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 19 of 44
The Eagle and the Arrow
Eagle was a strange creature. He got his fun out of teasing and frightening the little birds. Even when he was not hungry, he would soar through the sky and swoop down on some unsuspecting birds and pretend to prey on them. The poor little birds would cower with fear and try to fly away. Eagle would then burst into an ear-piercing laugh and flap his wings disdainfully. “I am the King of the sky! How scared you all are of me,” he would exclaim....
Meenu's New Pet
Meenu’s mother was worried about her. A week had passed since their dog Tommy’s disappearance, and her daughter had still not got over it. Meenu adored Tommy, who had been her faithful companion since her third birthday. He had become a part of the family as he was a loving and well trained dog. Meenu simply adored him. And Tommy, on his part, followed her around everywhere. During the summer holidays, the family would usually go to Baroda, where Meenu’s grandparents lived....
Teaching a Lesson!
“It’s my turn tomorrow,” mumbled Raghu to himself as he climbed the stairs of his school building, very slowly as if he were sleep-walking. He had been dreading this day ever since Pal declared his grand class prodigy scheme, two months ago. Pal was the much feared History teacher. “It has been said that genius is 99 per cent perspiration and one per cent inspiration,” he had said in his usual pompous manner. “I suggest we test this theory....
The Dress
One evening, Maya was making plans for her birthday. She sat in the living room with her father and instructed him on what to get for her. “I want a chocolate cake…only a chocolate cake…and white candles on top, please ensure they are white…and five-differently coloured balloons, and of course, Nina’s blue dress,” she told him gravely. Her father who was writing all this down, looked up. “Why Nina’s blue dress?” he asked. “Because it is the only one that is the colour of the sky,” she answered....
Back to School
The day I joined as a teacher at P.S 18 (Public School 18) in New York was a decisive day for me. I came from a small town in Buffalo and New York really awed me. My friend, who was teaching at a nearby institute, had warned me about the big bad city and the kids at my school. They were a hearty bunch of future hoodlums, he warned me. I laughed away his warning. My heart was full of hope at the thought of shaping the minds of tomorrow....
The Snake with the Golden Teeth
There was once a man called Paolo Maria Encarnacao Esplendido. He lived at Manaos in Brazil. He was a very rich man. He owned two gold mines and a silver mine. You might think one got more money from a gold mine than a silver mine because gold is worth more than silver. But, as a matter of face, more money goes down gold mines than comes out of them, because people are always digging mines for gold in places where there isn’t enough to make it worth their while....
A Chest Full of Stories
Zigzag and Other Stories Written by Asha Nehemiah Illustrations by Atanu Roy Published by Scholastic India Pvt. Ltd. A queer-looking African bird, with shocking pink plumes on the head, a yellow beak and eyes the colour of Cola, Zigzag, is the main character of the title story in this collection of short stories. Somu leaves Zigzag, a talking bird, in the keeping of Dr. Krishnan while he is away. But this strange guest turns out to be a disappointment for the Krishnan family....
The Silly Cricket
A silly young cricket Sat on a wicket Singing all summer long He strummed his guitar And danced all the while Other creatures were busy Gathering their pile Soon winter came And he began to complain For he hadn’t a morsel to nibble on. So off he went In the wind and rain The Silly Cricket [Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli] To the little black ants For a mouthful of grain. But ants don’t lend...
The Red Flower
RED FLOWER: Hello friends. I am Red Flower. I live here in these fields. All the trees, animals, birds, clouds, winds and the sun are my friends. But my best friend is Sun. It is morning now and time for him to come. (Morning comes.) SUN: Hello Red Flower. I bring a good morning to you. Did my sister Night give you any good dreams in your sleep? RED FLOWER: Yes, more than you dear Sun....
The Fearless Rhino
The rhino looks so fierce and strong He has a pointed spear His skin is rough and oh so tough He knows not what is fear! Do you want to meet him too? Go eastward – if you care Kaziranga is the name You’re sure to find him there! The Fearless Rhino [Illustration by Anup Singh] (C) Swapna Dutta