This is a beautiful book, a standard by which any book on creation and cosmological myths should be founded. The stories are simple and straightforward, easy to understand but complex enough to make sense and to provide interest to read further. Gavin has chosen the tales well and the book is filled with light and dark, anger and happiness, fear and harmony, joy and sorrow. The stories are a good glimpse at the rich mythos and pantheon that make up Hinduism. I found myself appreciating the beauty of some aspects of the faith in a way I hadn't before. Doing that to someone with a graduate degree in religion who is reading a book aimed at intermediate readers is impressive. (Or maybe I'm just easily wowed.)Even better, though were the illustrations. Amanda Hall's artwork looks like it was done by someone who has trained for years in the traditional Hindu methods. While these look simple and two dimensional, they are actually quite complex in structure as consistency of form, shape, color, contrast, and use of space all follow specific rules. To make beautiful art that fits those rules is a talent and Hall has it. This artwork could easily hang side by side with the paintings I purchased in Rajastan. (Yes I paid several times what I could have because I have sucker written on my forehead and I can't haggle to save my life but this stuff is so beautiful the artists deserve every penny. I like pretend the money actually went to the artists, too.)
So if you have any interest in Hindu myth or culture, or pretty pictures, check out this book. Highly recommended.