Winner of the Alcuin Citation for Excellence in Book Design "If tasty food has been called toothsome, then by extension, this tale of folk wisdom is handsome, for it is an extremely pleasant book to hold and page through."-Kirkus Reviews This award-winning handcrafted picture book is an adaptation of a traditional Indian folk tale about a hungry but lazy lion who would rather trick other animals than hunt for his food. The vibrant and humorous art is rendered in the Warli style of folk painting from western India, usually found on the walls of tribal houses. Illustrations and text in this handcrafted edition are silk-screened by hand onto handmade rice paper from India.

The Very Hungry Lion

Wolf, Gita

Children's Books

Tara Books

Siena Baba is a happy artist with a strange way of seeing the world—and an even stranger way of painting it. People say his pictures look like nothing they know, but that doesn’t bother him. Until one day, he starts to paint an extraordinary set of ani-mals who don’t seem to appreciate just how fantastic they are . . .
 Bhajju Shyam, the renowned Gond tribal artist from India, illustrates this humorous and profound tale about the power of art and the imagination.

That's How I See Things

Rao, Sirish

Arts & Photography

Designed as a scroll, and silk-screened by hand on handmade paper, this is a cheerful adaptation of a traditional folk tale. Hen-sparrow falls into a vat of dye and turns quite purple. Her strange new color turns the entire kingdom upside down, but Hen-sparrow quite likes herself purple . . .
Inspired by medieval Indian art and narrative traditions, this visual and tactile treat has a clever feminist twist. The form of the book and the cumulative rhyme re-create the age-old magical experience of storytelling with pictures.
Winner of the Grand Prix at the prestigious Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava.
"Beguiling and a wonderful introduction to the appreciation of a more global culture of the picture book."—Mike Simkin, Carousel Magazine, United Kingdom

Hen-sparrow Turns Purple

Drawing on a variety of Indian puppet-making traditions, this humorously written book encourages children to experiment with materials and ideas. It shifts the focus from the finished product to the process of accidents, discoveries and mistakes by which puppets can be made. All puppets featured in the book are made by children from everyday materials. Besides step-by-step instructions, it also contains information on traditional puppetry and a section on scripting and performance.

Puppets Unlimited: With Everyday Materials

Ravishankar, Anushka

<div> This highly original craft book redefines play for today's child and his or her educators. Featuring science notes and thoughtful essays on the politics of play, as well as folk toys made by children from throwaway things, the book draws on actual experiences in the classroom to argue its case. "For those who value creativity over instant gratification and human growth over consumerism, Toys and Tales will strike a chord."--Wendy Varney </div>

Toys and Tales with Everyday Materials

Khanna, Sudarshan

Science & Math

Five men are out walking on a moonless night, when suddenly they bump into something. Each of them sees something different, yet each is convinced that he is right. How is that possible? And what could this thing be? This modern retelling of an old Sufi tale is a story/fable of wisdom of all ages.Calligraphed and printed in the style of traditional woodcuts, this book is every collector's dream."This small, square book is a handcrafted treasure . . . The pictures and the short calligraphic text, written on handmade paper, and the small bag in which the book is sold make it a special treat for children and book collectors alike."-White Ravens Catalogue of the World's Best BooksRathna Ramanathan is one of India's most sought-after graphic designers.

In the Dark

History & Criticism

Trash! is a unique combination of fiction and fact. Based on the real-life experiences of street children in Chennai, it tells the story of Velu, a runaway village child. He ends up as a ragpicker in a big city and must face the harsh realities of life on the streets. The story is accompanied by facts and arguments that connect complex issues—ranging from child labor and child rights, to lifestyles, waste and recycling.“A true gem in the Indian publishing landscape . . .”—The White Ravens Catalogue of the World’s Best Children’s Books

Trash!: On Ragpicker Children and Recycling

Brahma, the creator, is unhappy with the world he has made from his own mind. It is perfect, and because it is so perfect, it lacks death. Brahma is soon bored with his sterile creation and sends Vishnu, the preserver, down into the new world to set it right. Vishnu takes the form of a fish and goes in search of the man who can help him create a new world where death has a place.With letter-pressed text on handmade paper, this is a precious handcrafted edition of an ancient Hindu tale of creation and resurrection. The intense and intricate art, reminiscent of old etchings, is screen-printed with special silver ink.

The Legend of the Fish

Religion & Spirituality

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's haunting yet bleak tale, this simple and lyrical version of The Little Mermaid is faithful to—yet different from—the original. The ending in particular suggests both the sorrow that impends upon love and loss, as well as the possibilities of a life of freedom beyond the emotional struggle. The art by acclaimed Gond artist Bhajju Shyam is delicate, evocative, and magical, contrasting the worlds of land and ocean and the strange inner life of the mermaid and her sisters.
Letterpressed on tea-stained handmade paper, this is a truly handsome numbered collector’s edition.

The Flight of the Mermaid

"The terrifying experience of being alone in the woods is rendered through the eyes of a young Indian boy. . . A familiar story arc conveyed through traditional art captivates with its freshness and originality." - Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews "Shyam’s stylized, boldly outlined forms brim with energy... A simple, satisfying story, much enriched by its cultural grounding and handsome art." - Horn Book Magazine "This exquisite piece of storytelling speaks both to our crippling fear of the unfamiliar and our ability to transcend it and emerge somehow enriched by that experience." - Brain Pickings One day Musa sets off from his village to collect firewood. It is the first time he has ventured out alone. Suddenly he hears a loud noise and becomes very afraid. Was the sound a wild boar? A whole herd of wild boars? Or something even worse? Typography, book design, contemporary tribal artwork, and narrative merge in this powerful yet sensitive visual story for children about fear. Artwork by the talented Bhajju Shyam, the celebrated Gond folk artist from India, whose previous books include The Night Life of Trees and That's How I See Things. US Grade Level Equivalent: 1, US Guided Reading Level: I

Alone in the Forest

Anastasio, Andrea

Activities, Crafts & Games

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Books by Wolf, Gita