Author-illustrator Demi has created a simple, straightforward, and reverent biography of India's "great soul." So simple and factual, indeed, that it might be a rather ordinary book, except for Demi's memorable, color-saturated, very Indian illustrations. We follow Gandhi from his hard, lonely education and apprenticeship in England and South Africa through the nationwide strike he led after the Amritsar massacre, to Independence and his eventual assassination. No major milestone in his life is left out, and each is dealt with in a short paragraph (typically 50 words), on its own page with accompanying illustration; 8 or 9 of these may want more substance. In between, however, this is an excellent introduction to the subcontinent's most famous son. (Ages 5 to 10) --Richard Farr


From Publishers Weekly
The highlight of this portrait of Gandhi is Demi's (Buddha) artwork, featuring gold borders and accents, splashes of brilliant color and small-scale images. With their fine balance of simplicity and elegance, the paintings gracefully reflect their subject. Readers aware of Gandhi's lasting influence may be surprised to learn that he was a small, shy boy and a weak student who barely graduated from high school and failed classes in college. Demi traces his transformation, as a law student in London, into an English gentleman and his years practicing law in South Africa, where he first encountered racism. At that point he became "determined to root out the disease of prejudice" this would plant the seeds for his life's work. Returning to India, he used nonviolent tactics to fight against its rigid caste system and oppressive British rule. The formal prose occasionally becomes awkward and a bit overblown (e.g., "Gandhi and his followers worked to accept the good and bad in life, to meet challenges with humility and calm, and to bring harmony to the world"). But the author's passion for her subject comes through ("It is my own great hope that we will all try to live our lives in Gandhi's honor in truth, peace, and love," she writes in an endnote) and may well inspire readers to learn more about this extraordinary leader. Ages 7-10. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Gr 2-5-As she did in Buddha (1995) and The Dalai Lama (1998, both Holt), Demi depicts a life with significant spiritual and humanitarian dimensions. She focuses on the social and political goals of Gandhi's actions, but only after she presents the somewhat unlikely material out of which he fashioned a heroic version of himself. Insecure and unsuccessful, the young Gandhi also experienced prejudice firsthand. His central precepts, such as satyagraha ("the force of love"), are clearly products of his own life. The worldwide influence of the man is balanced with the tragic failure of peace in India. Demi's signature art-the fine lines, saturated colors, touches of gold-fits her subject. A rich carpet pattern effectively serves as backdrop for several figures, especially for a white-robed Gandhi. Some scenes are busy, crowded, and bright, but simplicity is the keynote in others. A bold perspectival depiction of a steam train at night, with the tiny (marginalized) figure of Gandhi, ejected for asserting his rights, is powerful both in design and as a symbol of the forces of imperialism and racism. The message of this book-that peaceful love triumphs over violent hatred-is alone worth its purchase price. Demi's iconic illustrations and clear prose accord her subject's idealism the beauty and power it deserves.Patricia Lothrop-Green, St. George's School, Newport, Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 3-6, younger for reading aloud. Beginning with Gandhi's failure as a student in India, this well-written biography traces Gandhi's life, from his first rallies against prejudice in South Africa to his remarkable victory over colonialism in India, rounding out the image with mention of his inability to unite India and Pakistan. With extraordinarily detailed illustrations, decorated with gold leaf; and accessible, flowing text, veteran artist-author Demi reveals how a simple man who spun his own cloth became one of history's most important political and spiritual leaders. Children will be left with several lasting images of Gandhi, but none so moving as the depiction of the 14 items Gandhi possessed when he died. Demi twice refers to the Bhagavad Gita as "India's holy book" (it is not the holy book of India, as many Muslims will attest), but this is still a powerful portrait of a remarkable life, a story-time treasure about one of the twentieth century's true heroes. John Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known by his followers as Mahatma -- or great soul -- was born in India in 1869 and grew up to become one of the most influential and well-respected political and social leaders the world has ever known. An adamant idealist and a courageous thinker, Gandhi identified himself with the struggles of the common people. He became the sole voice of the downtrodden and the exploited and believed fervently in the notion that "hatred can only be overcome by love." He vowed to instigate social and political change through nonviolent means and succeeded in changing India's prejudicial caste system and winning India's independence from British rule. Gandhi's teachings inspired Martin Luther King's nonviolent civil rights movement in the United States and Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Gandhi's philosophies of nonviolence and peaceful protest continue to inspire people around the world. In beautiful language and exquisite illustrations inspired by Gandhi's own belief in the simplicity and truth of life, Demi captures the spirit that was Mahatma Gandhi and pays homage to this great man.


