Animal Tales from India

What a beautiful book! Originally bought this as a gift to my niece but we ended up reading through it together. The stories all flowed really well, my niece being so excited after each one she was desperate to move onto the next but instead we spoke about what she enjoyed and loved about the story, spent time laughing at our animal impressions that were inspired by the reads, and each story became something to look forward to!

Lovely stories, lovely illustrations, fantastic book

4.5 Stars
As the title suggests, the book is a collection of Panchatantra tales from ancient India. These were written in Sanskrit and translated into several languages over the years. There are countless interpretations, retellings, and versions of each story.
I knew I had to check this out the moment I saw the book. Just look at that cover! I’ve heard of the author, though I’ve yet to read her poems. This book has ten stories retold for the little ones (3+ age group, according to the publisher).
• The Blue Jackal
• The Bird Who Angered the Sea
• The Mice Who Freed the Elephants
• The Monkey and the Crocodile
• The Jackal Who Fooled a Lion
• The Singing Donkey
• The Very Talkative Tortoise
• The Lion and the Talking Cave
• The Four Friends and the Hunter
• The Elephant and the Moon
The stories are pretty much short, crisp, and cute. We have a small introduction note by the author, followed by the stories. I like how the author’s voice continues throughout the book. She begins and ends each story by addressing the readers. This approach works in taking the content closer to the kids, especially if they read the book on their own.
The writing is simple and has a touch of humor and poetic style. A few words may be hard for three-year-olds. However, since adults will anyway have to read the tales aloud, they can explain the meanings. Another aspect I like is the little tweaks to the storyline to make the content kid-friendly. No deaths, beatings, or broken bones in this one.
Each story ends with a couple of lines introspecting on the moral and how it would help us. This is done without sounding preachy. There’s just enough for kids to ponder upon and adults to continue a discussion on the theme if they want to. The main characters have cute names, too!
How can I not mention the illustrations? Illustrations are the main reason I request children’s books. This one nails them. The color combinations are perfect! From earthy browns and oranges to waves in sapphire and jade and the violet streaks of a night inside a jungle, every shade seamlessly blends with the other. The animals and birds look just as lovely, with their expressions matching the story on the page.
The font size is decent, but I read it on the computer and used zoom. The physical copy would be a much better choice due to the color scheme and the text placed on dark backgrounds on some pages. Also, these illustrations deserve to be enjoyed as a physical book.

To summarize, Animal Tales from India is a beautiful and compact collection of ten Panchatantra tales for kids. Though the book ends with a good night note, it can be read at any time. (I wish the book included the illustrator’s note too.)
Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
**********
Links to the GR and Amazon reviews will be updated after the book's release.

loved and enjoyed these!!!!
the stories are easy to understand and have great morals. and the illustrations are all so very beautiful.
for an indian who grew up reading moral stories, these were pure delights. i’m sure children would love this book alot.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy!

A beautiful short story picture book. The illustrations are so utterly whimsical and wondrous. This combined with the fable like tales make this the perfect gift for children and adults alike. I adored it!!

Utterly exquisite.
Ten stories from India recounted with lyricism, warmth and humour, this is a book that will be treasured through childhood and beyond. The lessons each tale teaches are gently drawn out and the characters are brought to life both by Nikita Gill's beautiful prose and the exquisite illustrations of Chaaya Prabhat. From the rich and beautiful palettes to the energy and movement for each double page spread and the tiny details that draw the eye round the page, this book is a feast for the ears, the eyes and the heart. A book to return to time and time again

This is a perfect storybookwith amazing illustrations to have in the classroom. Great for English units and class read. I would also use it for the beginning of geography lesson about places and their culture.

Thank you NetGalley and Nosy Crow for this eCopy to review

What a beautiful book, the illustrations are amazing and really brought the stories to life. Gill's stories leap of the page they are well written and easy for a 3 year old to understand. I have slightly older children who both enjoyed listening to the stories so it works for most primary school ages

Most importantly, they are not too long so the children don't get bored, the pictures help keep their attention and I love the morals at the end of each tale.

Definitely going on the present list as a gift option

This is a beautiful book of short animal stories which would make magical bedtime reading for a younger child. Everything about it is lovely – the stories themselves, the simple and easy-to-understand writing, and especially the fantastic illustrations. It is a complete joy for lovers of children’s books like me. I love the way that the stories are a bit silly and the fact that there is a moral to be learned with each one. Although the book is short I can imagine hours and hours of laughter, learning and discussion coming from it. It’s on my ‘What to get the grandkids list’! Thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the opportunity to read and review. This will surely be a winner.

