Discover a world of wonder, wisdom, and friendship in this illustrated gift book of ancient Indian fables, retold by bestselling poet Nikita Gill. "Great read-aloud enjoyment to be had for families."- The Wall Street Journal The stories of the Panchatantra have been read aloud and shared for thousands of years, kept alive by generation after generation of storytellers. In this captivating collection, Nikita Gill reimagines them with warmth and wit, as Chaaya Prabhat brings animals to life in vibrant artwork on every page. Featuring high-end finishes, including a foil-inlaid cloth binding, textured jacket, and ribbon bookmark, Animal Tales from India is a timeless gift book for every child to enjoy and treasure. Listen to the free Stories Aloud audiobook- just scan the QR code on the back cover to hear the story read by author Nikita Gill! Meet cunning crocodiles and talkative tortoises, and join the adventure as they speak out, help others, and find courage! Also available in the Nosy Crow Classics series: ·The Wind in the Willows ·Anne of Green Gables “Nikita Gill supplies a sparkling retelling of 10 stories [from the Panchatantra], vividly illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat... Great read-aloud enjoyment to be had for families.” ― Meghan Cox Gurdon , The Wall Street Journal Stunning illustrations of expressive animals fill beautiful spreads, with the text smartly placed in the landscape's negative space...They're expertly narrated and have fun, engaging sound effects. K-Gr 4-This is a collection of classic fables about tortoises, monkeys, jackals, elephants, and more animals of India. These types of stories, with animal protagonists and moral messages, will be familiar to anyone who grew up with Aesop. But The Panchatantra is over 2,000 years old, and this volume breathes new life into them for modern readers. Stunning illustrations of expressive animals fill beautiful spreads, with the text smartly placed in the landscape's negative space. In a note, the author says she originally heard these stories from her grandmother, who heard them from her mother, who heard them from her mother, and so on. Back matter includes a QR code to audio readings of all the tales. They're expertly narrated and have fun, engaging sound effects. VERDICT A lively and essential addition to every folklore collection. ( starred ) ― School Library Journal More than 2,000 years ago, a scribe in South Asia compiled a series of animal fables in a collection known as the Panchatantra. Nikita Gill supplies a sparkling retelling of 10 of its stories, vividly illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, in "Animal Tales From India," a volume for children ages 5-11 that is far more scintillating than its sedate title might suggest. Each story is narrated in a confident and confiding manner, such as a grandparent might use with a grandchild. (Ms. Gill first heard Panchatantra stories from her grandmother.) "The Lion and the Talking Cave" begins: "As I have said before, lions are the kings of the jungle. . . . But it's also true that lions are not always known for their cleverness, as you will see in this story." After the indolent hero of the tale gets his comeuppance from a wily bear cub, the narrator returns with a moral-these are fables, after all-that applies as much in the modern world as in a fictional jungle: "It just goes to show that it is important to keep your wits about you. And it is never good to be lazy. Hard work and careful thinking always pay off!" There is a strong echo of Aesop in several of these stories, particularly in "The Mice Who Freed the Elephants" ("the smallest can often be the mightiest of all") and great read-aloud enjoyment to be had for families at the end of a summer visit to, say, a beach or a mountain or a museum. ― Meghan Cox Gurdon , Wall Street Journal "Stunning illustrations of expressive animals fill beautiful spreads, with the text smartly placed in the landscape’s negative space...They’re expertly narrated and have fun, engaging sound effects." ( Starred ) ― Allison Tran , School Library Journal Nikita Gill is an Irish-Indian poet and playwright with a worldwide fan base. She has written seven collections of poetry, including, for young adults, These Are the Words. Nikita has been shortlisted for the Goodreads Choice Award for Poetry multiple times and nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Animal Tales from India , stories from the Panchatantra shared with her by her grandmother, is her first book for younger readers. She lives in Hampshire, England. Chaaya Prabhat is an award-winning illustrator and lettering artist and has illustrated many picture books, both here and in the UK. As a child, she loved to read and listen to the stories from the Panchatantra. Chaaya began drawing from an early age, inspired by the beautiful colors, animals, and people around her in Chennai, India, where she grew up. Chaaya now lives and works in Goa, India.