Multicultural children’s literature from across the world – stories, poems, folktales and books in English for kids, and stories in Hindi and poems in Hindi too. Original literature in English for kids from around the globe and book reviews and recommended reading lists for children.
433 items in this section. Displaying page 4 of 44
Shaikh Chilli
Long, long ago, there lived a simpleton whose name was Shaikh Chilli. Because of his stupid but innocent actions, he was popular among his friends. They enjoyed his company. One day, the village zamindar (landlord) sent for him. This landlord was well-known for his dishonesty. He asked Shaikh Chilli to count all the houses in the village. He promised to pay him at the rate of twenty paisa per house. Poor Shaikh Chilli worked hard for many hours, walking through the streets and lanes....
The Special Prize
What a naughty boy! He deserves to be thrashed. I have also received reports of his getting into fights with other boys. Send for him. “Mohan! Hey Mohan!” the headmaster shouted for the chowkidar. Mohan guessed from the growl in the voice that the headmaster was very angry. He rushed in and asked apprehensively, “Yes, Sir?” “Hurry and get Tapan of class V,” the headmaster ordered. Let me introduce the reader to the boy named Tapan....
The Great Escape
On the outskirts of a bustling city near the sea coast was a zoo named Kananvan. It was famous all over the world for its magnificent white tigers, exotic birds and several other rare species. However, there was one special quality that made the zoo different and about which no human knew. The animals of Kananvan practiced a democracy that is quite rare even in the so-called civilised world. A democracy in a zoo? I’ll explain....
King of the Birds
The birds of the jungle had no king. It was a real embarrassment for them since everyone else in the jungle had kings. A king is someone who heads the flock and decides every thing for them. All the birds decided they too needed a king. The called a meeting to resolve the problem. But who will be the king? The Mynah had an idea. “Let the bird who can fly the highest be made king of the air,” she said....
The Desert Creature
This happened thousands of years ago. Life was hard as people had to do all the work by themselves. A large number of people were nomads – they would travel from one place to another in search of food and shelter. While travelling one day, a man arrived at the edge of a desert. He was walking in the sands, when suddenly, he came across a frightening creature – it had extremely long, thin legs, a giant hump and a long neck....
My Garden
There’s a garden in my house A garden full of flowers I love to be there all the time And spend just hours and hours There are roses, every kind And lilies in the pool Sunflowers looking trim and bright And jasmines white and cool. There’s a lawn of velvet grass So soft and oh so green Like a carpet beneath my feet The nicest I have seen. My Garden [Illustration by Sudheer Nath] There are bulbuls, parrots too...
Kindness to Animals
Little children, never give Pain to things that feel and live; Let the gentle robin come For the crumbs you save at home; As his meat you throw along He’ll repay you with a song. Never hurt the timid hare Peeping from her green grass lair, Let her come and sport and play On the lawn at close of day. Kindness to Animals [Illustration by Aneesh Jaisinghani] The little lark goes soaring high...
The Three Butterflies
Neeli, Peeli and Lali were three brothers. And they were butterflies. The most handsome butterflies in all the land, and best friends, too. Their mother, Rangberangi, had taught them all they knew. She told them many things, “But”, she said, “the most important thing of all to remember is that you must always depend on and support each other. Together, you will be stronger than the Sun, Wind and Rain combined even though you fly on delicate gossamer wings....
The Wedding Chain
Mother always wore her wedding chain. She wore it indoors and outdoors, she even wore it in the bath. She never ever took it off. It was a gift to her from father. His eyes shone with tender love when he had brought her to his home after their marriage, and put it around her neck. It had been made-to-order to a special design that father gave to the goldsmith. The chain had bits of twisted gold interspersed with five black beads, followed by another bit of twisted gold chain....
The lazy monk — a tale from the Panchatantra
Note: This folktale has been adapted from the Panchatantra story originally titled “The lazy brahmin”.Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit.