Ages 14 - 19

Retold Traditional Tales

• Myths and Legends of India, by DA Mackenzie. (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Adventures of Young Krishna: The Blue God of India, by Diksha Clayton & Marilyn Heeger. Oxford University Press, 1992 (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Puffin Book of Legendary Lives, by Meena Arora Nayak. Pegnuin, 2004. (Ages 8 - 15)

Nonfiction

• Aliya: Stories of the Elephants of Sri Lanka, by Teresa Cannon & Peter Davis. Airavata Press, Victoria, Australia A celebration of the elephants and their distinctive part in the mythology, culture, economy and ecosystem of Sri Lanka. More details at the book website. (Ages 8 - 16)

• Childhood Days, by Satyajit Ray. Penguin India, 1998. First published by Ananda Publishers, Calcutta, 1982. An autobiographical memoir by the renowned filmmaker. [Review at Parabaas] (Ages 8 - 18)

• In the Country of Gold Digging Ants, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2009 Astonishing stories about India written by explorers who came to the country as pilgrims, students, traders, voyagers and fortune-seekers from the 3rd century BC till the mid-twentieth century. These visitors left behind fascinating accounts of their perilous journeys in an unknown land; descriptions of what the people ate, wore and thought; who ruled them and how; the strange animals of this land, and many more startling facts which are often the only written historical records of those times. Filled with incredible stories and nuggets of information, In the Country of Gold-digging Ants brings alive the exciting adventures of eleven intrepid men and women, and may just make history your most favourite subject. (Ages 10 - 15)

• Manni From a World Beyond the Stars, by Benrali. Only1Earth, 2010 Manni From A World Beyond Stars is an artist's book, combining traditional pen & ink drawings over watercolor washes and verse creating a true fusion of many cultures that goes far beyond the terminology of "East West" because South America, Central America and the Caribbean are so much more than just two worlds. They are layers and layers of multiculturalism that create worlds of their own. Click here to see a detail from one of the images in this book (Ages 5 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Mathematwist: Number Tales from Around the World, by TV Padma. Tulika, Chennai A world where numbers and mathematical concepts unravel in stories, folktales and anecdotes. So whether it's Dividing a Goose, Rounding up Camels or Gourmet Roulette, children at the math level of classes 6, 7 and 8 will have fun with words and numbers as well. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Mother Teresa, by Joan Gruff Cluca. A biography of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. (Ages 10 - 14)

• On Top of the World, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, Oct 2010 A month after he had set out, sixteen-year-old Arjun Vajpai stood on top of the world, having conquered Mount Everest. At that time he was the youngest non-Sherpa person in the world to do so. He remains the youngest Indian to have climbed the peak. It had indeed been a long journey. Arjun s fascination with mountains began at the age of ten, nurtured and encouraged by his parents, teachers, and close friends. As a trekker and an athlete, he had trained and worked hard to achieve this amazing feat of endurance. This is Arjun s story in his own words. Accompany him on an adventure of a lifetime; read about his incredible ascent; and learn what it takes to be a mountaineer. On Top of the World is an unforgettable story of inspiration, fortitude and courage; of having a seemingly impossible dream and daring to chase it. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Out of India, by Jamila Gavin. Hodder Children's Books, 2002 A timely memoir of her Anglo-Indian childhood which deepens the understanding of her novels . . . a unique record of dual heritage (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Turtle's Dream and Keys, by Benrali. Only1Earth, 2009 A picture book inspired by the brightly colored species of box turtle, the Eastern Box Turtle of Eastern United States and Canada. Benrali has combined a love for naturalism, dreams, fantasy and poetry into a gift book which can be enjoyed by many age groups. Weaving detailed pen and ink garden drawings, etchings and watercolors readers are taken back into time through a box turtle's dream. Click here for a fullcolor image from the book (Ages 5 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Toys and Tales with Everyday Materials, by Sudarshan Khanna, Gita Wolf, Anushka Ravishankar. Tara Books, Chennai. Toys and Tales is a multi-level toymaking book, which addresses three age groups. For the small child: It gives step by step instructions on how to make traditional folk toys with everyday materials For the older child: It explains simple and complex scientific principles through toymaking For the adult: It places the tradition of toymaking in a contemporary context and addresses issues of pedagogy, play, entertainment, consumerism and the toy industry (Ages 4 - 18)

