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 28 of 44
The Wolf-donkey
Chun Chun hated carrots. He felt his anger rise as he heard his mother speak. “How will you grow if you don’t eat your vegetables?” scolded Mama Rabbit. “You won’t have the strength to say BOO to a goose!” “But I eat so many things!” protested Chun Chun angrily. “Just because I hate carrots, you scold me every day!” Mama Rabbit sighed. “How many times have I told you — carrots will improve your eyesight?” she said....
Fairy Tale Country
Anjali got up. Her grandmother was still asleep. It was quite bright outside. ‘It must be eight. Why hasn’t Naani got up?’ she thought to herself. She placed her hand on her naani’s forehead. It felt warm. “Naani,” Anjali softly whispered in her ear. Naani opened her eyes and looked around. “Oh my! You will be late child. I am sorry I should have got up earlier,” she said attempting to get up. “Take it easy Naani,” said Anjali, placing her hand on Naani’s arm....
The Tinkle of the Goat Bells
Tanvi ran swiftly through the pine forest, the peppery smell of the herbs she crushed beneath her feet tickling her nostrils. She had to meet her friend Ramli, the goat girl at their favourite meeting place by the spring. Today they were planning to go down to the river bed and picnic there. She was late. Ramli had said that they should leave before the sun rose too high or it would be too hot by the river....
You Musn't Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest! if you must – but never quit. Life is queer, with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won if he’d stuck it out;...
The Friends of Custard House
Robert Custard was a gentleman to be sure. Though he was only three-and-a-half feet off the ground and sometimes he even sported a milk moustache, he was still, quite definitely, a gentleman at the age of nine. Now, you must consider that we are talking about the India of the 1930s. The British were ruling the country. Little boys and girls were expected to behave in a certain way. They were never to be seen covered in dirt....
The White Flowers
I love the snow-white jasmines I love the tube rose too The champaks are so lovely I’ll share them all with you! They do not boast of colours They are not bright to see But they fill the place with fragrance And bloom for you and me! The White Flowers [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] (C) Swapna Dutta
The Spider on the Wall
Spider, spider on the wall Some are big and some are small In their web they quietly lie And pounce upon the moving fly! The Spider on the Wall [Illustration by Anup Singh] (C) Swapna Dutta
Boomba – The Lion Kid
Boomba was the lion king’s son. He had a bright yellow coat and his mother often told him lovingly, “Boomba, you look like a ball of wool!” His parents were very proud of him and knew that one day he would grow up to be the handsomest lion around.But Boomba was not happy with his looks. At times he secretly desired a beautiful tail like the peacock’s or wings like the butterfly’s. All his friends were tired of him, because in the middle of a game he would always stop and ask, “How do I look?...
The Plant at the Crossing
At a crowded crossing I saw a brave new recruit to stem the environmental rot A tiny young plant transplanted in a metal cage took the exhaust of buses, trucks, cars and scooters full blast The rate of wilting will indicate pollution levels said a municipal official with a satisfied smile The Plant at the Crossing [Illustration by Shinod AP] Testing death on a plant is so much better In fact a “no-cost” option...
The Prasad
In a small village in South India lived a poor farmer. He had two children, Uma, an eight-year-old girl, and Gopal, a baby boy. When his wife died, his daughter Uma took over the responsibility of looking after her brother. A few years later the farmer also died, and the two children became orphans. Uma was very mature for her age. She knew that she would have to be both father and mother to Gopal. She also had to make ends meet....