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 8 of 44
Parrots in My Garden
When it’s early morning Before it’s really light A flock of parrots flies across Looking trim and bright They swoop down on the juicy grams Which I love to throw They are not afraid of me The way they come and go! Soon my lawn is clean and clear Of every little grain Parrots in My Garden [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] And then the parrots leave the place To fly back once again....
Silence is Golden
Once upon a time, a Chinese student once went to his teacher. He asked his teacher a question: “Sir, is there any good in talking a lot?” The teacher replied: “Toads and frogs croak night and day, but no one pays any attention to them. But the cock crows at a certain time of night and wakes up everyone.” Silence is Golden [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] The teacher smiled at his student and said, “This proves that no good is achieved by talking a lot....
Excerpts from Snake Trouble
Grandmother was tolerant of most of his pets, but she drew the line at reptiles. Even a sweet-tempered lizard made her blood run cold. There was little chance that she would allow a python in the house. “It will strangle you to death!” she cried. “Nonsense,” said Grandfather. “He’s only a young fellow.” “He’ll soon get used to us,” I added, by way of support. “Lock that awful thing in the bathroom,” she said. Excerpts from Snake Trouble [Illustrations by Mickey Patel] “Go and find the man you bought it from, give him twenty rupees or twice as much, and get him to come here and collect it!...
The Foolish Thief
The moon was like a giant fluorescent light in the sky. It was a full moon night. And a foolish thief was getting ready to rob a villager’s house. He located the house he had decided upon and tip-toed inside. From the silvery world of moonlight outside, he had entered a dark room. He could not even see his own hand or foot. But on the wall near the roof, there was a ventilator. The moon’s rays came sliding through it to create a circle of light....
Young Poets
Todd-Michael St. Pierre writes poems, songs and plays for children. He is a storyteller at schools throughout the southern United States. Among his published works are ‘Somewhere: As Told By Garrett The Parrot’ and ‘The Louisiana State Bird Beauty Pageant’. ‘Young Poets’ is part of a collection, ‘A Treehouse On The Moon’, to be published soon, along with other works such as ‘The Prince Of Nonsense: Silly Poems4Kids’ and ‘Put The People In A Zoo And Set The Animals Free: Poems4Kids To Read Out Loud’....
Have You Seen the Cuckoo Bird?
Have You Seen the Cuckoo Bird? [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] Have you seen the cuckoo bird With raven-coloured wing? Although I haven’t seen one yet I’ve often heard her sing. The cuckoo on our champak tree Is hidden from our sight Because the leaves are thick and close But how she sings at night! ‘Cuckoo… cuckoo’ says the bird ‘I may be dark, it’s true But there is not a single bird...
The Day Everything Went Wrong
On that day everything went wrong, I fell on the ground with a “BONG”! I hurt my elbows and knees And misplaced my cupboard keys. I dreamt of a horrible ghost, At breakfast I burnt my toast. I couldn’t find my tie, I couldn’t find my shirt And when I did find it, it was covered in dirt! I came to know, when I heard the clock’s chime That I had lost control of time....
The Popular Student
Just how popular was Mini? Very. Every year, her classmates voted her as the favourite student. She was easy to get along with and great company. The number of friends she had by far outnumbered those of anyone else in her group. One day the 10-year-old was caught yakkety-yakking in the class and ordered to stay back as punishment. Staying back meant doing something ‘useful’, like helping in the garden or library after school. Now the school in which Mini studied had a rule of sorts....
Roses
Roses in the winter time Roses in the fall The roses in my garden Are the nicest of them all Some prefer the jasmines The champaks on the tree Or the lilies in the pool But it’s the rose for me! The wild roses climbing up the wall Which hang in clusters white The sprawling bush of roses pink Which looks so trim and bright Roses [] The pale rose with a curly edge...
Where is Manbhavan?
“Where’s Manbhavan?” Nitya cried. Her pudgy face showed great surprise. “Where is Manbhavan?” repeated Bhavna, peering into Nitya’s cupboard. The cardboard box in which he lived was wide open – and – absolutely empty! Bhavna gingerly picked up the blouses and skirts that lay arranged in neat piles on the shelf and poked around them with a hesitant finger. “Hmm – he’s not here, that’s for sure,” she said. “My cupboard was shut!” Nitya cried indignantly....