Retold by Rosemarie Somaiah, illustrated by Ranjan Somaiah,
Indian Children’s Favourite Stories
Tuttle Publishing, 2006.

Ages: 7+

Indian Children’s Favourite Stories is another lovely volume of retold folktales in the excellent Children’s Favorite series from Tuttle.  The eight classic tales in this collection are rendered easily accessible to children anywhere, with beautiful illustrations and expert storytelling from the team of Rosemarie and Ranjan Somaiah. It is clear the folks at Tuttle recognize the value of story for introducing children to other cultures, and this book provides an introduction to India as a place with its own flavor of magic and intrigue, good and evil, near escapes, and valiant heroism. 

As with all folktales, these pages contain the archetypes of the common man, the wicked ruler, the wise man, the foolish man, and so forth.  There is the tale of Munna, the clever peasant girl who outsmarts the king and saves her people from starvation; the story of Sukhu and Dukhu, a sort of Cinderella-tale of greed punished and virtue rewarded; stories of superhuman heroes such as Rama; and the story of Krishna’s birth and early life.

In a foreword, the author, professional storyteller Rosemarie Somaiah, explains the hierarchical structure and characteristics of the Hindu deities who play a role in many of the tales. Rather than simply lumping them as “gods and goddesses” as so often happens when Hindu mythology is explained in English, Somaiah explains the sometimes subtle differences between devas, rakshasas, and asuras.  Understanding that these deities hide within the stories, often assuming the form of mortals, helps readers understand the full intrigue of these ancient tales.

Each story is vibrantly illustrated so that it becomes a world of its own.  The rich wash of color and Ranjan Somaiah’s distinctive style are truly transportive, bringing these ancient tales to life for a new generation. Those already familiar with the folklore of India will appreciate the book design and the storytelling; others will enjoy comparing the stories to those of other cultures. Indian Children’s Favourite Stores will inspire readers to look more deeply into the legends and traditions of this ancient civilization.

Abigail Sawyer
October 2010