From a fish waiting to be born, to the beginning of art and the necessity of death...lore from the Gond tribal community in central India abounds with stories of origins, transformations and ends. Celebrated Gond artist Bhajju Shyam now gathers together these tales for the first time. By linking the cosmic with the everyday, he expresses the essence of each myth in ten sequential images. This extraordinary visual narrative of cyclical time takes us from the germinal moment to the turnaround point, where death once again transits into renewal.

What is a good toy? To find out, learn to make your own! Follow the step-by-step instructions in this book, and come up with an unbelievable range of playthings using simple everyday materials. All of them are based on a vanishing tradition of so-called folk toys, which used to be created by small time toymakers from all over India. With clues, poems and jokes thrown in, children will find the instructions easy to follow on their own. Adults working with children will notice how they begin to explore, value and handle physical material intelligently - an important sense to restore in an increasingly virtual world. In addition to toy making, the book also looks at the science behind some of them. A thought provoking last section is meant for adults who would like to think through the complex issues of toys and play in today's world: how can we enable free and open-ended play which is not tied to expensive products, virtual reality, ready-made stories, or regressive notions of gender?

Oedipus, king of Thebes, tries to uncover the dreadful sin for which the gods are punishing his city, but his search leads him into the dark depths of his own past. When he finds that the sin is his own, he visits upon himself the punishment that will lift the curse. This sensi- tive retelling of Sophocles' masterpiece is powerfully illustrated and classically designed.

Gita Wolf and Sirish Rao, Illustrated by Indrapramit Roy Antigone, pious, headstrong and reckless, breaks the law and defies her uncle, King Creon, in order to honour her slain brother. This is an original and dramatic retelling of Sophocles' famous Greek tragedy. Inspired by the pottery of the period, the illustrations recreate the drama of Greek

People from the Rathwa tribe in Gujarat create a ritual wall painting as a way of worshipping their gods Pithora and Pithori, depicted as horses. The creation of Pithora paintings is considered a form of worship, to keep away ill-luck and invite good fortune. To paint is to mirror - and honour - all that has been created in the universe. This sophisticated conception of the transformative power of art has been rendered into a deceptively simple children's tale by Rathwa artist Harsingh Hamir.

"The book's innovative accordion design illustrated in the Bengal Patua style of scroll painting is just one of the sumptuous design elements that distinguish it as a remarkable offering. . . A gorgeous re-envisioning of an old, old story." -- "Kirkus Reviews "Starred Review
"This striking version is illustrated by Joydeb Chitrakar in a Bengali style of scroll painting--with rich colors, strong black lines." -- "The Wall Street Journal"
"The stunning illustrations--which really constitute one continual image--reflect an openhearted, instantly accessible folk art aesthetic . . . a glorious example of storytelling's universality."-- "Publishers Weekly "Starred Review
"An arresting first image--God's huge, baleful eye--is the visual source of all that follows. . . provocative" -- "The Horn Book Magazine"
"This beautifully designed and intelligently produced retelling of the flood expands the bounds of bookmaking." -- "Shelf Awareness"
In this Indian version of the Biblical tale, talented Bengali Patua scroll painter Joydeb Chitrakar leads the reader from a deluge of water to a rainbow of hope. A book that can be leafed through in the traditional way or unfolded out as an accordion, the vibrant illustrations and concise text provide a singular approach to an ancient, universal story. Suitable for children ages 6+.
US Grade Level Equivalent: 3, US Guided Reading Level: O

Anything can be turned into a puppet, you just need to know how! Based on the principles taught by traditional Indian puppeteers, each puppet in this jolly book has been made from simple everyday material. It proves that once you know the basics, it is accidents, discoveries and a sense of humour which let you create a puppet. Have a set of puppets ready? Use our playscript, or go ahead and perform your own puppet play!