The Closet Ghosts

By Uma Krishnaswami, Shiraaz Bhabha
Paperback: $11.95

When a young girl named Anu has trouble adjusting to her new home and school, she calls upon Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, for help vanquishing the ghosts in her closet.

Description

Moving to a new place is hard enough without finding a bunch of mean, nasty ghosts in your closet. This looks like a job for Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, who can change shape in the blink of an eye and chase goblins and demons away with his thundering voice. When Hanuman answers Anu’s plea for help, Anu rejoices–until she realizes that those pesky ghosts don’t seem to be going anywhere.

Uma Krishnaswami effortlessly weaves motifs from Indian mythology into this bubbly story of ultimately finding comfort in a new place, and Shiraaz Bhabha’s exquisitely detailed acrylic paintings glow on the page. The Closet Ghosts is a treat that will delight and amaze any child who is facing a big change … or has ghosts in their closet.

About the Creators

Uma Krishnaswami

Uma Krishnaswami was born in India and now lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her novel, Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh, won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Uma has been nominated twice for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. She teaches in the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Visit her online at umakrishnaswami.com.

Shiraaz Bhabha

Shiraaz Bhabha was born and raised in India, and now lives in California. A gifted fine artist and website designer, Shiraaz had her first major show of paintings in Berkeley, California. Her paintings blend Eastern and Western themes, techniques, and motifs.

Reviews

  • "Bhabha's color-drenched paintings perfectly complement Krishnaswami's tale that incorporates a contemporary setting with the tradition of the Hindu Monkey God. . . A unique tale that is worthy of a wide audience."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "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. . . An upbeat story with a positive message."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9780892394678
  • Publication Date Nov 01, 2022
  • Trim Size 9.75 × 9 in
  • Weight 0.375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9780892392087
  • Publication Date Apr 01, 2013
  • Trim Size N/A
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / People & Places / United States / Asian American
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Religious / Hindu
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Conflict resolution, Courage, Cultural Diversity, Families, Fiction, Friendship, Holidays / Traditions, Home, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Imagination, Immigration, Overcoming Obstacles, Realistic Fiction, Religion / Spiritual, Religious Diversity
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 8
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 3
  • Guided Reading O
  • ATOS Book Level 3.3
  • DRA 34
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 3
  • Reading Level Grades 3 - 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 38
      Asian Pacific American Heritage Collection
      Collection of 38 books: $471.10

      1278 in stock

    • 13
      India Culture and History Collection
      Collection of 13 books: $191.35

      190 in stock

    • 32
      PreK Emotional Interactions
      Collection of 32 books: $452.50

      432 in stock

    • 32
      Asian/Asian American English PreK-2
      Collection of 32 books: $421.40