Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. ( )

A good book for younger readers, toddlers especially. I liked having the glossary/pronunciation guide in the back, and fairly good illustrations. Nice introduction to the idea of monsoons for American children, and a great ending. ( )

Mina is stuck indoors while the monsoon rains pour down. She misses playing soccer and impatiently waits despite trying to do indoor activities. Mina feels that her mother just doesn't understand her frustrations until her mother surprises her with the new information. After many days of waiting Mina is able to go outside and play her favorite sport. ( )

I'm excited to give this sweet book to my toddler nephew - it's cute, colorful, and fun, and I'm happy it tells the story of a girl who loves sports, who belongs to culture outside of his own, and offers fun opportunities to learn bits of a new language. I'm not sure the book is a classic for the ages, but it will be a fun part of his collection that I'm sure will make it into rotation. ( )

Mina vs. the Monsoon is a charming picture book for 4-8 year olds by Rukhsanna Guidroz. I received it as an ER book. A monsoon in Mina's South Asian village makes it rain and rain and rain, and she wants to play soccer with her beloved soccer ball (football). Her mother won't let her out; Mina thinks "she has never felt the explosion of happiness when you score a goal." But her mother understands better than Mina realizes. Mina tries all sorts of funny ploys to stop the rain; in searching for help in the house, she finds out something unexpected about her mother. When the clouds finally go away, she and her mother venture out together.

It features some Hindu/Urdu phrases with a glossary in the back. An athletic girl in a part of the world we're not that familiar with, who just wants the rain to stop, and who learns she has more in common with her mother than she knew. Sweet.

The illustrations by Debasmita Dasgupta are lively and fit the story well. ( )