Animal Tales from India by Nikita Gill, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Do you have younger children? Perhaps Grandchildren? Or in my case, young Great nieces and nephews? Or simply friends or other family with young children?
Then I urge you to buy this book.
Not only is it exquisitely illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, the stories brought to life by Nikita Gil are just wonderful.

Yes, they're not exclusively her work, rather a collection of stories handed down, as described in the introduction:- 'One night long ago, I asked my grandmother where her stories came from, and she told me that she had got them from her mother. And her mother had got them from her grandmother. And so it goes, like a river flowing back all the way through time.'

But what makes this series of short stories stand out? The stories themselves are easy to understand, yet they all carry a moral tale. But, they do so in ways that are relatable and allow children to think on things, and ask questions or talk it through with adults. It also brings us a gorgeous taste of Indian culture through these stories. Regardless of your ethnic background, they really bring it to life, and that's to be celebrated in my opinion.

I read the ebook but I noted it seems to be only available in hardback or audiobook at the moment. Honestly, unless you need audiobooks for accessibility reasons, I highly recommend this is bought as a physical book, because those illustrations deserve to be shown in all their glory.

Just the perfect younger children's book, that I for one shall be buying for the aforementioned Great nieces and nephews!
Pure delight.

5/5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is amazingly vibrant and beautifully illustrated and all children will enjoy looking at the wonderful pictures.

The ten stories are short, sweet re-tellings of Panchatantra fables, mostly highlighting the importance and value of family and friends. They would make perfect bedtime stories for younger children and parents will enjoy reading them too.

Wonderful full-colour artwork illustrating equally good stories from Nikita Gill, fables of character and life told in an engaging way. We now have the book in store and this is an excellent title.

In a Nutshell: Ah, the nostalgia of rereading your childhood favourite stories! Loved revisiting some beautiful animal tales from the Panchatantra in this glorious new packaging. Excellent stories, meaningful morals, brilliant narrative style, and captivating illustrations. The perfect package!

The Panchatantra, a beloved component of almost every little Indian reader’s library, (at least until my generation), is an ancient collection of animal fables written circa 200 BCE. The tales might be age-old but their entertainment factor and the morals they offer are relevant even today. Their original intent was to impart wisdom to princes, and as such, their plots lead to not just practical life lessons but also judicious decision-making. At the same time, the stories themselves, with their cute animal characters and interactions, are delightful to read.

I have lost count of how many Panchatantra stories I have read since my childhood. So when I saw this book on NetGalley, I was initially in two minds about whether I ought to grab something I am already so familiar with. But one look at the stunning cover, and I knew I was a goner. I didn’t realise then that even the text would be equally stunning.

While I knew most of the stories herein, I enjoyed the style in which the author wrote them. She is a poet, and this creative faculty is visible in her choice of words, especially in her vivid descriptions of the animal and the forests. Moreover, unlike the myriad other Panchatantra collections, she does not stick to the original serious format of narration, one akin to an elder telling a story to their students. Rather, her storytelling incorporates a warmth and a youthfulness that somehow intertwines a casual conversational approach with plenty of action-oriented writing. In other words, even when these stories are read, the child will feel like the author is *narrating* them. I am sure this collection will be a hit at bedtime with its witty lines.

I loved the illustrations as much as the storytelling. Every single page is a mesmerising work of art! The animals, the trees, the background – every element is so breathtakingly beautiful that I could stare at the graphics all day.

An easy recommendation, this. It delivers on every requirement you would have from children’s fiction – entertainment, education, and illustration. The language makes this a perfect fit for littlies aged 3-8 years.

The physical book is meant to be a gift edition, with colour artwork on every page, a foiled cloth binding with a jacket, and a ribbon marker. What a delightful gift it would make! 😍 The book is also available in an audio version narrated by the author herself, which will be brilliant considering her kid-friendly writing style. But honestly, as long as you have no sight-related issues, why would you want to forsake looking at those gorgeous illustrations?

‘Pancha’ means ‘five’ in Sanskrit. Now… guess how many stars this perfect children’s offering book deserves?

Pancha!

Pro Tip: Begin with the author’s introduction. No skipping over it!

My thanks to Nosy Crow and NetGalley for the DRC of “Animal Tales from India”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.