• Trash, by Gita Wolf & Anushka Ravishankar. Tara Publishing, Chennai. Trash! is a unique combination of fiction and fact. Based on the real life experiences of ragpicker children, it tells the story of Velu, a runaway village child. He ends up as a ragpicker in a big city and must face the harsh realities of life on the streets. The story is accompanied by facts and arguments which connect complex issues—ranging from child labour and child rights, to lifestyles, waste and recyclin (Ages 10 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

Fiction

• A Group of One, by Rachna Gilmore. Henry Holt, 2001 An Indo-Canadian girl discovers that both cultures are an important part of her identity. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Aliya: Stories of the Elephants of Sri Lanka, by Teresa Cannon & Peter Davis. Airavata Press, Victoria, Australia A celebration of the elephants and their distinctive part in the mythology, culture, economy and ecosystem of Sri Lanka. More details at the book website. (Ages 8 - 16)

• Atisa and the Seven Wonders, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2008 A strange man crash-landing his even stranger flying machine into Atisa’s home opens a world full of wonders for the fourteen-year-old boy…Full of thrills, chills and spills, Atisa and the Seven Wonders weaves fact and fiction to take you on an action-packed, imaginative and informative exploration of the seven wonders of the ancient world. (Ages 10 - 15)

• Atisa and the Time Machine, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, Oct 2010 Atisa is back! This time in his time-travel balloon! Young Atisa thought he was all set for a cushy ride on Daedalus's balloon to join his mother Gaea in Central Asia. But Danyi, a warrior from the Chinese Emperor's court, a fierce Gobi blizzard and a mysterious white horse compel him to cross paths with Hieun Tsang, the famed monk and traveller who is on his way to King Harshavardhan's court. It soon becomes clear that Hieun Tsang is a hunted man, and despite Atisa's invaluable assistance, the situation only becomes ever more dangerous. Sea pirates, several assassination attempts, friends who cannot be trusted-somebody is determined to make sure that he never returns to China. Who is the implacable enemy that seeks to harm Hieun Tsang? Will Atisa find the courage needed to defeat the dark forces? Will he reach China safe with the knowledge so arduously collected? Join Atisa and the great monk on their fantastic adventures across 7th century Central Asia and India. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Beyond the Blue River, by B. Vinayan. Tulika, 2011 Every time GRACE ? City Auto For Hire No. SD 01 3422 hears the Blue River tune, she gets a ?funny? feeling. Sometimes she hears the tune even before it is hummed. What is this about? And how can an auto hear, let alone get funny feelings? Clearly, Grace is no ordinary auto and one day, she decides to follow her instincts and look for the Blue River. This leads to adventures in the course of which she travels through many worlds and meets many characters and and learns many things ? about herself and the universe. Beyond the Blue River is a gripping read and takes the genre of fantasy to a new realm of resonance. (Ages 12 - 15)

• Bhangra Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Random House, 2006 (Ages 12 - 16)

• Bindi Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Delacorte, 2004 Three fun-loving Anglo-Asian sisters rule the roost since their mom died. They've got a reputation at school for being the coolest babes in town, and what they don't need is an interfering Auntie-ji from India cramping their style. The girls decide the only way out of the problem is an arranged marriage -- for their aunt. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Bollywood Babes, by Narinder Dhami. Random House Children's Books The girls school is desperate for money and their formidable young auntie has volunteered to do some fund-raising. The sisters can't help but be impressed with her plan for an end-of-term Bollywood party. Then inspiration strikes Amber. What could be more glamorous than a real, live, Bollywood film star at the party? Except that if the so-called star is now ancient, foul-tempered, and demanding, is it really such a great idea? (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Born Confused, by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Scholastic, 2002 Dimple Rohitbhai Lala comes of age and discovers unexpected true love, and her place in the world, in the context of the South Asian club and music scene in New York City. (Ages 14 - 18)

