The Panchatantra is a collection of fables written in Sanskrit. It is one of the most popular collections of stories from the ancient Indian civilization. The tales, most of which are based on animals, come with a strong moral message.
Asia
Materials from Asia
Hen-Sparrow Turns Purple
Contemporary adaptation of an Indian folk tale, retold.
Priya’s Day / Ek din priya ka (Hindi)
Priya’s day is a cheerful story of Priya’s busy, busy day – how she wakes up early in the morning, rolls up her mat, helps her mother and then sets off into the hills chasing butterflies… This activity book also shows how to tell the story in a more exciting way, while folding a sheet of newspaper into interesting shapes from the story.
The Foolish Men Of Agra
Akbar, the emperor of Agra, cannot find the proper servants to serve him and turns to his dear friend, Birbal, the wise minister, for advice and help in times of trouble and despair.
A Moment Comes
As the partition of India nears in 1947 bringing violence even to Jalandhar, Tariq, a Muslim, finds himself caught between his forbidden interest in Anupreet, a Sikh girl, and Margaret, a British girl whose affection for him might help with his dream of studying at Oxford.
The Wakame Gatherers
When Nanami’s Gram from Maine visits Japan, Nanami’s Japanese grandmother, Baachan, takes them to the seashore to gather wakame seaweed. Includes several recipes for wakame.
Featured in Volume VI, Issue 1 of WOW Review.
Kids Of Kabul
Since its publication in 2000, hundreds of thousands of children all over the world have read and loved The Breadwinner. By reading the story of eleven-year-old Parvana and her struggles living under the terror of the Taliban, young readers came to know the plight of children in Afghanistan.But what has happened to Afghanistan’s children since the fall of the Taliban in 2001? In 2011, Deborah Ellis went to Kabul to find out. She interviewed children who spoke about their lives now. They are still living in a country torn apart by war. Violence and oppression still exist, particularly affecting the lives of girls, but the kids are weathering their lives with courage and optimism: “I was incredibly impressed by the sense of urgency these kids have needing to get as much education and life experience and fun as they can, because they never know when the boom is going to be lowered on them again.”The two dozen or so children featured in the book range in age from ten to seventeen. Many are girls Deb met through projects funded by Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, the organization that is supported by royalties from The Breadwinner Trilogy. Parvana’s Fund provides grants towards education projects for Afghan women and children, including schools, libraries and literacy programs.All royalties from the sale of Kids of Kabul will also go to Women for Women in Afghanistan. Aftermatter includes a map, glossary, a short history of Afghanistan and suggestions for further reading/resources.
Featured in Volume VI, Issue 1 of WOW Review.
Samurai Kids #1: White Crane
Even though he has only one leg, Niya Moto is studying to be a samurai, and his five fellow-students are similarly burdened, but sensei Ki-Yaga, an ancient but legendary warrior, teaches them not only physical skills but mental and spiritual ones as well, so that they are well-equipped to face their most formidable opponents at the annual Samurai Games.
See the review at WOW Review Volume 5, Issue 4
Cleversticks
Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung unexpectedly and happily discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks.
Nine Days
Tenth-graders Ethan and Ti-Anna go to Hong Kong seeking her father, an exiled Chinese democracy activist who has disappeared, and follow his trail to Vietnam and back, also uncovering illegal activity along the way. Includes author’s note and the history behind the novel written by the girl who inspired it.