I’m so excited to share a “retelling” of a classic Hindu folktale with you all today! Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes is now available in board book format, providing a fresh take on the story of how Ganesha came to write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the Mahabharata, for the very youngest readers.

Though it might be called a retelling, Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth takes elements of this classic legend, and creates an entirely unique, modern story. In this tale, we follow Ganesha, who can’t resist a sweet treat, as he stumbles upon a new kind of laddoo (a traditional Indian dessert). While he enthusiastically eats the laddoo, he has a bit of an accident and breaks off his tusk. Ganesha tries everything to repair his tusk, but doesn’t find a solution to his problem until he meets an old man who helps him find a unique use for the tusk after all.

With off-beat humor and wonderful illustrations, this board book is sure to delight young readers. Whether your family practices Hinduism or you’re just looking to introduce young readers to cultures other than your own, I would absolutely recommend Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth. Complete with a wonderful Author’s Note including common pronunciations and more information about the original folktale, this lovely book would be a wonderful addition to both home and school libraries.

Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth will be available in board book format next week (August 17, 2021), but you can preorder your copy today at Bookshop and Amazon. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)

I want to thank Chronicle Books for sharing a review copy of this delightful book with me!

About The Creators:

Sanjay Patel is a supervising animator, storyboard artist, and short film director for Pixar Animation Studios, where he has worked on many features including A Bug’s Life, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and Cars 2. Sanjay is also the creator of Ramayana: Divine Loophole, The Big Poster Book of Hindu Deities, and The Little Book of Hindu Deities. He lives in Oakland, California. Learn more about Sanjay at Gheehappy.com.

Emily Haynes is an editor by day, specializing in entertainment, animation, and humor titles, and a writer and dreamer by night. This is her first children’s book. She lives in Oakland, California.

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