Multicultural children’s literature from across the world – stories, poems, folktales and books in English for kids, and stories in Hindi and poems in Hindi too. Original literature in English for kids from around the globe and book reviews and recommended reading lists for children.
432 items in this section. Displaying page 1 of 44
The Mighty
At the edge of a forest, stood a big tree. Its branches spread out majestically and so did its roots. It shielded people from the sun under its shady leaves, and provided shelter to countless birds and other small creatures in its branches. It buzzed with activity all the time. At the foot of the tree grew a little plant. The plant was willowy and delicate, and tended to keel over at the touch of the slightest breeze....
Long bony fingers
Somu loved to read ghost stories. Every time he paid a visit to the library, he got back a teeth-chattering horror tale. It was a signal that he was getting ready to play a scary trick on his friends. He was 10 years old. His parents had learnt to recognise the signs now. The days on which the slim boy’s cocker spaniel eyes shone brighter than ever, and his brown wavy hair seemed to have a movement of their own, they knew that he must have read a ghost tale and was hatching a plot to scare someone....
How Many Greens?
How many greens are there in the park? Can we count them – one by one? There’s the light, light green of the tender little grass I would like this green For the walls of my house! There’s the darker green of the older plants that have flowered for many years I would like to have them as friends For the numerous stories they can tell. And there’s the darkest green of them all In trees majestic and strong...
Flower on the Road
Spring has come, said the bougainvillea Crimson, orange, cream and yellow Making a flower wall along the road I bring happiness to all. Wait, said the little flower on the edge of the kerb I, too, blossom though I am small Every now and then a little child walks past, sees me at her height And happily smiles. Doesn’t that make us comrades on the road! Flower on the Road
Roadside Locksmith
The locksmith sits on the roadside with his wares A tilted black umbrella blocks the sun’s glare A mountain of master keys heaped on the ground Some dull, some old Some rusty, some gold Roadside Locksmith [Illustration by Shinod AP] The locksmith has the answer to every locked door That can’t be opened because the key’s not there And if you have a key that is lonely and lost Don’t worry, don’t fret...
The Shepherd's Mistake
Early every morning, a shepherd took his flock of sheep out in the fields to graze. He would sit by watching – as the sheep lazily munched on fresh grass. After they had eaten, he would round them up and walk back home. Sometimes while watching his flock, he would curl up in a quiet corner and go off to sleep. One day, the shepherd caught a wolf which had strayed into the field, eyeing his sheep....
The Girl who Taught the World to Weave
This is a story of the time when humans first walked the earth. And in those days they did not wear clothes, for they did not know how to weave cloth. One day, the god Matai decided to teach the art of weaving to one person. The god taught a girl called Hambrumai. And what were the designs the girl wove? She sat by the river side and saw the ripples and circles made by water....
The Apple Tree
There was an old apple tree in a farmer’s garden. It was so old that it had stopped bearing fruit a long time ago. The only purpose it served was to provide shelter to the sparrows, grasshoppers and squirrels in the neighbourhood. One day, the farmer decided to cut the tree down. He felt it had become completely useless. Besides, he wanted to get some furniture made and what better way to ensure the wood supply from the tree?...
Do You Like Fruits?
Apples in the winter time Chikoos in the fall Mangoes in the summer time I like it best of all! Oranges and kinnows bright Sugar-cane so sweet Melons and the juicy grape All of them – a treat! Do You Like Fruits? [Illustration by Anup Singh] (C) Swapna Dutta
Go For It, Bablu!
It happened on the day school started after a heavenly two months of summer holidays. Shankar refused to wake up at 6 am. He wanted to dream more about his visit to his grandparents’ home. They lived in the picturesque city of Mysore in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. He particularly wanted to remember his two trips to the Bandipur National Park. It was a magical forest in the shade of the Nilgiri mountains which always seemed to have their heads in the clouds!...
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