Reviews

Vegetables of India by Jill Hartley

farkle's review

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1.0

Seriously? Why bother calling this "Vegetables of India?" Let's face it, they're just vegetables. This book gives no sense of place whatsoever. You want readers to know that we're in India? Show us the markets. Show us the colors of the spices and the fruits and vegetables arranged in their stalls. This book make me lose my appetite.

cuocuo's review

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3.0

Photographer Jill Hartley's wordless book (apart from an English index on the last page) presents 22 brightly colored pictures of native Indian vegetables. At 4.9" x 4.9" x 0.6", the book is a manageable size for young children's hands. The book can potentially be read in one of two ways: caregivers can "read" with children by engaging them in a dialogue or babies can flip through the pages on their own. It is uncertain whether toddlers will find pictures of (unfamiliar) vegetables interesting enough to sustain their interest or if they will even recognize what the images represent. Still, given the title's unique subject, it would be a good addition to a public library's board book collection, if not an essential purchase.
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