Indian Culture

The bold, bright colors of India leap right off the page in this fresh and funny picture book retelling (with a twist) of how Ganesha came to help write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the Mahabharata. Ganesha is just like any other kid, except that he has the head of an elephant and rides around on a magical mouse. And he loves sweets, especially the traditional dessert laddoo. But when Ganesha insists on biting into a super jumbo jawbreaker laddoo, his tusk breaks off! Ganesha is terribly upset, but with the help of the wise poet Vyasa, and his friend Mr. Mouse, he learns that what seems broken can actually be quite useful after all. With vibrant, graphic illustrations, expressive characters, and offbeat humor, this is a wonderfully inventive rendition of a classic tale.

Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different! Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends.

It is Diwali and Peppa and her family are learning all about this very special celebration. Mummy and Daddy Pig are cooking a feast, and Granny and Grandpa Pig bring everyone special clothes to wear. Then it's time for the party to begin!

Pixar animator and Academy Award–nominated director Sanjay Patel (Sanjay’s Super Team) brings to life Hinduism’s most important gods and goddesses—and one sacred stone—in fun, full-color illustrations, each accompanied by a short, lively profile. The Little Book of Hindu Deities is chock-full of monsters, demons, noble warriors, and divine divas. Find out why Ganesha has an elephant’s head (his father cut his off!); why Kali, the goddess of time, is known as the “Black One” (she’s a bit goth); and what “Hare Krishna” really means. “Throw another ingredient in the American spirituality blender. Pop culture is veering into Hinduism.”—USA Today

Holi, Hai! Holi, Hai! It’s time to prepare for the Indian springtime Festival of Colors in this delightful Classic Board Book! It’s time for the Indian festival of Holi, a celebration of the start of spring, of new beginnings, and of good over evil. Friends, families, and neighbors wear white clothing and toss handfuls of brightly colored powders at one another until they’re all completely covered from head to toe! Young readers will love following the young siblings gathering flowers to make the colorful powders for the big day until—poof!—it’s time for the fun to begin.

Learn all about the traditions of Diwali with this third book in the delightful board book series Celebrate the World, which highlights special occasions and holidays across the globe. Each autumn we gather with our friends and family and light our brightest lanterns. It’s time for Diwali, the festival of lights! In this lovely board book with illustrations from Archana Sreenivasan, readers learn that the five days of Diwali are a time to pray for a bountiful season, celebrate the special bonds between siblings, and rejoice in the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Gandhi's peaceful revolution is the focus of this picture book, part of the inspiring New York Times bestselling biography series about heroes. As a young man in India, Gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. He took his methods with him from South Africa back to India, where he led a nonviolent revolution that freed his country from British rule. Through his calm, steady heroism, Gandhi changed everything for India and inspired civil rights movements all over the world, proving that the smallest of us can be the most powerful.

Good Night India highlights the Himalayan Mountains, Golden Temple, Valley of Flowers National Park, Palace of Winds, Hawa, Mahal, Mehrangarh Fort, Goa, beaches, dolphins, lions in the Gir Forest, tigers in the Sundarbans, Darjeeling tea, blue train, elephants, and more. This charming board book invites young readers on an exciting and educational tour of one of the world's most interesting countries: India.

The true story of Fauja Singh, who broke world records to become the first one hundred-year-old to run a marathon, shares valuable lessons on the source of his grit, determination to overcome obstacles, and commitment to positive representation of the Sikh community. Every step forward is a victory. Fauja Singh was born determined. He was also born with legs that wouldn't allow him to play cricket with his friends or carry him to school miles from his village in Punjab. But that didn't stop him. Working on his family's farm, Fauja grew stronger to meet his own full potential. He never stopped striving. At the age of 81, after a lifetime of making his body, mind, and heart stronger, Fauja decided to run his first marathon. He went on to break records all around the world and became the first person over 100 to complete the grueling long-distance race. With exuberant text by Simran Jeet Singh and exhilarating illustrations by Baljinder Kaur, the true story of Fauja Singh reminds us that it's both where we start and how we finish that make our journeys unforgettable.

As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India's Brahmaputra River. So he began planting trees. What began as a small thicket of bamboo, grew over the years into 1,300 acre forest filled with native plants and animals. The Boy Who Grew a Forest tells the inspiring true story of Payeng--and reminds us all of the difference a single person with a big idea can make.

From the mother-son duo behind the New York Times bestselling A Bucket of Blessings comes a zany picture book about a wild ride on a tuk tuk taxi in India! This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by bringing you aboard a busy three-wheeled taxi in India! Anything can happen as the tuk tuk rolls through town—from an elephant encounter to a tasty treat to a grand fireworks display. And in the midst of all the action, one thing’s for sure: passengers young and old love every minute of their exciting ride as the wheels of the tuk tuk go round and round!