• Camel Rider, by Prue Mason. Charlesbridge, 2007 (orig. Penguin Australia, 2004). Adam and his family live comfortably in a compound with other foreigners who work in the Middle East. When war breaks out and all foreigners try to escape, Adam runs away in an effort to save his dog, which has been left behind. Alone and without resources in the desert, Adam meets Walid, an abused camel boy who has run away from his cruel masters. Together they struggle to bridge wide gulfs between their cultures and languages in order to survive. Ultimately both boys learn about true friendship. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• Childhood Days, by Satyajit Ray. Penguin India, 1998. First published by Ananda Publishers, Calcutta, 1982. An autobiographical memoir by the renowned filmmaker. [Review at Parabaas] (Ages 8 - 18)

• Climbing the Stairs, by Padma Venkataraman. Penguin USA During World War II and the last days of British occupation in India, fifteen-year-old Vidya dreams of attending college. But when her forward-thinking father is beaten senseless by the British police, she is forced to live with her grandfather’s large traditional family, where the women live apart from the men and are meant to be married off as soon as possible. Vidya’s only refuge becomes her grandfather’s upstairs library, which is forbidden to women. There she meets Raman, a young man also living in the house who relishes her intellectual curiosity. But when Vidya’s brother makes a choice the family cannot condone, and when Raman seems to want more than friendship, Vidkya must question all she has believed in. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Dahling, if you Luv Me, Would you Please, Please Smile, by Rukhsana Khan. Stoddard Kids A Muslim girl growing up in Canada finds that pleasing her peers and her older sister just isn't worth the effort. (Ages 14 - 18)

• From Out of the Shadows, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont, 2002 Trapped in someone's shadow? Pushed around? Know you're nothing like the person everyone else wants you to be? These stories will make you feel free, whether it's the feeling of the wind in your hair, hanging out with your friends or just smiling a mysterious smile! (Ages 12 - 16)

• Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie. Granta Books + Viking, New York. 1990. Whimsical fantasy novel with lovely spoofs on names and places in the Kashmir Valley , never fully marketed to the young audience it was intended to reach. (Ages 8 - 18)

• Homeless Bird, by Gloria Whelan. HarperCollins Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who even when cast out into a brutal current of time-worn tradition, sets out to forge her own remarkable future.Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen-year-old widows in India today, this universally acclaimed best-selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• In the Country of Gold Digging Ants, by Anu Kumar. Puffin Books, Penguin India, 2009 Astonishing stories about India written by explorers who came to the country as pilgrims, students, traders, voyagers and fortune-seekers from the 3rd century BC till the mid-twentieth century. These visitors left behind fascinating accounts of their perilous journeys in an unknown land; descriptions of what the people ate, wore and thought; who ruled them and how; the strange animals of this land, and many more startling facts which are often the only written historical records of those times. Filled with incredible stories and nuggets of information, In the Country of Gold-digging Ants brings alive the exciting adventures of eleven intrepid men and women, and may just make history your most favourite subject. (Ages 10 - 15)

• Indian Summer, by Pratima Mitchell. Walker Books, 2009 Sarla, a Londoner, spends the summer with her mother's family in Daroga, India. She and her cousin Bina, who is quiet, studious and traditional, are very different indeed. When Sarla learns that Bina has a deep, dark secret - concerning her mother, a murder and bandits in the surrounding hills - she is determined to find out exactly what it is. (Ages 13 - 17) [Sawnet Review]

