From the publisher:
"In this breathtaking companion to the award-winning Grandfather Gandhi, Arun Gandhi, with Bethany Hegedus, tells a poignant, personal story of the damage of wastefulness, gorgeuously illustrated by Evan Turk.
At Grandfather Gandhi’s service village, each day is filled, from sunrise to sunset, with work that is done for the good of all. The villagers vow to live simply and non-violently. Arun Gandhi tries very hard to follow these vows, but he struggles with one of the most important rules: not to waste.
How can throwing away a worn-down pencil hurt anyone? How can wastefulness lead to violence? With the help of his grandfather, Arun learns how every wasteful act, no matter how small, affects others. And in time he comes to understand the truth of his grandfather’s words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”"
48 pages 978-1481442657 Ages 7-11
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From 1946-1948 Arun Gandhi lived in an ashram with his grandfather Modandas Gandhi, India's independence and spiritual leader. It wasn't easy having such a great man and such an important man as your grandfather and it wasn't easy for Arun to follow the eleven rules of the ashram. He struggled with the vow not to waste and couldn't understand why he was wrong to toss away a pencil stub.
His grandfather taught him that every small action can lead to a greater action and he had Arun draw a "tree of violence" on the wall where Arun adds actions every day. As the tree grows day by day. Arun can see the connection between the smaller acts and how they spread and create a large impact.
Brilliant and beautiful story. As always Evan Turk's illustrations deliver feeling of being in mesmerizing and exotic world inhabited by friends of ours.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