India is a country of myriad festivals! Not a month goes by in which we don't have something to celebrate. This book invites you to rejoice in India's rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil, as they experience an entire year of festivals and celebrations - starting with Lohri in January and ending with Christmas in December! The detailed descriptions and wealth of detail about each festival that Natasha and Nikhil record in their blog and journal will make this a book to treasure and return to every time a festival comes by. So come celebrate with us!

Celebrate Diwali with this delightful baby board book teaching little ones all about the popular festival of light. Bold, brightly colored pictures, and short and snappy text is a fantastic way to discover Diwali together in this delightful book! From the shining diya lamps that gave the festival its name, to colorful Rangoli sand decorations and sweet treats, Baby’s First Diwali features all the familiar favourites associated with India’s biggest and brightest holiday. This board book is perfect for children aged 2-4 years old, to develop early learning skills with simple and vibrant pictures and sentences that promote language skills. The small, padded format of this book is perfect for little hands to hold, and babies and toddlers will enjoy turning the pages by themselves, helping with early reading development and fine motor skills. This charming board book features: - Bright images that are exciting for little ones to focus on - A small, sturdy, and padded design making it easy for babies to hold by themselves - A gentle introduction to the festival of Divali, with clear text for little ones to understand - A simple and clear design that’s easy for little ones to follow along - Learn all about the amazing festival of light with your little one! Baby’s First Diwali perfectly captures the joy of this special celebration and is an ideal preschool learning introduction to the traditions of the holiday. Adults and toddlers can enjoy reading this book on Diwali together and learn about India’s brightest festival.

"Amme Tell Me" is a charming and informative series of children's books that introduces the major Hindu festivals and figures to young readers, and are perfect for families wanting to share stories of Hinduism with their children or for educators looking for resource on the Hindu culture for their students. Written in rhyme with vivid, captivating illustrations, this series brings Hindu mythology to its readers in a fun and non-preachy way. The Series has ten books on the festivals of Holi, Diwali, and on the Hindu gods Krishna, Hanuman and Ganesha.

This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Indian fairy tales and other folk stories that the whole family will enjoy! Indian Children's Favorite Stories is a charming selection of eight Indian tales that provide an insight into traditional Indian culture. They make perfect new additions for story time or bedtime reading. Retold for an international audience, the beautifully illustrated stories will give children of all ages a glimpse into the fables and folklore of India, including tales of how Lord Krishna escapes the evil Kamsa's repeated attempts to kill him, and how the elephant keeper's daughter, Rani, humbles an unwise and unjust king by emptying his storehouses of rice. Featured Indian stories include: The Story of Rama, the ancient Indian tale of a prince's exile and return to his homeland Sukhu and Dukhu, two sisters--one kind, one selfish--and their different fates Munna and the Grain of Rice, how a good and clever girl saves her people from hunger And five more wonderful tales to delight story lovers everywhere. A glossary is also included, so that everyone can understand and appreciate the Indian words scattered throughout the stories. The Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West. Other multicultural children's books in this series include: Asian Children's Favorite Stories, Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, Singapore Children's Favorite Stories, Filipino Children's Favorite Stories, Favorite Children's Stories from China & Tibet, Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Balinese Children's Favorite Stories, and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.

In a warm, festive story that introduces readers to the Hindu holiday of Diwali, three anthropomorphic child monkeys—Suno, Dekho, and Jaano—receive a wrapped gift from Suno’s dadima (grandmother) on the eve of the celebration. The monkeys take turns guessing what might be inside that package (sparklers, bangles), discovering instead that the present holds a series of smaller wrapped gifts, each with its own riddle (“I am round and shiny, so keep me in a safe place”).

10 Gulab Jamuns, is a sweet multicultural picture book for children that instill in them a love for math and a knowledge of diversity and new cultures. Join two adorable brothers in a fun-filled adventure and discover a tasty sweet from India! Idu (Ee-doo) and Adu (Aa-doo) are very excited. Guests are coming over for dinner and their Mamma has already cooked a lot. Next, she is cooking Gulab Jamuns, but Idu and Adu don t know what Gulab Jamuns are. Before long, they discover just how good these wonderful golden, sugary syrup-soaked balls are and how quickly they melt in their mouths. But Mamma has only made 10 Gulab Jamuns. Will they last until their guests come? This light-hearted, humorous story will warm your heart and tantalize your tastebuds. It also includes some basic lessons in counting and an easy recipe to make those delicious Gulab Jamuns yourself. Read this book aloud and enjoy a fun activity with your little ones.

