The Closet Ghosts

by Uma Krishnaswami, Shiraaz Bhabha (Illustrator)

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 has faced a big change. . . or had ghosts in her closet.

Genres: Picture Books, India, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 27, 2005

Reviews

[Jessica (Spooky KidLit & We Who Walk Here, Walk Alone) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the happiest ghost story I’ve ever read. Anu is cheerful and determined, even when everything seems to be going wrong, and she never doubts herself despite her parents’ skepticism when she tells them that monkey god Hanuman is sleeping in her room and helping her vanquish her closet ghosts. Her solution for driving the ghosts away is joyful and charming. Anu’s attitude is infectious, and Shiraaz Bhabha’s vibrant drawings of her wide smile make this a delightful read.

The ghosts are impish little monkey spirits; they’re more annoying than they are frightening. They seem to be creations of Hanuman, designed to teach Anu (and later Mira) how to cope with their separation, make new friends, and learn to solve problems on their own. This connection is never stated outright, though; in concept and in form, this picture book is for more advanced readers. Though the drawings are bright and lively and the story is engaging, the higher word count (1,220) and prose as opposed to verse might lose the attention of younger children. Little ones will love the monkey spirits, though, and all readers will love Anu.

The Closet Ghosts is a bright and optimistic book that would be especially good for children who have just moved to a new place or for classes with new students. It portrays homesickness in a way that shows kids that they can still keep in touch with their friends from back home while easily making new friends. It would also be a fine addition to lessons or storytimes centering around world languages and religions. There are some interesting facts for kids and adults who may not know much about Hindi (for example, we learn that the suffix “-ji” is used as a sign of honor or respect) or Hinduism. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end of the book that gives some more information on Hanuman and the inspiration for the story.

[Jasmine]

I've been meaning to post about this book for a while now, but in light of the recent HATE CRIME in Atlanta, I feel it is even more important to hold up authors of Asian descent. My homeschooled kid has been studying ancient civilizations, starting with India and China, so over the next week I'll post some of the books we have used. Closet Ghosts was a really great read that takes a familiar and relatable topic -moving to a new place- and weaves in traditional aspects of Indian culture and mythology. Both the author, Uma Krishnaswami, and the illustrator, Shiraaz Bhabha @shiraaz, were born in India and you can feel the authenticity of this #ownvoices book radiating on the pages.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I particularly love about this story is that Anu figures out how to solve her problem while Hanuman is by her side, rather than Hanuman ridding the ghosts for Anu.

[Sadina Shawver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for work. I think the best part is that although Hanuman is present and available to help with the issues, the child is given the space to figure out how to overcome her fears on her own. The adults and Gods were guides. They weren't there to solve her problems for her.

[Isabella Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant story of a young Indian girl with imaginative experiences of a Hindu god. Focused overcoming fears through faith rather than succumbing through fear.

[Caitlin Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Closet Ghosts is a fantasy picture book with a focus on Hinduism. Anu is a young girl who has moved with her family to a new house. When Anu finds ghosts in her closet, she enlists the help of Hanuman, a monkey god. When Hanuman does not scare the ghosts away, Anu uses song and dance to rid her closet of the ghosts. This story relates to my religion text set as it ties in some aspects of Hindu mythology. The story is written from an insider’s perspective, so I believe that the mythology is accurate.
I think that this book will hold the interest of young children better than many religion books that I have read, as there is a problem to be solved that children can focus on. Krishnaswami does a great job of tying Hindu traditions and folklore into the story in an easily comprehensible way. The plot makes sense and is pretty unique. There is also a focus on moving to a new home, and the emotions it can bring up. The illustrations are colorful and match the plot. However, some of the illustrations are a bit odd or may be frightening for small children. I would recommend this story to first-third graders. The illustrations seem to be accurate depictions of characters. Children reading this story will explore the topic of Hinduism in an entertaining way. It may be particularly beneficial in exploring diverse religions or belief systems. It was refreshing to see a story where praying did not fix everything, but rather helped the protagonist recognize their own strengths and solutions. The characters feel realistic, particularly in their emotions.

[Jennifer Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Closet Ghosts” is an amusing Indian fictional tale about a young girl and how she turns to her cultural beliefs and heritage to get adjusted to moving to a new school. This story tells of how the young girl, Anu, finds a way to cope with going to a new school and neighborhood with help from Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god. This book would teach students to use descriptive words, such as “bubbled” and “simmered.” It would introduce students who are not familiar with the Hindu religion about the various gods and beliefs. This story also touches on the harsh realities of what a child might go through when moving to a new school. Both the author and illustrator’s Indian heritage helps to authenticate this story and drawings. It provides insight from an interesting point of view.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: 32 pages. appx 100 words. POV: third person.

Krishnaswami deftly weaves themes of moving to a new house and school with ancient spirits to create a story of how a young girl overcomes her fears as manifested in the ghosts in her closet. The closet ghosts taunt her with sing-song rhymes and she blames them for many of her troubles at home and school. Hanuman the Monkey King comes to help, but Krishnaswami is carefully to tell her tale so that Anu finds a solution to her problem by herself so when the ghosts are banished, it's by her own sing-song rhyme and her willingness to make new friends.

[Shyam Rahim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little Indian girl moves to a new house. She experiences all the normal woes that come along with moving to a new place, with the additional concern of thinking there are ghosts in her closet. She summons Ganesh to help her and discovers she can help herself.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story that's a variation on the monsters in the closet theme. It also deals with starting at a new school. I thought some of the illustrations were great. Some were a bit odd though. I will try it out with my students and see what they think.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I looked at this book to see if I wanted to use it for a story time, but I didn't like the illustrations very much, and the little girl worships some Hindu monkey god.

[Shayne Cope · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably good for a child with those particular beliefs, but I don't agree.

[Rani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanuman helps Anu chase away the ghosts.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful combination of Indian mythology and the idea of relocation coupled with vibrant illustrations makes this children's story come alive!