Material appropriate for intermediate age groups
A twelfth-century Sanskrit parallel to “The Princess and the Pea” is just one of the surprises in this unusual collection, in which wily peasants, scheming rajahs, and saintly brahmans mingle in stories full of spice and wit. “An intriguing collection of 18 stories….skillfully retold….Vibrant, richly patterned full-page paintings and delightful spot illustrations transport children to a magical country of long ago.”–School Library Journal.
These timeless tales of gods and heroes give us a window into the beliefs, values, and practices of people who lived long ago.
Exploration Into India is part of a series describing the history of chosen regions before and after their exploration by Europeans. This book is about exploring the whole story of India from the earliest times, through the periods of its invasion, to the days of its exploration by merchants and explorers. Read about the adventures of Alexander the Great as he travels to the Indus River. See the fabulous wealth of the Mogul Emperor Akbar and follow in the footsteps of the European missionaries and traders who became fascinated by India.
Festivals of the World offers a colorful introduction to the festivals and cultures of countries around the world.
Diksha Dalal-Clayton retells the stories which enchanted her as a youngster–stories told to her by her grandmother, stories passed down through the generations. For centuries, the adventures of the young Krishna, the god who was always getting into trouble because of his boyish pranks, have delighted Indian boys and girls. Because he embodies both the human and the divine, the child-like and the god-like, Krishna is a favorite with both the young and the young at heart. Stories of the young Krishna’s adventures with gods and kings, his battles with demons, his flirtations with the girls of his village, are all retold with charm, grace and wit. Richly detailed illustrations enhance the text and rouse the imagination. These classic tales from Hindu mythology will open your child’s eyes to the richness and splendor of ancient Indian civilization.
Twelve stories representing a variety of Japanese folklore
Five traditional Japanese tales: “One-inch Fellow, “The Good Fortune Kettle,” “The Tongue-Cut Sparrow,” “Momotaro,” and “The White Hare and the Crocodiles.”
Muna has never known his father — a samurai, a noble warrior. But Muna’s mother has told Muna how he will know him one day: by the sign of the chrysanthemum. When his mother dies, Muna travels to the capital of twelfth-century Japan, a bewildering city on the verge of revolution. He finds a haven there, as servant to the great swordsmith, Fukuji. But Muna cannot forget his dream: He must find his father. Only then will he have power and a name to be reckoned with. Only then will he become a man.
An attack in the dark, screams, burning huts…
Thirteen-year-old Theodore crouches under the trees. His father’s Mission has been destroyed. His father is dead. Theodore is on his own, fleeing the Chinese rebels of the Boxer uprising.
Then Mrs Jones appears. A botanist, Mrs Jones is a feisty, aging, good-hearted woman who has an amazing (and eye-opening) vocabulary and who adopts Theodore into her band of travellers. Fleeing bandits, the group enters Tibet, where they meet the old Lama who rules a monastery. But when the Lama says they have been drawn to him by destiny, and insists that Theodore, Mrs Jones, and her young Chinese courier Lung hold the clue to the birth of the long-awaited Tulku, or reincarnated spiritual master, there seems to be no escape…
Miku Takeshita and her family have moved from Japan to live in the UK, but unfortunately the family’s enemy demons have followed them. Miku knows she’s in trouble when her new supply teacher turns out to be a Nukekubi – a bloodthirsty demon who can turn into a flying head and whose favourite snack is children. That night, in a raging snowstorm, Miku’s little brother Kazu is kidnapped by the demons, and then it’s up to Miku and her friend Cait to get him back. The girls break into their snow-locked school, confronting the dragon-like Woman of the Wet, and outwitting the faceless Nopera-bo. At last they come face to face with the Nukekubi itself – but will they be in time to save Kazu?