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Balarama: A Royal Elephant
by
Ted Lewin,
Betsy Lewin
Ted and Betsy Lewin_s illustrated travelogue of their trip to southern India, where they meet Balarama, the lead Royal Elephant who will make his debut in the traditional parade that concludes the celebration of Dasara in the city of Mysore.
Hardcover, 56 pages
Published
August 1st 2009
by Lee & Low Books
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The Lewins continue their accounts of their worldwide adventures, here with two voyages to southern India.
On their first trip, they visited a camp of trained elephants and their handlers in the forest and learned of the royal elephants used for festivals. They met Drona, who was to lead the annual Dasara procession in Mysore in the fall, and they were so enraptured that they decided to return for the festival. Upon their arrival, they learned that Drona had died, and that a new elephant had bee...more
On their first trip, they visited a camp of trained elephants and their handlers in the forest and learned of the royal elephants used for festivals. They met Drona, who was to lead the annual Dasara procession in Mysore in the fall, and they were so enraptured that they decided to return for the festival. Upon their arrival, they learned that Drona had died, and that a new elephant had bee...more
Watercolor illustrations are blended with spot illustrations created with reed pen and sumi ink with watercolor washes to capture perfectly Dasara, an annual Hindu festival celebrated in India. Captivated by Drona, the lead elephant in the parade, the couple who have created the book return the next year. Sadly, Drona is no longer alive, and after paying tribute to him, they await the new lead elephant, Balarama, to see if he can live up to his predecessor. Although there is quite a bit of text...more
I received this book through GoodReads "First Reads" Giveaway. I love Children's/Young Adult books, and since the subject matter was elephants and India, I knew I would like this before it even got here.
Based on two trips made by authors Ted and Betsy Lewin, Balarama tells the story of an elephant by that name who will be leading the procession of a parade during Dasara, a holy festival in India. Accompanying the text are the dazzling paintings done by Betsy Lewin.
While this book is aimed at ag...more
Based on two trips made by authors Ted and Betsy Lewin, Balarama tells the story of an elephant by that name who will be leading the procession of a parade during Dasara, a holy festival in India. Accompanying the text are the dazzling paintings done by Betsy Lewin.
While this book is aimed at ag...more
3 likes · like · see review
view all 4 comments
Jun 19, 2011
Charlyn Trussell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Charlyn by:
Texas Bluebonnet Award Reading List 2011-12
In stunning watercolors and clear prose, the Lewins present their travels to India to see the elephants of India, focusing on the Royal Elephant chose to lead the Mysore Dasara yearly celebration. After meeting Drona,the leader of the celebration for several years, they choose to return the next year during Dasara to see him carry the holden howdad in the parade. When they arrive they learn that Drona has died and another elephant, Balarama, has been chosen to replace him. Through their artwork,...more
Every year a special elephant is chosen to lead the parade in a big celebration in India. Balarama is the latest elephant to be so honored.
Both Ted and Betsy Lewin are children’s picture book illustrators. In this book, both draw parts of the story. They have very different styles, with Ted painting big beautiful and realistic illustrations, and Betsy doing cartoon-like drawings.
A little:
“Balarama moves majestically toward one of the palace gates, leading a mile-long procession. Band after band...more
Both Ted and Betsy Lewin are children’s picture book illustrators. In this book, both draw parts of the story. They have very different styles, with Ted painting big beautiful and realistic illustrations, and Betsy doing cartoon-like drawings.
A little:
“Balarama moves majestically toward one of the palace gates, leading a mile-long procession. Band after band...more
This nonfiction book shows the importance of elephants to the Indian culture. Elephants are trained to do work and to participate in festivals. Dasara is a festival that is celebrated each fall, and the elephant, Drona, has led the festivities for many years. When Drona dies another elephant must be chosen to take his place. This elephant will carry the howday, a golden ceremonial carriage. Is Balarama worthy to become the new royal elephant?