About the Author
Demi is the author and illustrator of numerous books for children, including The Empty Pot, Buddha, One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale, The Dalai Lama, and The Emperor's New Clothes: A Tale Set in China. She lives in Carnation, Washington.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known by his followers as Mahatma -- or great soul -- was born in India in 1869 and grew up to become one of the most influential and well-respected political and social leaders the world has ever known.

An adamant idealist and a courageous thinker, Gandhi identified himself with the struggles of the common people. He became the sole voice of the downtrodden and the exploited and believed fervently in the notion that "hatred can only be overcome by love." He vowed to instigate social and political change through nonviolent means and succeeded in changing India's prejudicial caste system and winning India's independence from British rule.

Gandhi's teachings inspired Martin Luther King's nonviolent civil rights movement in the United States and Nelson Mandela's anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Gandhi's philosophies of nonviolence and peaceful protest continue to inspire people around the world.

In beautiful language and exquisite illustrations inspired by Gandhi's own belief in the simplicity and truth of life, Demi captures the spirit that was Mahatma Gandhi and pays homage to this great man.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The highlight of this portrait of Gandhi is Demi's (Buddha) artwork, featuring gold borders and accents, splashes of brilliant color and small-scale images. With their fine balance of simplicity and elegance, the paintings gracefully reflect their subject. Readers aware of Gandhi's lasting influence may be surprised to learn that he was a small, shy boy and a weak student who barely graduated from high school and failed classes in college. Demi traces his transformation, as a law student in London, into an English gentleman and his years practicing law in South Africa, where he first encountered racism. At that point he became "determined to root out the disease of prejudice" this would plant the seeds for his life's work. Returning to India, he used nonviolent tactics to fight against its rigid caste system and oppressive British rule. The formal prose occasionally becomes awkward and a bit overblown (e.g., "Gandhi and his followers worked to accept the good and bad in life, to meet challenges with humility and calm, and to bring harmony to the world"). But the author's passion for her subject comes through ("It is my own great hope that we will all try to live our lives in Gandhi's honor in truth, peace, and love," she writes in an endnote) and may well inspire readers to learn more about this extraordinary leader. Ages 7-10. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Beautifully designed and in similar format to her biographies of the Dalai Lama and Buddha, this book presents, in Demi's words, "one of the most extraordinary people who ever lived on Earth." Raised in a privileged life as a Jain in India, married as was the custom at 13, schooled in law in London, practicing law in South Africa and experiencing racism first hand, Gandhi gradually transformed his views of how to serve humanity, especially the poor and disenfranchised. His gradual formation of the idea that all difficulties present an opportunity to serve others evolved into the theory of satyagraha, or the force of love by peace winning over violence. Demi covers Gandhi's passive resistance while never losing sight of Gandhi the man. Neatly bordered, meticulously detailed paint and ink artwork uses less gold than in her other biographies, fitting for the simple man. Her crowd scenes manage to personalize each while dramatizing the sheer force of numbers Gandhi led. Occasionally artwork is unclear—pictures of Nehru and Ali Jinnah are not labeled; a map of places important to Gandhi's life show a seaside city but text states it was 200 miles inland; and a picture of what may be boys shutting down a railway isn't clear since text doesn't match the picture. That aside, the book is a strong introduction to the man and his philosophy, a tribute to one common person's ability to change the world with persistence and the right ideas, and an excellent example of an illustrated biography for older readers. An author's note sets Gandhi in a wider historical and philosophical tradition and endpaper maps mark the European, African and Asian locations where Gandhi spent his life. 2001,McElderry, $19.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Susan Hepler

School Library Journal