• Manni From a World Beyond the Stars, by Benrali. Only1Earth, 2010 Manni From A World Beyond Stars is an artist's book, combining traditional pen & ink drawings over watercolor washes and verse creating a true fusion of many cultures that goes far beyond the terminology of "East West" because South America, Central America and the Caribbean are so much more than just two worlds. They are layers and layers of multiculturalism that create worlds of their own. Click here to see a detail from one of the images in this book (Ages 5 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Mathematwist: Number Tales from Around the World, by TV Padma. Tulika, Chennai A world where numbers and mathematical concepts unravel in stories, folktales and anecdotes. So whether it's Dividing a Goose, Rounding up Camels or Gourmet Roulette, children at the math level of classes 6, 7 and 8 will have fun with words and numbers as well. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Maya Running, by Anjali Banerjee. Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Thirteen-year-old Maya was born in India and has grown up in Canada. She loves Manitoba, land of ice and snow, but sometimes she's not sure just where she belongs. The arrival of her glamorous cousin Pinky on a visit from India leads Maya to ask the Hindu god Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles, to change her life. (Ages 10 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Monsoon Summer, by Mitali Perkins. Delacorte, 2004 Fifteen-year old Jazz Gardner leaves California for a life-changing summer in an Indian orphanage. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Mother Teresa, by Joan Gruff Cluca. A biography of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. (Ages 10 - 14)

• Motherland, by Vineeta Vijayraghavan. Soho Press, 2001 A coming-of-age tale of an Americanized teenager making a summer visit to grandparents in India. A lively fifteen-year-old, Maya would rather be with her New York friends, but her mother wants her to embrace her Indian heritage and to appreciate the great love and sacrifice of the relatives who raised her until she was four. (Ages 14 - 19) [Sawnet Review]

• On Top of the World, by Anu Kumar. Puffin India, Oct 2010 A month after he had set out, sixteen-year-old Arjun Vajpai stood on top of the world, having conquered Mount Everest. At that time he was the youngest non-Sherpa person in the world to do so. He remains the youngest Indian to have climbed the peak. It had indeed been a long journey. Arjun s fascination with mountains began at the age of ten, nurtured and encouraged by his parents, teachers, and close friends. As a trekker and an athlete, he had trained and worked hard to achieve this amazing feat of endurance. This is Arjun s story in his own words. Accompany him on an adventure of a lifetime; read about his incredible ascent; and learn what it takes to be a mountaineer. On Top of the World is an unforgettable story of inspiration, fortitude and courage; of having a seemingly impossible dream and daring to chase it. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Out of India, by Jamila Gavin. Hodder Children's Books, 2002 A timely memoir of her Anglo-Indian childhood which deepens the understanding of her novels . . . a unique record of dual heritage (Ages 12 - 16)

• Pink or Black, by Tishaa . Rupa & Co. Ever wondered about those weird teenage years when you had no clue what you wanted? When you felt that life was just spiraling out of control? Well, Pink or Black promises to take you right down memory lane and re-live those funny, hysterical and oddly moving monents. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind, by Suzanne Fisher Staples. Random House Children's Books When eleven-year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert of present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying her father's wishes. (Ages 12 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• Shine, Coconut Moon, by Neesha Meminger. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009 SHINE, COCONUT MOON, a debut novel by Neesha Meminger, deals with the Sikh experience post 9/11, as well as issues of family and belonging. The main character, Samar Ahluwahlia (Sam), is Punjabi and Sikh and lives with her single, divorced mother who works very hard to assimilate her daughter into American culture so that Sam might be spared some of the racism that her mother experienced growing up. Sam's mother cut off all ties with her family when Sam was two. But the week of the September 11th attacks, her turbaned uncle walks back into their lives, wanting to reconcile the family, and changes everything for Sam and her mom. (Ages 14 - 18) [Sawnet Review]

• Sorry, Best Friend, by . , edited by Tulika, Chennai. Concerned by the divisive forces of communalism, and its influence on children, the Centre for Science, Culture and Education conducted a workshop to examine ways of dealing with the situation. This collection of short stories focusing on communal harmony is an offshoot of this workshop. It is the first in a series on affirmative themes. (Ages 8 - 14)