This book uses a captivating story to teach readers ab...more
This book uses a captivating story to teach readers ab...more
Authors Ted and Betsy Lewin recount their trip to India to see Balarama, the elephant chosen to lead the procession in the Mysore Dasara, a Hindu festival. This nonfiction book covers the history of camp elephants in India, elephants that are trained to do a variety of activities and work, as well as he cultural importance of the chosen royal elephant. Told through simple, yet descriptive language, the authors deftly craft a bit of suspense when talking about Balarama's first try at leading the...more
This was a very interesting part memoir, part informational book. I will have to admit that I know very little about the Indian culture, so I really did learn a lot. Balarama is the royal elephant who was slotted to take the place of the very beloved Drona after he died from electrocution. I think the story by Ted and Betsy Lewin is just so cute. The two authors travel the world in search of excitement, and with this one, I think they found it. I wonder why the elephants are allowed to go into a...more
My opinion of the book is that i like it.My genere is memoir.The book is about a elehant that is name Drona she was a great elehant.On 1998 Drona was eating leaves and she pull a branch put she pull a power line and she was electrocuted instandly.And Balarama took her lace of carring the golden howdah.Balarama did awosome and every body was so shocked cause it was her 1 time whih the golden howdah.My shema is that i want to see a elephant.My question is why did Drona pull a branch whith a power...more
1 like · like · see review
i liked this information book. it was about elephants in india and people ar going to visit the elphants are in in parade and it,s important because the king wanted elephants for the festivals. my schema is that the pesons was decorade sow pretty the elephants to parade party. guestions-my sguetion is that the elephants and the horses too that party because he can win. recommmend-i recomment this book to Justen bieber.
This was a really good book! It was cool that the story told you about the elephant kheddas to catch the elephants, and the mahouts, the people that train the elephants. I was sad when Drona died because the Indians said that he had lots of aura when he carried the golden howdah. But Balarama carries just as much aura when he carried the golden howdah. I recommend this book who like to learn about celebrations and like cool pictures.
I really love Ted Lewin's illustrations, but I'm not sure how well they mixed with his wife's more cartoony figures. The subject matter is interesting, but it seems to make a slightly confusing non-fiction picture book because it's both and story and something factual. I would really like to like the book, but somehting just seems slightly off, or missing from it.
The concept was good, but the storytelling seemed to skip or glide over important parts. I also found the switch in illustration styles annoying. The rich, full-color illustrations were wonderful, the simplistic child-like illustrations were not. And there didn't seem to be any reason for the switching...
Jun 09, 2011
Melanie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
picture-book,
non-fiction,
elephants,
india,
multicultural,
celebrations
A wonderful book about real-life elephants that serve as ceremonial procession leaders. Beautifully illustrated by the Lewins'. My only concern is the depiction of elephants with chains wrapped around their feet or whole bodies. This was not explained and can be disturbing to children and adults.
Perhaps I just "didn't get it," but I did not enjoy this book. I wasn't interested by the story. I spent a summer in India when I was college, so I expected to enjoy this book, but just didn't. I loved the colors in the artwork, but that is about all I liked about this book.
Jul 06, 2011
Susie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
3-5 grades
Shelves:
texas-bluebonnet,
children-s-picture
Nonfiction story of the Royal Elephants, especially one. The Lewin's interest is piqued after meeting Drona and, after his untimely death, continued on to Balarama. Ted Lewin gives much detail in his watercolors while his wife Betsy contributes pen and ink drawings. Background information, glossary, and map are included.
I really liked this book! The illustrations were beautiful, and all the information about the elephants at the end was fascinating. I especially enjoyed all the information about Indian culture. I think our kids at RBE will appreciate this book a great deal.
Beautifully illustrated book. The illustrations, especially of the elephants themselves, are simply breathtaking. Perfect for spreading Indian culture and teaching children about the elephants who live there! It's a book I hope to keep for a long time.
Beautifully illustrated documentation of the Lewin's trips to India to see the Royal elephants of Southern India. Pictures so vivid they almost look like photographs. Wonderful side stories keep this nonfiction/informational book alive.
Another book like Horse Song from the Lewins. The two illustration styles were nice, although I found it jarring when they were combined in one picture at the end (realistic elephant and cartoon authors).
Absolutely gorgeous book. Illustrated by the authors. At first glance may appear to be for children 4-5 or older but definit ely could be used at first as a picture book.
Lovely story of the rituals and ceremony behind royal elephants in India. Great opportunities to visualize.
Lovely illustrations and very interesting information on elephants and Indian customs. Beautiful book.
A great book that will start lots of conversations and questions about the Elephants in India.
Texas Blue Bonnet list 2011
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/library...
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/library...
This wasn't one of my favorites, but I did enjoy the facts presented after the story.
interesting details about the Royal Elephants from India
Learned so much about the parade and the culture.
Texas Bluebonnett list 2011-2012
2011-12 Bluebonnet
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