Indian Tales
Part folklore, part cultural tour, this collection of eight folktales begins with a short, enthusiasticintroduction to India s diverse history, people, and landscape. The stories have been drawn from distinctareas of India from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. Prior to each story, a two-pagedescription of the region provides a smattering of information on customs, clothing, traditions, andcelebrations, some of which play a role in the tale that follows. No sources are given, but each story hasthe tight structure, a well-honed pace, and a distinctive, authentic folklore flavor. Bright, colorful, simpleillustrations pick up story elements, frame the narrative, and parade throughout the pages. Filled with EastIndian customs and flavors, magic and secrets, and brave and silly characters, this savory collection is wellsuited for independent reading, reading aloud, and multicultural studies.--Booklist, November 15, 2007This anthology presents eight fluid retellings of folktales from different Indian states...An introduction offers a brief overview of the country's history, from Indus Valley civilization to the Mughal dynasties, concluding with a paragraph about modern India. Each folktale is preceded by a note with facts about the state from which it originated, including explanations of festivals or terms that appear in the text. Illustrations and page borders support the texts perfectly as the folk-style paintings reflect colors of rural life.The collection provides a good introduction to Indian folklore and could be enjoyed as a read-aloud by younger children, while students in the intermediate grades can enjoy them independently." --School Library Journal