The first chaang, the first elephant, once had big eyes,Which the animals thought looked beautiful and wise.Then, along came a bird, a wagtail, and… Told in verse, this folktale from the Tai Phake people of India’s northeast is gentle and funny.
There isn't a drop of water in the village. The desperate people set off to find a badwa who can ask the gods to send rain. And what does he tell them to do? Go home and paint! An origin story about Bhil art with stunning illustrations in the traditional pithora style.
Hambreelmai is the first weaver, happy at her loom. One day, Sheipung the porcupine sees her exquisite cloth and wants it… What happens next is the story of how the Mishmi people of Arunachal Pradesh learnt to weave.
Happiness has begun to leak out of the world… One old woman decides something has to be done, and the wind tells her to go to a certain fish in a green-green lake. A magical book from a Gond storyteller and a Gond artist.
Who should get more rottis — Ookamma or Ookaiah? The coming together of two stories, one real and one folk, gives the telling a tender yet amusing twist. Well known artist A.V. Ilango's strong, flowing lines recreate the earthy ambience of rural Andhra. 2018: Best Of Indian Children's Writing : Contemporary
A sapling becomes a shady tree as a dusty path is beaten into a busy street. This lyrically told story and pictures that blend folk styles, show how development and conservation can coexist. 2013: Outstanding International Book, United States Board on Books for Young People, USA
Inspired by an Australian Aboriginal tale and adapting their folk art, this is a story about what happens when birds, animals and fishes compete about who should rule the world.
How did the Warlis first begin to paint their walls with shining, white images? A whimsical story that imagines how the art may have been born.
Grandmother tells a story that never ends, and then another! A chain story typical of folktales, its stylised illustrations provide unusual perspectives.
What happens when seven animals have to share one small umbrella? Cheery pictures liven up an old folktale about sharing retold with a twist.
Help! cries the ant when its little one falls into the water. Crokk! Isspiss! Aaaanh! Cheek! Miyawwwwn! Woaw! come the responses in this folktale that plays with sound.
The sun is hurt when the farmer shouts at it, and goes away. Only a rooster's trick will bring it back. Luminous illustrations bring alive this folktale of the Ao people of Nagaland.
From the hills of Meghalaya, adventurous Ka Iew looks down at the sunny plains of Sylhet and challenges her sister Ka Ngot to a race. Who reaches first? A Khasi folktale, with luminous illustrations that evoke the landscape.
When the people beg a lazy god to find land, he goes to the astrologer for help. A zany story from the Bhilalas of central India, with pictures based on original mud-wall paintings. 2000: Excellence in Publishing, Federation of Indian Publishers
Bold, colourful illustrations inspired by Japanese Kamishibai story cards enhance the telling of this Korean tale about a tiger that tries to take advantage of two children.
Award for Excellence in Publishing from the Federation of Indian Publishers, 2000 for Tamil translation Yaar Adutha Ningthou? 2000: Excellence in Publishing, Federation of Indian Publishers (for the Tamil translation)
Sonabai lives by making and selling sweets with berries from her tree. All is well until Kolaba the fox enters the scene. A Marathi folktale with stylised paper-cut illustrations.
A cumulative folktale from Kerala about a greedy Poocha cat and a practical Eecha fly is told through repetitive text and animated pictures.
A timeless Marathi folktale about one-haired Ekki and two-haired Dokki, illustrated with happy triangles.
When a herd of elephants creates trouble in the jungle, do the little rabbits run away in fear? No! Illustrations are based on the pithora folk style of central India, deriving from cave art.
A gentle folktale from Andhra Pradesh about the magic of stories with illustrations derived from the style and colours of Kondapalli toys of Andhra Pradesh.
Big, burly Tarlochan is a champion wrestler, eager for some real challenge. The pictures for this robust folk fantasy from Punjab imbibe the spirit of its fun-loving feisty people. Phulkari, 'flower-work' embroidery typical of Punjab, adds richness to the illustrations.
This hilarious folktale from Gujarat follows miserly Bhikhubhai's desperate attempts to get himself a coconut — all free! Pictures in the book are based on the stylised painted paper scrolls used by Garoda storytellers in northern Gujarat.
Nazneen carefully cooks some fragrant marzwangan kurma for a special family dinner. But just when it is all ready, guests arrive. The illustrations use traditional Kashmiri embroidery motifs to provide ambience for the story.
