School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Anu has just moved and she is terrified. Not only is she lonely and uncomfortable in her new surroundings, but she also has ghosts in her bedroom closet. No one believes her, of course, so she asks the help of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, whose statue guards her room. She also expresses her feelings about her new school, and how much she misses her best friend, Mira. However, when Anu goes to school the next day, the children befriend her, giving her the idea to do the same to the ghosts. Since nothing is more unpleasant to scary ghouls than someone who is not afraid, the ghosts run off to find another victim-Mira. Fortunately, Hanuman is already on the way to give her a helping hand. This delightful story has a familiar theme, but the addition of Hindu mythology and the twist of having the protagonist herself discover a way out of her dilemma set it apart from similar titles about overcoming fears. The dialogue-filled text is perfectly complemented by Bhabha's humorous acrylic illustrations, filled with intense shades of bright colors but uncluttered and done with simple lines. The ghosts are more impish than frightening, and Hanuman is also fun and appealing. An upbeat story with a positive message.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Faced with the universal fear of finding a welcoming place, Anu must rid her new home of the ghosts that are in her closet, as well as find friendship with her new classmates. Comforted by the promise of help from Hanuman (an important figure in Hindu mythology), she ultimately realizes that she will have to find the solution herself. She settles on a plan that changes a scary place into one that is friendly and welcoming, and the ghosts can't stand it anymore. Bhabha's color-drenched paintings perfectly complement Krishnaswami's tale that incorporates a contemporary setting with the tradition of the Hindu Monkey God. The ghosts ("with backward pointing feet") are outlined in white, but wear brightly colored clothing over nearly transparent bodies, and Bhabha's visualization of the Monkey God is perfect. A unique tale that is worthy of a wide audience. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
