School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-While shopping in the marketplace, Chandra and her sister, Deena, watch a man selling solar lights. Because few have electricity, at home, Nepali families use tukis, or kerosene lamps, that are very smoky and produce unhealthy fumes. Although the solar lamp is expensive, the girls are certain that it would help quiet their baby brother's smoke-induced cough. They excitedly share the information about the "magic light" with their father. However, it isn't until he sees one working at a neighbor's house that he becomes interested. The new lamps cost more than the family has available, so the girls brainstorm ways they can earn the money. They decide to sell bunches of colorful rhododendrons that grow in the hills. Arriving early to market, Deena has time to tell Chandra a story of the sun god, Surya, and the moon god, Chandra. The young girl is proud to be named for such a powerful god. The girls' stall does well, and they are able to purchase the last solar light available. That night, their little brother sleeps and breathes peacefully. The full-color, mixed-media illustrations dominate the pages with vitality and detail. Thorough endnotes provide much information about Nepal, its people and solar power as well as instructions for making a solar oven. This tale of sibling compassion and ingenuity provides enough story for enjoyment alone but would also work well as an introduction to another culture and religion.-Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Heine and Gueyfier showcase the determined efforts of a Nepali girl named Chandra and her older sister to save enough money to purchase a solar lamp for their family, in hopes of helping their baby brother's cough. Rich shades of red, emerald, and aqua give a sense of the vibrancy of the Nepali countryside, while a narrative detour into the stories of the gods of the sun and moon offers a topical entry point into Hindu beliefs. Several pages of endnotes provide a wealth of information about Nepal's geography, demographics, and traditions. Ages 5-8. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
At their Nepali market, Chandra and her sister Deena see a tuki lantern that doesn't need fuel--it's solar. Thinking such a lamp, rather than their smoky kerosene one, might cure their baby brother's cough, the girls earn money to buy one by selling flowers. The story's unusual subject matter, afterword on Nepal, and bright illustrations with pleasing swirled designs create interest. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Chandra is named for the moon god who lights the way for travelers. Like her namesake, this little girl literally brings light to her family in the form of a solar lamp. When Chandra and Deena learn about solar tukis, they are determined to have one to replace the kerosene lamp that is making their little brother ill. They gather wild rhododendrons from the hills and sell them in the market, earning the money they need for a tuki.The simplicity of this story is complemented by the exuberance of the illustrations. Rich mauves, deep maroons, an array of greens, and pale sunlight hues depict rural Nepali life in authentic, refreshing detail. Through text and image, readers are invited to smell the spices, sip basil tea and pomegranate juice, and cross turbulent mountain rivers via precarious bridges. An appendix provides information about Nepal, rendering this a satisfying balance of fact and fiction.--Chaudhri, Amina Copyright 2010 Booklist
