Stories from India

by Anna Milbourne, Linda Edwards (Illustrator)

Retells sixteen traditional Indian tales that will engage and amuse young children. Featuring old stories of trickery and cunning, fable-like tales of animals, and inspiring stories of the battles and feats of different Hindu gods. Ages 4+.

Genres: India, Cultural

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Growing up in North West England and in Germany, Anna wrote plays about talking animals, and stories about naughty children, and drew on every available surface. After school, she did an Art Foundation course, then a degree in German Literature & Philosophy at Oxford University. In 1998 she found her perfect job at Usborne in London, writing about everything from curious penguins to trips to the Moon. Usborne.com

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories from India repeats a few tales that also appear in Myths and Legends. Both books are by the same author/illustrator duo, so the printings of the stories/illustrations are identical.

An enjoyable collection of Indian tales, but it rather lacked a certain #OwnVoices quality. Yet, I'm very glad to have an accessible young readers' collection of Indian stories with wonderful illustrations all the same. This collection makes a good starting point for young readers who want to learn about the myths of India in more detail.

[J. Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Milbourne has done a good job of collecting excellent and unusual tales, and even plausibly summarizing the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Not an easy task!

New to me -- completely new, which is a rarity given the number of folk tales I've devoured -- are a group of stories featuring Birbal, advisor to the Emperor Akbar, and Birbal's witty resolutions of the tasks to which he is set. I've shortened this one to the bare bones: Akbar: What should be done with someone who pulls the Emperor's mustache? Other advisors: Boil him in oil! Akbar: What say you, Birbal? Birbal: Give him sweets. Akbar: Why so? Birbal: Because the only one who would dare to pull your mustache is your little grandson. Akbar: Good job, here's another bag of gold.

Apparently Akbar-Birbal stories make up an entire subgenre of Indian fiction, one which I will seek out pronto.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book told all kinds of Indian fables. I've been interested in India lately so I thought this book was really good.

[weemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charity shop find 📖

I couldn't not get this beautiful little book when I found it (in perfect condition) in a charity shop. It's such a stunning cover, with beautiful illustrations all the way through. And the stories inside are fascinating. Some I'd heard of before but most I hadn't, and I loved discovering them. What I love about reading is how it opens up other worlds to you, and this little gem did just that!

[Morgana · Rating 3 out of 5]

De belles illustrations accompagnent les histoires.

[Nat Real · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun little reads! didn't finish it tho

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

great look at some children stories from a different land!

[Jasmani]

How do u read this