My First Book of Hindi Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young children to Hindi language and Indian culture through everyday words. Organized as an ABC rhyming book, My First Book of Hindi Words incorporates common Hindi words into charming English-language rhymes, beginning with: "A is for Akash. A sky so blue where little birds fly and big planes, too," and on through "Z is for Zukhaam. Achoo! I sneeze. I must have a cold. Mama, hug me please!" Winsome, full-color pictures illustrate each word and allow even very young readers to make their first foray into India's official language. A helpful glossary at the end makes it easy for readers—including parents and teachers—to review what they've learned! With the help of this book, we hope more children (and adults) will soon be a part of the 300 million people worldwide that speak Hindi!

"Amme Tell Me" is a charming and informative series of children's books that introduces the major Hindu festivals and figures to young readers, and are perfect for families wanting to share stories of Hinduism with their children or for educators looking for resource on the Hindu culture for their students. Written in rhyme with vivid, captivating illustrations, this series brings Hindu mythology to its readers in a fun and non-preachy way. The Series has ten books on the festivals of Holi, Diwali, and on the Hindu gods Krishna, Hanuman and Ganesha.

Step back into ancient India as Marcia Williams brings her inviting comic-book style to eight animal folktales that continue to enchant children today. Drawing from three books of best-loved Indian folktales— the Hitopadesha, the Jatakas,and the Panchatantra —this graphic storybook collection, alive with kidfriendly illustrations, is infused with humor and warmth.

In this book from the highly acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American to be elected vice president of the USA. Little Kamala used to accompany her parents to civil rights marches in California, strapped into her stroller so she wouldn’t get lost. From an early age, she dreamed of becoming a lawyer to help people in need. In school, Kamala felt like she could do anything and everything. She earned a law degree to make sure the most vulnerable were protected by justice. Kamala’s life was full of firsts, including becoming the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian American to be elected vice president. As Kamala stated to little girls everywhere in her speech—she may be the first but she won't be the last. This powerful book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the politician’s life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

My First Sikh by Parveen Kaur Dhillon is a two-in-one children's book about young Singhs and Kaurs of the Sikh faith. This two-in-one board book includes My First Sikh Boy Book and My First Sikh Girl Book, two wonderful children's books about young Singhs and Kaurs of the Sikh faith. These books are designed for parents of toddlers and early reading young children to gain awareness of the Sikh identity and values. They are richly illustrated to show images of young Sikhs living with Sikh ideals. These books are perfect for families with young Sikh children or for giving to non-Sikhs who want to gain a better understanding of basic Sikh ideals. They are also good to share in schools and libraries to foster greater awareness in communities where young Sikhs are growing.

Bring your baby closer to their culture with “My First Hindi Words!” Increase your child's Hindi vocabulary with this fun and colorful book by "Hindi By Reena.” This book will introduce kids to everyday Hindi words through bright and realistic illustrations. With a focus on the learning Hindi words — the book does not confuse early learners with the Devanagari script. Written by Hindi By Reena — The world’s first comprehensive Hindi learning company -- this book was created after years of research with kids and babies from around the world.WHY LEARN HINDI?Hindi is India’s most-spoken national language. The total number of Hindi speakers are well over a half a billion. Whether you are Gujarati, Punjabi or Bengali — most indians can speak Hindi fluently as a second language. Hindi is so popular in India, that even all the Bollywood movies are in Hindi!

Introduce Indian classical music: This interactive sound book is a playful way to introduce Indian culture. Develop fine motor, cognitive and literacy skills: Pushing the interactive buttons help toddlers and babies develop fine motor skills while listening to music and the corresponding poems builds cognitive and early literacy skills. Six unique and delightful sounds: Baby Sangeet has six instrumental music pieces, from Sitar, Tabla, Veena, Bansuri, Harmonium, and Mridangam. The little fingers won’t stop playing this book: All sounds were recorded in actual studios. The crisp and endearing quality of sound would make the child play the music over and over again. Colorful and vibrant illustrations: The book has some adorable animals attired in outfits that are representative of Indian culture The book has six colorful spreads with different animals with six different instruments. The high sound quality, superb illustrations, and short and simple poems bring every picture to life. The pages in the book have rounded edges, and therefore it is just right for the little hands that are learning to turn the pages. The buttons are very easy to play with, and you can turn off the battery on the back cover. The long lasting batteries are replaceable. It uses AG10/LR1130 batteries. This charming book is an excellent gift for a child’s two year birthday.

This timeless story from India is about a poor boy's dream of having his own drum. His mother is very poor and cannot afford to buy her son the one thing in the world that he really wants. The poor boy's dream takes him on one of the most unlikely journeys and ultimately leads to attaining his dream.

Let's Celebrate being Indian-American! Follow along as Suri takes you through a year of holidays, festivals, and celebrations with her family and best friend, Veer. Suri is a young girl who is American with Indian descent. Suri's pride in her roots and home show us the beauty and joy that multiculturalism brings to the world! Reading books that represent different beliefs, cultures, and skin colors help us all to learn, embrace, and celebrate differences. This book highlights some of the best parts of a culture, which are the holidays and festivals!

