South Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends
by Sarah Shaffi
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 8+
Published by Scholastic, 2022
About this book
Anyone looking to escape into a world of battling princesses, scary ogres, heroic warriors, wily animals, and even ordinary people doing extraordinary things, should take a look inside this beautiful compilation of traditional tales from across South Asia.
With 19 stories in total, there are legends from Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Kashmir; each prefaced by a short introduction that gives some background and cultural context.
Some stories are well-known, like the epic tale of Rama and Sita, while others, like the Lonely Crocodile, have close equivalents in Western mythology. Still more have some kind of moral or life-lesson like many of Aesop’s fables but all have their own unique flavour that reflects their cultural origins.
Retold and made accessible specifically for young readers, this is a collection that children will return to again and again – any time they want to escape into the magical, fantastical world of myth. A great addition to any school or home library.
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Lists of recommended reads
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Books about myths and legends
Across all cultures, myth and legend stories have been told for hundreds of years – usually told and retold to entertain and to educate. Here is a selection of the best books about, or inspired by, myths and legends from across the world.
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Books with South Asian characters for ages 6+
These wonderful books celebrate South Asian culture through fantastic characters, inspirational true stories and superb storytelling for children in the primary school age range.