• That Summer at Kalagarh, by Ranjit Lal. Tulika, Chennai. A gripping tale set in the lush forests of the Kumaon hills -- Corbett country, brought to life with naturalist-author Ranjit Lal's photographic eye for detail. (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• The Blood Stone, by Jamila Gavin. Egmont, 2003 Filippo has never seen his father. Before he was born, his father left their home in Venice to travel to the court of the Great Magul Emperor Shah Jehan. He never returned. Twelve years later, a stranger brings a message that Filippo's father is in the hands of bandits. Filippo follow's his father's journey, into the intrigue of the Emperor's court and on into Afghanistan... (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Forbidden Temple, by Padma Venkataraman. Tulika, Chennai How was everyday life for children long ago? Did they have pets? Did foreign students feel homesick? What was it like to go shopping in a big city? What sort of games did they play? In this book, imagination takes off from carefully researched fact to create ten fascinating stories of children from times past, panning India's history from around 3500 BC onward. Alongside are bits of interesting information -- easy to absorb, just enough for added atmosphere. Finely etched pictures come together in collages to illustrate each story. A perky ant leads the trail through a very visual activity section that makes tracking history so much fun! (Available from Tulika or orders@padmasbooks.com) (Ages 10 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, by Uma Krishnaswami. Athenium, 2011 Eleven-year old Dini loves movies -- watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own -- especially Bollywood movies. But when her mother tells her some big news, it does not at all jive with the script of her life she has in mind. Her family is moving to India -- and, not even to Bombay, which is the center of the Bollywood universe and home to Dini's all-time most favorite star, Dolly. No, Dini is moving to a teeny, tiny village she can't even find on a map. Swapnagiri. It means Dream Mountain and it only looks like a word that's hard to pronounce. But to that open-minded person who sounds the name out, one letter at a time, it falls quite handily into place: S-w-a-p-n-a-g-i-r-i. An honest sort of name, with no surprise letters waiting to leap out and ambush the unwary. That doesn't mean there aren?t surprises in Swapnagiri like mischievous monkeys and a girl who chirps like a bird -- and the biggest surprise of all: Dolly. So now, Dini is hard at work on a new script, the script in which she gets to meet the amazing Dolly. But, life is often more unpredictable than the movies and when Dini starts plotting her story things get a little out of control. (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• The House of Djinn, by Suzanne Fisher Staples. Frances Foster/FSG, New York, 2008 It has been ten years since Shabanu staged her death to secure the safety of her daughter, Mumtaz, from her husband’s murderous brother. Mumtaz has been raised by her father’s family with the education and security her mother desired for her, but with little understanding and love. Only her American cousin Jameel, her closest confidant and friend, and the beloved family patriarch, Baba, understand the pain of her loneliness. When Baba unexpectedly dies, Jameel’s succession as the Amirzai tribal leader and the arrangement of his marriage to Mumtaz are revealed, causing both to question whether fulfilling their duty to the family is worth giving up their dreams for the future. A sequel to Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind and Haveli. (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• The Mahatma and the Monkeys, by Anu Kumar. Hatchette, India, 2009 This book, for today’s kids with an introduction by Anupam Kher, brings together the most interesting incidents that shaped Gandhiji’s life and his most important sayings. From his quest for truth, non-violence, equality and freedom, from the lessons he learned, and from his powerful words, you too can learn to be a little bit like Gandhiji. Through what he did and what he said Gandhiji inspired millions of Indians and made one of the mightiest empires in the world bow to his dream: freedom for India. That’s what made him an uncommon man and the greatest leader of the millennium. And that’s why, even decades after his death, his work and his words matter in today’s world. Mahatma Gandhi never said, “What can I do, I’m only one person.” Instead he said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” And he did. (Ages 12 - 15)

• The Message of Thunder & Other Plays, by Debjani Chatterjee. Orient Longman, India, 1999 Short plays based on stories from world religions (Ages 8 - 14)

