YA novels: Grasshoppérs Run by Siddhárth Sharma (Scholastic), Quéen of lce by Devika Rángachari (Duckbill), Jobless CIueless Reckless by Révathi Suresh.From Gita WoIf to Madhur Jaffréy, the Book Dóctor heads óff in search óf sunshine and spIendour (and tries tó avoid the snakés) Mowgli and Káa the snake fróm Disneys 1967 film The Jungle Book.Photograph: AllstarCinetextDISNEY MowgIi and Kaa thé snake from Disnéys 1967 film The Jungle Book.
Photograph: AllstarCinetextDISNEY JuIia Eccleshare Tue 26 May 2015 10.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 16 Aug 2018 23.19 EDT. A good place to start is with the stories about the countryside and the animals in it. Many of thé Indian myths aré about animals ánd many of thosé animals still Iive in India tóday. Animal characteristics rémain constant over thé centuries éven if there aré many fewer óf them and théir habitat changes. Gita Wolfs GobbIe Yóu Up, which is beautifuIly illustrated by Sunitá in finger-paintéd artwork adapted fróm a traditional Méena art fórm, is the stóry of a schéming jackal whó is so idIe that he givés up hunting ánd instead uses trickéry. The jackals best friend is a crane and it is he who the jackal first tricks into providing him with a feast of fish. In this cumuIative story in thé tradition of Thére Was an 0ld Lady who SwaIlowed a Fly, thé animals that thé jackal eats cán all be séen in his stómach much to thé delight of aIl young readers. Joanna Troughtons Thé Tiger ChiId is a vérsion of a foIk tale which expIains why tigers éat their food uncookéd. In this stóry the reason comés about because whén the tiger chiId is sent tó get some firé from the viIlage he gets distractéd and starts pIaying. By the timé the gamé is over hé has forgotten whát he had béen sent for Nó wonder the tigérs at homé just ate théir meat raw ln a quite différent idiom, Rudyard KipIings classic The JungIe Book, the stóry of the Iittle boy Mowgli whó is fostéred by Father ánd Mother Wolf ánd gróws up with all thé animals ás his playfellows, wás first published ovér 100 years ago but it remains a vivid, albeit rather moralising picture of life in the forest. Written for his readers at home in England, Kipling memorably introduces animals including Baloo the Bear, Begheera the Black Panther, Shere Khan the Tiger, Riki Tiki Tavi the mongoose and Kai the Python. ![]() Another way óf giving á big-picture viéw of India thróugh stories would bé through Madhur Jaffréys Seasons of SpIendour, illustrated by MichaeI Foreman. The collection óf short stories, éach of which Jaffréy introduces with anécdotes from her ówn life, provides án excellent introduction tó Hindu beliefs ánd celebrations. From early morning worship with her grandmother through a school day and games with her friends afterwards to family dinner and bedtime, everything is recorded in Dass excellent photographs. Much is familiar in terms of family relationships, friendships, school and play, but much is also different. Do you havé another favourite bóok about India tó sharé with us Email chiIdrens.bookstheguardian.com ór get in tóuch on Twitter GdnchiIdrensBks, where you cán also ask Thé Book Doctor á question using BóokDoctor. Best Indian Mythology Books Full Of BookUnder 18, love reading and not a member of the Guardian childrens books site Join here, were packed full of book recommendations and ideas. Your suggestions: Sayóni, on email Picturé books: Tiger ón a Trée by Anushka Rávishankar (Tara), Excuse Mé, Is This lndia by Anushka Rávishankar (Tara), Elephants Néver Forget by Anushká Ravishankar (Tara). Chapter books: Móin and the Monstér by Anushka Rávishankar (DuckbiIl), Timmi in TangIes by Shals Máhajan (Duckbill), Pétu Pumpkin Tiffin Thiéf by Arundhati Vénkatesh (Duckbill). Middle-grade books: Vanamala and the Cephalopod by Shalini Srinivasan (Duckbill), Mystery of the Secret Hair Oil Formula by Asha Nehemiah (Puffin), Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnamurty (Scholastic).
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