India
Over the next several months, we will be updating our Storytime themes on various countries around the world. The 2020 CSLP Reads summer reading theme “Imagine Your Story” will focus on fairy tales and myths from all cultures, so having storytimes on countries can go along with that theme. Of course, focusing on countries is good anytime, as a way to celebrate the wide variety of people in the United States who immigrated from somewhere else.
This month, we will celebrate India. For a craft project, make an elephant paperbag puppet: www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mbagelephant.htm or these Rangoli designs to color: www.dltk-kids.com/world/india/mrangoli.htm .
Bajaj, Varsha. This Is Our Baby, Born Today. An elephant family in India celebrates their newborn.
Brown, Marcia. Once a Mouse. A pet changes shape and becomes increasingly vain in this folktale.
Jha, Richa. The Manic Panic. When the Internet goes down, the parents panic but their daughter shows them things they can do to have fun.
Patel, Meenal. Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala. Priya’s grandmother misses India now that they live in the U.S. so Priya helps her grandmother make roti for dinner.
Sehgal, Kabir. Thread of Love. Sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques,” this story describes the sibling celebration called Raksha Bandhan.
Sheth, Kashmira. Monsoon Afternoon. A boy coaxes his grandfather to play in the rain.
Soundar, Chitra. Pattan’s Pumpkin. A farmer and his wife travel in a large hollow pumpkin to higher ground during a flood.
Soundar, Chitra. You’re Safe with Me. Mama Elephant gathers the various animal babies in a rain storm and repeats the title phrase.
Young, Ed. Seven Blind Mice. In this retelling of an Indian folktale, mice touch an animal to try and figure out what it is.
Zia, F. Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji. Aneel and his grandfather make the traditional flatbread roti.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University iSchool