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 13 of 44
Lion On The Loose!...!...
Once it started raining, it just wouldn’t stop. The sky wept great tears in an endless stream until the clouds had entered everyone’s hearts and made them feel as grey and weepy as the weather. But still it rained on and on. Everyone stayed at home, gloomy and bored. “I wish we could DO something,” moaned Geeti, “Nothing exciting ever happens to us” said Vikki. Mummy wouldn’t let them go out but she tried to cheer them up by baking a cake....
The Pigeon Party
Twenty noisy pigeons Had a party last night Noisy Pigeon Party [Illustration by Shinod AP] The last egg Had hatched The youngest one Was OUT! The last egg had hatched [Illustration by Shinod AP] They rocked on the TV wires looked the kitten In the eye They splashed In the pool – the kitten’s water bowl They splashed in the pool [Illustration by Shinod AP] And then they...
The Court Jester and the Hilsa Fish
Maharaja Krishna Chandra was the king of Bengal during the middle ages. It was customary for kings in those days to patronise talented people. So every king had his own court poets, artists, singers, town planners, architects and what have you. And plenty of ministers to advise him on different matters. And every king had a court jester. The jester was a very important person for his ability to make people laugh and feel happy. Solving the problems of the kingdom and dealing carefully with rival kings meant a lot of tension....
Sunflowers
Sunflower, sunflower, I love you You look so gay and bright Sunflower, sunflower, I love you You make me think of light When I see your cheerful face I want to dance and sing Sunflower, sunflower I love you You make me think of spring! Sunflowers [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] (C) Swapna Dutta
Sunday with Dad
A Sunday is so typical when Dad is around The morning starts With a loud TV sound. One groan from my sister and another from me Doesn’t melt his heart To let us sleep for a minute or three. Mom tries to catch up On her wee bit of sleep For she knows Dad is there To make a cup of tea. But once we are all up It all seems so bright For that’s the only day...
The Priest, the Tiger and the Jackal
One day a priest was walking along a country road when he came upon a tiger, shut up in a strong iron cage. The villagers had caught him and shut him up there because he had started preying on their fowl and cattle. As soon as the tiger saw the priest, he pleaded, “Oh, Brother Brahmin, please let me out to get a little drink! I am so thirsty, and there is no water here.”...
Kaku and Lal Hawa
Kaku lived in a small village called Chhoti Dadi. The small village had a small school. Everyday Kaku had to walk from his little hut at one end of the village to the primary school near the village well. On his way to school, he passed through green paddy fields, the village lake and the old Ram Lila ground. All his friends, be it dreamy Jhunjhunu, colorful Pinaki or talkative Tachi, did not like walking to school....
The Farmer and the Serpent
A long time ago a farmer’s son was going to meet his friends. It was dark and he was in a hurry, so he didn’t see a cobra that was relaxing in the path. He trod upon the cobra’s tail. He stepped back immediately afterwards, but it was too late. The angry cobra lashed at him and bit him. A cobra’s poison is one of the deadliest in the world. The farmer’s son stood no chance against it and died....
A Tale of Tails
Dear reader, I am sure you know that a snake and a mongoose are sworn enemies. They are always ready, willing and waiting to kill each other. But I do not think you know that this wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, not very long ago, they were the best of friends. Surprised? Let me tell you the full story…. On the foothills of the Himalayas, there was a forest. In one corner of the forest, beside a huge river called Neera, lived a snake and a mongoose....
The Boy and the Magic Brush
A folktale from Myanmar, it will acquaint readers with a new word called ‘Nat’. Nats are spirits, good or bad, and they are believed to have supernatural powers. The Buddhists believe that everybody goes through the cycle of life, death and rebirth – all determined by the person’s ‘karma’ or deeds. Being a Nat is just one of the cycle of lives. Nats need salvation as much as humans and so they help humans by being their guardian spirits....