A young girl named Sundari is born at almost the same time as the elephant Lakshmi in this engaging picture-book from India, and the two grow up together, almost twin sisters. The daughter of a mahout - someone who works with and rides elephants - Sundari has an affinity for her pachyderm sister, and is eventually accepted as a kind of elephant nurse by her father's workers, despite the fact that girls are not allowed to become mahouts themselves. Then, when Dussehra - the Hindu festival celebrating the victory of the goddess Chamundeshwari over the demon Mahishasura - approaches, and Drona, the elephant who usually leads the festival processions, becomes ill, trouble looms. The best replacement for Drona is his daughter Lakshmi, but a cow elephant has never led the processions, nor has a female mahout ever driven the lead elephant...

One of a number of titles I have read recently from the Chennai-based independent publisher Karadi Tales, which specializes in picture-books, A Pair of Twins features an engaging story from author Kavitha Mandana and appealing artwork from illustrator Nayantara Surendranath. The narrative argues for the inclusion of girls in a traditionally masculine activity, but it also emphasizes, through the subplot involving Sundari's brother Vikram, who wants to be a drummer, that boys should also be allowed to follow their dreams, and to pursue unconventional paths. The artwork is colorful, full of stylized figures that dance across the page. An informative afterword gives more details about the festival of Dussehra, and how it is specifically celebrated in the city of Mysore. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books with an Indian and/or Hindu cultural background, as well to those seeking children's stories that emphasize that girls should be permitted the same opportunities as boys. ( )