Animal Tales from India - Nikita Gill - ★★★★★

AUTHOR: Nikita Gill

ILLUSTRATOR: Chaaya Prabhat

GENRE: Children's Story Book, Fables.

RATING: 5 stars!

In a Nutshell: Ah, the nostalgia of rereading your childhood favourite stories! Loved revisiting some beautiful animal tales from the Panchatantra in this glorious new packaging. Excellent stories, meaningful morals, brilliant narrative style, and captivating illustrations. The perfect package!

The Panchatantra, a beloved component of almost every little Indian reader’s library, (at least until my generation), is an ancient collection of animal fables written circa 200 BCE. The tales might be age-old but their entertainment factor and the morals they offer are relevant even today. Their original intent was to impart wisdom to princes, and as such, their plots lead to not just practical life lessons but also judicious decision-making. At the same time, the stories themselves, with their cute animal characters and interactions, are delightful to read.

I have lost count of how many Panchatantra stories I have read since my childhood. So when I saw this book on NetGalley, I was initially in two minds about whether I ought to grab something I am already so familiar with. But one look at the stunning cover, and I knew I was a goner. I didn’t realise then that even the text would be equally stunning.

There are more than a hundred stories in the Panchatantra, of which this book contains ten. While I knew most of the stories herein, I enjoyed the style in which the author wrote them. She is a poet, and this creative faculty is visible in her choice of words, especially in her vivid descriptions of the animal and the forests. Moreover, unlike the myriad other Panchatantra collections, she does not stick to the original serious format of narration, one akin to an elder telling a story to their students. Rather, her storytelling incorporates a warmth and a youthfulness that somehow intertwines a casual conversational approach with plenty of action-oriented writing. In other words, even when these stories are read, the child will feel like the author is *narrating* them. I am sure this collection will be a hit at bedtime with its witty lines.

I loved the illustrations as much as the storytelling. Every single page is a mesmerising work of art! The animals, the trees, the background – every element is so breathtakingly beautiful that I could stare at the graphics all day.

An easy recommendation, this. It delivers on every requirement you would have from children’s fiction – entertainment, education, and illustration. The language makes this a perfect fit for littlies aged 3-8 years.

The physical book is meant to be a gift edition, with colour artwork on every page, a foiled cloth binding with a jacket, and a ribbon marker. What a delightful gift it would make! 😍 The book is also available in an audio version narrated by the author herself, which will be brilliant considering her kid-friendly writing style. But honestly, as long as you have no sight-related issues, why would you want to forsake looking at those gorgeous illustrations?

‘Pancha’ means ‘five’ in Sanskrit. Now… guess how many stars this perfect children’s offering book deserves?

Pancha!

Pro Tip: Begin with the author’s introduction. No skipping over it!

My thanks to Nosy Crow and NetGalley for the DRC of “Animal Tales from India”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.