The Poombah of Badoombah

by Dee Lillegard, Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)

The Poombah of Badoombah--a powerful, energy-infusing sorcerer--makes pots leap out of clay and fabulous carpets fly off the loom, but he also gleefully sends "a pudgy rajah swirling to the public bath" and a "nervous dervish whirling down a curvish path." One day, the magical Poombah goes too far: he pulls the elephant right out from under a government official and his howdah, which is a fine howdah-you-do. The city people are furious, and the Poombah, now a pariah, flees to the countryside to grow Badoombah beans, and, as we all know, "a bowl of Badoombah beans or two is all one needs for a hullabaloo." Dee Lillegard, author of The Wild Bunch, poombahs a wildly ebullient rhyming story, and Kevin Hawkes's rich, full-bleed paintings of swarming street bazaars in India explode with color and excitement. Explanatory notes, cleverly presented, define Indian terms such as howdah and nabob, and make-believe ones as well, including Poombah ("to impart, or infuse with, extraordinary energy") and Badoombah beans, Lillegard's son's invention. Kids will love this bouncing ride through the streets of India, with the contagious joie de vivre of the playful Poombah. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jessica]

"When the powerful but mischievous Poombah of Badoombah finally takes things a bit too far, he is forced to flee the city and live out the rest of his days in the quiet of the countryside." This was a interesting story that would help children learn about another culture and a few new terms. There wasn't much to learn from this picture book so I probably would not read this to my students.

Written by Dee Lillegard and Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Published in 1998 by Putnam Pub Group

Illustrations: Kevin Hawkes did a great job bringing the story to life. It is the exaggerated reactions from the people in the story that really demonstrate the power of Poombah. I also enjoy the flat colors that still seem to burst out of the page.

Uses: Chances are I wouldn't suggest this book to my students but it could be a fun read aloud.

[hhhhhhhhh]

i was looking for some authentic portrayals of India in kids' books for a multicultural lit class, but this looks pretty Western to me.