Chitra Soundar

More funny, clever trickster tales from India. Prince Veera's great-uncle, Raja Apoorva, invites the prince and his best friend, Suku, to the summer festival in Peetalpur, where they participate in some of the competitions. Can they make the peahen sing, though peahens can't sing? Or win the painting competition, or even defeat the country's champion wrestler? The boys face each challenge with great wit and wisdom. Back at the palace, they are faced with more challenges. Raja Apoorva enjoys puzzles and presents several to the boys: who was the intruder who dared to pull the Raja's beard? How can the journey to the seaside be shortened? And at court it's Prince Veera and Suku who will decide which neighbour owns the tree that produces the wonderful figs for the palace, as well as solve the mysteries of the holy man and the astronomer. Four stories packed with clever and amusing tricks and puzzles which will delight children from 6 to 8 – and well beyond.

Born in a small town in India, growing up to study law, he became a powerful voice for change and is now known all over the world as a symbol of perseverance and peace.

Discover six new tales of wit, courage and power in this new treasury from Ladybird Books. Join six kings, queens and warriors from around the world as they battle for crowns, vanquish dark forces and claim their thrones in this colourful illustrated collection of Ladybird Tales. Includes a special introduction from Game of Thrones actress Gemma Whelan. Perfect for bedtime, to read aloud or to enjoy alone, these exciting stories taken from myth and legend show that there is more to royalty than bows and curtsies.

Kina, the camel is travelling through the desert with Rana, the kite seller. Can Kina teach Rana how to have good manners and be kind to others? Or will Rana continue to be mean and selfish? Find out in this playscript set in the Arabian desert. Kina and The Kite Seller is part of the Galaxy range of books from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Galaxy provides captivating fiction and non-fiction for Pink A to White band. The rich collection of highly decodable books immerses children in a range of cross-curricular topics and genres. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and activities to support reading at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 6-7 years

One day, Deepa, the clever rabbit met a hungry lion in the forest. He licked his lips, ready to pounce, but she had a clever plan to trick him... The Clever Rabbit and the Hungry Lion is part of the Galaxy range of books from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Galaxy provides captivating fiction and non-fiction for Pink A to White band. The rich collection of highly decodable books immerses children in a range of cross-curricular topics and genres. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and activities to support reading at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 5-6 years

Kathir lives with his grandmother by the sea where he harvests salt to sell at the market. But one day, Kathir's donkey, Gobi, decides it's too hot to carry the heavy load to the market. What can Kathir do to persuade Gobi to continue with this important task? Find out in this charming tale set in India. The Salt Maker is part of the Galaxy range of books from Rising Stars Reading Planet. Galaxy provides captivating fiction and non-fiction for Pink A to White band. The rich collection of highly decodable books immerses children in a range of cross-curricular topics and genres. Reading Planet books have been carefully levelled to support children in becoming fluent and confident readers. Each book features useful notes and activities to support reading at home as well as comprehension questions to check understanding. Reading age: 6-7 years

Book Band: White (Ideal for ages 6+)An energetic animal story, ideal for children practising their reading at home or in school. All Sloth Bear wants to do is play with Porcupine but it's nap time in the jungle and all the other animals are sleeping. So she throws a guava at Porcupine's tree to wake him up and SPLAT! THUD! BUMP! Little Tiger gets woken up too! And Little Tiger is rather hungry... This funny story set in the Indian jungle from storyteller Chitra Soundar is perfect for children who are learning to read by themselves and for Key Stage 1. It features illustrations from Hannah Marks and appealing characters young readers will find hard to resist._______________Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Julia Donaldson. The series is ideal for both home and school, with gorgeous colour illustrations, tips for parents, and fun activity ideas. Online guided reading and teaching notes, written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), are available at bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Every child needs a Bloomsbury Young Reader. Fun, stretching, just the right length, full of adventurous vocabulary and punctuation.' - Julie-Ann McCulloch, Teacher

The rain clouds are long gone and the dry season scorches the land. Everything is new for the baby giraffe. As she bounds ahead and lags behind, her mother patiently explains the ways of the grasslands. And until she grows a little taller, older and wiser, her mother reminds her: “You’re strong with me.”

Book Band: Purple (Ideal for ages 6+)A fun, magical story, ideal for children practising their reading at home or in school. Manju wants to get a present for her Mum's birthday but Cumin her cat isn't sure about the toy elephant or robot. So when they find Grandma's magic lamp, Manju is granted seven wishes to find the best present. But each wish starts to go wrong and soon the house is filled with a rock band, aliens and pirates! Can Manju and Cumin wish for the perfect gift? This magically humorous tale from storyteller Chitra Soundar is perfect for children who are learning to read by themselves and for Key Stage 1. It features engaging illustrations from Verónica Montoya and quirky characters young readers will find hard to resist._______________Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Julia Donaldson. The series is ideal for both home and school, with gorgeous colour illustrations, tips for parents, and fun activity ideas. Online guided reading and teaching notes, written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), are available at bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Every child needs a Bloomsbury Young Reader. Fun, stretching, just the right length, full of adventurous vocabulary and punctuation.' - Julie-Ann McCulloch, Teacher

