How can a king knock some sense into his silly sons so that they grow up sensible young men? A wise man tells the king that he can do the job in six weeks. Every time one of the boys says or does something rash, the sage will put him back on the straight and narrow by telling him a cautionary tale - the story of a proud hare, or perhaps an owl, or a crow… This collection of fables, known as the Panchatantra and familiar all over Asia, were first told, then written down in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago. Jamila Gavin brings them alove for modern readers by telling the story of the wise man and the young princes as original stories framing the classic animal fables. The result is a powerful and unique vision of this classic Indian work.
Contents
The Preamble:
The Princes who Wouldn't Learn
Frame One: Winning Friends
*The Fighter Kite
* Caught in the Fowler's Net (Panchatantra)
Frame Two: Losing Friends
* The Trouble-Maker
* King Lion's Friend (Panchatantra)
Frame Three: Loss of Gains
* Her Weight in Gold
* The Ape and the Crocodile (Panchatantra)
Frame Four: Rash Deeds
* Ruby Eye
* The Faithful Mongoose (Panchatantra)
Frame Five: The Art of Duplicity
* Treachery
* Owls and Crows (Panchatantra)
It is a refreshing change to see such an unusual collection and they will make a great classroom/assembly resource as well as for general reading. It is a beautifully produced book, with coloured pages and vibrant and perceptive illustrations' - Parents in Touch
Quite a challenging read due to the complex nature of some of the original stories. However, Gavin's masterly skill as a storyteller ensures that the material is accessible… Bee Willey'sillustrations and the overall design and layout of the book contribute greatly to the atmosphere of these powerful stories making this a beautiful book for older Key Stage 2 readers. - Ibby Link
Takes the unusual approach of matching five stories from the Panchatantra with five original tales. As a means of opening up the moral universe of the Panchatantra’s animal fables into the world of human actions and responsibilities, this works remarkably well... the language is rich and vigorous, and the book itself a handsome production. - Books for Keeps
A very beautiful book, which will be a treat for primary school age children. - School Librarian
Publication Details:
Binding: Hardback, 64 pages ISBN: 9781845079901 Format: 278mm x 214mm
BIC Code:YBCS, YFJ BISAC Code:JUV012020 Imprint: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Email to a colleague