The 7th book in Tricycle's World Snacks series introduces toddlers to Indian snack foods known as chaat. Scrumptious treats like bhel puri (rice puff salad), tandoori chicken, and sweet coconut cham-cham, look good enough to eat in Wilson Sanger's gorgeous collage art, while her trademark bouncy text will please little ears.

In this sweet and humorous picture book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas, a multi-cultural family (Mom's Indian; Dad's Jewish) celebrate Hanukkah while incorporating traditional Indian food. Instead of latkes, this family celebrates Hanukkah with tasty Indian dosas. To her brother's chagrin, little Sadie won't stop climbing on everything both at home and at the Indian grocery store, even while preparing the dosas. As the family puts the finishing touches on their holiday preparations, they accidentally get locked out of the house. Sadie and her climbing skills just may be exactly what is needed to save the day.

“Am I small?” - Tamia is not sure and keeps asking various animals that she meets on her journey. Eventually she finds the surprising answer...

Join Ajeet and Rakha as they explore their favorite holiday.Lohri: The Bonfire Festival, is a fun-filled and colorful introduction to the winter harvest festival of Punjab, India. Children of all ages will enjoy the rhymes in both English and Punjabi as they learn more about the culture and traditions that have been celebrated this way since the fifteenth century. The Punjabi within these pages is a fun way to teach kids to read the Gurmukhi script. A Romanized Punjabi transliteration of all pages is at the end of the book to aid in pronunciation. A fun, multi-lingual rhyming book for children of all ages!

From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Learn Punjabi animals with Bindi Baby by Gnaana. High-style graphics blend modern silhouettes with Indian design elements. The bold colors and rich patterns are designed to attract and delight – encouraging fun and easy learning. Appropriate for babies, toddlers and beginning readers of Punjabi script. Also available in other Indian languages.

This primer introduces our readers to Hindu gods. Padmini is wise like Ganesha, she is generous like Lakshmi, and energetic like Parvati. Through Padmini, we will meet these gods and learn that power has many forms.

Comes in a variety of Indian languages. Ek...Be...Tran...Learn to count in Gujarati with Bindi Baby by Gnaana! From 0 to the Number 10, kids will delight in counting these everyday outdoor-inspired objects - and learn about forming and using plurals. Numbers 11-20 are also included at the end of the book. Appropriate for babies, toddlers and beginning readers of Gujarati script. *Gujarati transliteration included to help with pronunciation. *Includes chart of Gujarati numbers 0-20. *Includes a lesson on Aryabhata - one of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers in the history of India - and his discovery of the "number 0."

Tour the diverse regions of an incredible country in a vivid, joyful, and visually stunning introduction to the people, places, flora, and fauna of India. Watch elephants bathing from a houseboat in Kerala, marvel at ancient cave paintings in Bhimbetka, wander Delhi’s bustling streets, and ride a train through the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. In spread after colorful spread, India’s breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and cultural splendor leap to life on the page, framed by the story of a little girl named Thara and her grandmother. In a carved wooden trunk, Nanijee keeps mementos collected from all over India, each with a story to tell. Readers can follow along page by page with Thara or dip in at any point to discover something new about India’s many and varied regions—from vibrant religious festivals, food, and crafts to sports and wildlife to Bollywood and a hidden sculpture garden filled with life-size figures. A warm, welcoming tone and exquisitely patterned endpapers help make this an intimate keepsake to pore over and treasure. A companion book to the award-winning Africa, Amazing Africa by Atinuke and Mouni Feddag, this is narrative nonfiction at its finest.

Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca, author of I’ll Go and Come Back, turns her focus to a careful, deliberate grandfather and his impatient grandson in a cozy family story featuring a recipe for spiced chai. Aarav loves his grandfather very much, but they’re as different as water and molasses. Where Aarav runs and races, Thatha likes to saunter and stroll. Every day at five o’clock, Thatha makes masala chai for the family, and no matter how much Aarav urges him to hurry, Thatha insists on taking his time. “Masala chai cannot be rushed,” says Thatha. “It must be made carefully.” One day, when Thatha sprains his ankle and must rest on the couch, Aarav eagerly decides he’d like to make the chai himself—after all, what would make his grandfather feel better than a cup of warm, spiced sweetness? But no matter how hard Aarav tries, his rushing causes him to miss some crucial step. Will Aarav be able to slow down and get the recipe right? With charming illustrations by Neha Rawat that are as enticing as the aroma of spiced tea, author Rajani LaRocca invites readers in for a visit with Aarav and his family—and shares her favorite masala chai recipe at the end.