• The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Hatchett Books, USA Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help. (Ages 10 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Hatchett Books, USA The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain. With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them. (Ages 10 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• The Sower of Tales, by Rachna Gilmore. Fitzhenry & Whiteside King's men on horseback, riding through the Plains. Rumors and fear. Fingers flicked to ward off evil, whenever the Sorcerer Odhran is mentioned. Something is definitely not right, and Calantha isn't the only one to feel it. The Seers and the Gatherers all agree - the Essences have become twisted, hard to read. But why? No one seems to know. Trying to shut out the discord, Calantha loses herself in the tales of the story pods - the story pods whose seeds are scattered nightly by the Sower of Tales. But then the unthinkable happens. There are story pods in the fields as always, but there is no new growth. Where are the seeds? What will become of the Plains folk without the Tales to bring them together? Has the Sower of Tales abandoned them? In desperation, Calantha sets off on a harrowing journey to seek the Sower of Tales, only to be burdened with a terrifying task. Others will help her, if Calantha can trust them. Her dearest dreams - and her worst nightmares - will guide her, if Calantha can face them. And she must. For the fate of the Plainsfolk, the fate of the Sower of Tales herself rests in Calantha's hands. And her one passion, the Tales, will make her more vulnerable - and more powerful - than anyone could have known. (Ages 11 - 14) [Sawnet Review]

• The Sunita Experiment, by Mitali Perkins. Scholastic An Indian-American girl whose grandparents come to visit from India. Also about cultural conflicts she faces, and her maturing relationship with her mother. (Ages 12 - 16)

• The Trouble with Dilly, by Rachna Gilmore. Harper Collins Dilly can't believe her eyes. That new kid, Gedion, is shoplifting from her family's store, and Dilly's mom is letting it happen. Just because Gedion's family is struggling financially doesn't mean that her parents have to let him get away with it. But as soon as Dilly tells on Gedion, she realizes that some things are better left unsaid. Particularly since it means Gedion's father has to give back some groceries in order to pay for the chocolate bars his son has stolen.

  Dilly wants to make up for her mistake and comes up with the perfect idea: recreating a wonderful Christmas for Gedion and his parents, just like the ones Gedion's father said they used to have in the old country. Enlisting the help of her best friends, Dilly soon discovers that the whole community wants to be involved--but has the party become too big? And will they be able to raise all the money they need without Dilly having to dip into her own savings for that very special pair of skates she's been yearning for? (Ages 12 - 15) [Sawnet Review]

• The Turtle's Dream and Keys, by Benrali. Only1Earth, 2009 A picture book inspired by the brightly colored species of box turtle, the Eastern Box Turtle of Eastern United States and Canada. Benrali has combined a love for naturalism, dreams, fantasy and poetry into a gift book which can be enjoyed by many age groups. Weaving detailed pen and ink garden drawings, etchings and watercolors readers are taken back into time through a box turtle's dream. Click here for a fullcolor image from the book (Ages 5 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

• The Village By the Sea, by Anita Desai. Allied Publishers, 1982. Lila is 13 and her brother Hari 12, yet as the eldest children of a family fallen on hard times they feel responsible for looking after their young sisters. Their mother is seriously ill, and their father, out of work, spends most of his time drunk. Lila and Hari desperately seek to keep the family together. Then one day Hari goes to Bombay, and suddenly things begin to change. The story is set in Thul, a small fishing village near Bombay. It won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award in 1983. (Ages 12 - 16)

• Toys and Tales with Everyday Materials, by Sudarshan Khanna, Gita Wolf, Anushka Ravishankar. Tara Books, Chennai. Toys and Tales is a multi-level toymaking book, which addresses three age groups. For the small child: It gives step by step instructions on how to make traditional folk toys with everyday materials For the older child: It explains simple and complex scientific principles through toymaking For the adult: It places the tradition of toymaking in a contemporary context and addresses issues of pedagogy, play, entertainment, consumerism and the toy industry (Ages 4 - 18)

• Trash, by Gita Wolf & Anushka Ravishankar. Tara Publishing, Chennai. Trash! is a unique combination of fiction and fact. Based on the real life experiences of ragpicker children, it tells the story of Velu, a runaway village child. He ends up as a ragpicker in a big city and must face the harsh realities of life on the streets. The story is accompanied by facts and arguments which connect complex issues—ranging from child labour and child rights, to lifestyles, waste and recyclin (Ages 10 - 16) [Sawnet Review]

  ---

  [Traditional Tales Retold] [Nonfiction] [Fiction]

  [Ages 4-8] [Ages 6-10] [Ages 8-12] [Ages 12+] [Ages 14+]

  [Reviews] [Resources & Distributors]