Scary Fairy in the Wicked Wood is a lighthearted story with a spunky main character and quirky animals.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kind World Publishing and Consulting, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and am voluntarily leaving a review.

#ScaryFairyinWickedWood #NetGalley

P.S: There are quite a few adverbs in there.