Contemporary adaptation of an Indian folk tale, retold.
Hen-Sparrow Turns Purple
Asia
Materials from Asia
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.
Evergreen Tales of Panchatantra
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.
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.
Blood Ninja III
The fate of feudal Japan hangs in the balance in this bloody conclusion to the epic trilogy. Taro is at a crossroads: He has vanquished Lord Oda for good, but with no land and no title, he has no hope of marrying Hana, the daughter of a daimyo. So when Taro receives news of a murderous dragon and the large reward for killing it, he and his friends find themselves on a dangerous quest to slay the beast. Their mission has the potential to save the people of Japan—but failure will result in the deaths of thousands. And dragons are not the only monsters they will encounter: The dead, led by the odious Kenji Kira, have begun to rise, and they have Taro in their sights. In this heart-stopping conclusion to the Blood Ninja trilogy, the future of all feudal Japan is in danger, and everything Taro holds dear will be threatened. But it is the betrayal of flesh and blood—his own flesh and blood—that may be his ultimate undoing.
Spirit’s Chosen
As Himiko traverses ancient Japan in order to free enslaved members of her clan, she encounters members of many other tribes and emerges as the leader who will unify them.