In the center of a small village in India, a banyan tree rises from the earth like a great green mountain. This remarkable tree has so many trunks it is a virtual forest, covering many acres. A place for laughing and bartering, conversing and resting, romping and chasing, meeting and imagining, the banyan is not only in the heart of the village, it is the heart of the village.
India
Materials from India
Tigers in Terai (Adventures Of Riley)
Riley journeys to the Terai Arc region of India and Nepal in search of the elusive Bengal tiger. Riley’s research leads to exciting encounters with some weird and wild indigenous animals (an Asian rhino, a king cobra, langur monkeys and more!) as well as a better understanding of the local culture.
The Dragon Diary: Dragonology Chronicles – Volume 2
Apprentice dragonologists Daniel and Beatrice Cook’s mentor is called away at a crucial time, leaving the brother and sister alone to search for an ancient diary that could cure some gravely ill dragons.
Thank You, World
Eight very different kids, from eight different continents, all go about their day and experience the same moments of happiness: greeting the sun in the morning, swinging on a swing, flying a kite, being tucked in by Mommy at bedtime.
The Ghost Catcher
A retelling of a traditional Bengali folktale in which a kind and generous Indian barber, pressed by his wife to earn more money, cleverly persuades a ghost to bring him riches.
The Indian Subcontinent (Global Hotspots)
Global Hot Spots fills in the facts behind the headlines, building students’ understanding of the historical context of the events they see on TV. It provides accounts of real-life experiences and explores ‘how history was made’ in these conflict zones.
Anila’s Journey
Set in colonial India, this richly layered coming-of-age tale follows a spirited young artist on a journey up the Ganges — and through the enigmas of her past.How can Anila Tandy, left to fend for herself after her mother’s death, dare to apply for a job that is clearly not meant for a woman? But somehow the “Bird Girl of Calcutta,” art supplies in hand, finds herself on an eye-opening journey up the Ganges, apprenticed to a gentleman scientist. As the lush landscape slips by, Anila dives into her past — a past where her beautiful Bengali mother still tells stories and her Irish father’s mysterious disappearance lingers. Gorgeously written and rich with atmosphere, Mary Finn’s debut novel tells the story of a determined young artist who must make her way in the dangerous world of late-eighteenth-century India.
Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet
Jeetas family is caught up in the whirlwind of arranging marriages for her two older sisters, but the drama and excitement leave Jeeta cold. She knows that tradition demands the parade of suitors, the marriage negotiations, the elaborate displays, the expensive wedding parties but where is the love and romance that the movies promise? She dreads her turn on the matrimonial circuit, especially since Mummy is always complaining about how difficult it will be to find Jeeta a good husband, with her dark skin and sharp tongue.As Jeeta spends more time with her new friend from school, Sarina, and Sarina’s educated, liberal parents, she begins to question her tradition-bound parents’ expectations. And when she falls in love with Sarina’s cousin, Neel, Jeeta realizes that she must strike a balance between independence and duty and follow her own path.
Kali And The Rat Snake
Kali’s father is a snake catcher – the best in the village. Kali knows that is really something to be proud of, but at school he sometimes gets embarrassed. The other children seem to think there is something very strange about having a snake catcher for a father and eating things like fried termites for a snack. Plus, Kali is the teacher’s pet. How will he ever make friends?
Going to School in India
Every school day millions of children go to school. In India “school” can be city classrooms, mountain fields, desert tents, and glowing temples. Lessons are taught in just as many different ways. This book depicts 12 different types of learning situations.