Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh

Basically - ,"What the heck just happened?" Was my reaction after reading this book. If you know anything about the story of Lord Ganesha - this tale will leave you scratching your head. It actually says, "Lord Shiva was not ready for kids." Huh? What is he, an investment banker working overtime to pull in his first million?The author claims that it is a new telling based on a different version of the Ganesha myth. However, anyone who is familiar with the tale will just be left scratching their heads. It will be left high on a shelf never to be read again. As a non-Hindu, I didn't mind the new version of the tale, but that is just me - but it is not my culture, so why would it bother me if it is new. It it like picking up a bible story told in an "Apocrypha" version - not familiar but non-Christians would not know the difference.The author tries to make it more gentle by suggesting that Ganesha lost his original head in a tragic accident rather than his father cutting it off. Again, huh? Mythology can seem violent, but most of the time we are just used to the stories. There is no need to soften ancient stories to something else and to reduce it to a strange retelling, to fit modern sensibilities.

Absolutely beautifully illustrated and gentler story of how Ganesha obtained his elephant head. Contrary to the better know story where Shiva cuts off the head of Ganesha while he is guarding his mother's bath, this story sees the loss of the baby's head as an accident, when Lord Shani looks at the baby at Parvati's insistence and because of the Lord's power the baby's head disintegrates. To the rescue Lord Vishnu who brings the head of an elephant that sacrificed himself so that the child might live. What a story!

I'm a Hindu Indian-American raising my 1/4 Indian kids in Kentucky. I grew up on the standard story of Lord Ganesha - where he battles with Shiva. I like this version MUCH better. I bought us a copy after we had it out of the library 3 or 4 times (at the kids' request). My dad (Hindu Brahmin from Mumbai) liked it also.The illustrations are exquisite with metallic gold highlights in a very understated and elegant application.

Story is not the best but the illustrations are wonderful. Almost a mixture of European and Indian art that is breathtaking. They way Ganesh is draw is in my opinion the best out of all the characters. I would recommend if not just for the illustrations.

Beautiful pictures, but the story varies from the traditional story that most of us know. I suppose it's scary enough in this version for some very young children if they parents don't explain the background of the story before they read it to them, if the child isn't old enough to read. The pictures alone are worth the price.

This is a lovely book that really gets down and tells the story.One thing is this is the watered down version of the story and not exactly the version I grew up with but a valid version. In this version his head just denigrated from a blessing versus getting cut off by his father. Otherwise a good book.

I and my grand children 5 and 6 LOVED it . The story was beautiful and the art work is just captivating. My 6 year old Granddaughter loved it so much she took it home so I have to order another for our home. Thanks to my friend Keli who recomended it.

I have never seen such a Garbage written.The Story of Lord Ganesha's Birth is distorted.Everything in the book is distorted version.I am a teacher and Story teller for children age group 5 to 7.I do extensive research to tell my stories, keeping the version Authentic, so we do not distort young minds.It horrifies me that the author has the audacity to write about an Indian God highly revered by distorting the version. I am shocked that she has dedicated the book to Swami Prabhupada and they have not done anything about it.I appeal to the readers not to read this book that gives wrong version of India's Gods and Goddesses.I ask the writer to refrain from writing about indian God's and Goddesses.

Gentle version of the story (not scary for kids) and just amazing illustrations. A pleasure to read.