Mahatma Gandhi was:A lawyerAn activist An inspiration From growing up in India and studying in London to becoming a political activist in South Africa and taking on the battle for independence in India, Mahatma Gandhi's legacy has lived on well beyond his years. Read the life story of this brilliant, strong-willed and influential man in this beautifully illustrated book, complete with real-life stories, timelines and facts. Explore other extraordinary lives:The Extraordinary Life of Stephen HawkingThe Extraordinary Life of Michelle ObamaThe Extraordinary Life of Katherine JohnsonThe Extraordinary Life of Mary SeacoleThe Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing The Extraordinary Life of Serena WilliamsThe Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela

Can Prince Veera and his best friend outsmart the king's trickiest subjects? Inspired by traditional Indian folktales, these stories are sure to delight. Being a wise and just ruler is no easy task. That's what Prince Veera discovers when he and his best friend, Suku, are given the opportunity to preside over the court of his father, King Bheema. Some of the subjects' complaints are easily addressed, but others are much more challenging. How should they handle the case of the greedy merchant who wishes to charge people for enjoying the smells of his sweets? And can they prove that an innocent man cannot possibly spread bad luck? Will Prince Veera and Suku be able to settle the dispute between a man and his neighbor to whom he sells a well -- but not the water in it? Or solve the mystery of the jewels that have turned into pickles? Illustrated throughout by Uma Krishnaswamy, these eight original tales by Chitra Soundar task Veera and Suku with outwitting the kingdom's greediest, wiliest subjects. Are the two clever boys up to the challenge?

At the start of winter, two bear cubs are born, deep in their den in the frozen North. “Mama, what lies beyond here?” they ask. “‘Above us is a land of ice and snow.” “What lies beyond the ice and snow?” they ask. “The ocean, full of ice from long ago.” And as they learn the secrets of the Earth and their place in it, Mama Bear whispers, “You’re snug with me.”

Pattan has an amazing pumpkin… it grows BIGGER than the goats, BIGGER than the elephants, until it is as TALL as the mountains. But can Pattan’s pumpkin save his family and all the animals when the storm-clouds burst and the waters rise?

Age range 6 to 9Farmer Falgu's ingenious kite-making skills save the day and create a colourful flying display! Farmer Falgu's trips never go smoothly. In this third book of the series, he is on his way to the annual kite-flying festival with his daughter Eila. But... Whoosh! She loses her kite to the strong wind. Will our ingenious Farmer Falgu come up with a solution to make his daughter happy?'I love the simple story, told in simple declarative sentences, enhanced with onomatopoeia and typeface in different colors and designs. The deeply colored illustrations are bold and vivid, outlined in brown and evoke the warmth and color of India.' — Youth Services Book Review

Further delightful trickster tales from IndiaPrince Veera and his best friend, Suku, are left in charge of King Beema's court when the king goes off on a hunting trip. Each day the king's subjects come before the boys with their problems and petty disagreements. Can Veera and Suku settle the dispute between the man who sells a well – but not the water in it – to his neighbour? Or solve the mystery of the jewels that have turned into pickles? And what about the old washerwoman who is set the task of washing the king's elephants until they turn white? These clever, funny trickster tales, full of humour and colour, are sure to delight.

When the mooing, clucking, and quacking on his farm become too much for him to handle, Farmer Falgu decides to set out on a journey to find some silence. One by one, he is joined by a new crew of noisemakers culminating in a cumulative cacophony. When he finally finds the silence that he has been craving for, he realizes that it was not all that he had imagined it to be. Farmer Falgu Goes on a Trip was shortlisted for the prestigious Goodbooks-Hindu Award 2016 and the rights of the book have been sold to Japan, Germany, and France. The story is set in Rajasthan, a state in northern India that is rich in historical significance and holds a special place in the hearts of the Indian diaspora. This is just the first of many adventures planned for Farmer Falgu. Chitra Soundar's onomatopoeic language makes Farmer Falgu Goes on a Trip an especially fun-filled read-aloud. Soundar was born in Chennai, India, and lived for a time in Singapore before settling in London, United Kingdom. Kanika Nair's gentle illustrations portray the rural setting and the wide-ranging characters with understanding and humor. She resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

Farmer Falgu is off to the market to sell his produce, but has some unexpected bumps along the way. But then, Farmer Falgu can usually find his way out of any mess! Chitra Soundar's energetic tale radiates with adventure, while Kanika Nair's visual style underscores it with minimal artwork splashed with just a dab of vivid, striking color.

Here is a bunch of dung-dropping, sweet-stealing, luck-jinxing villains! Four stories about young Prince Veera, who, along with his friend Suku, helps his father, the king, solve some of the problems he is having with his subjects. Trickster tales with lots of humour and colour, based on traditional Indian folktales.