Birds and Beasts

Bumbling flying elephants, the demon serpent, a brash peacock, crafty jackals, a curious leopard, and even an evil, shape-shifting jinn, all make an appearance in this delightful collection of tales from India. Beautifully illustrated and imaginatively retold, Birds and Beasts, takes the reader on a fantastical journey into the wild and wonderful world of magical beasts and whimsical animals. These tales are drawn from classic texts, such as the Hitopadesha, the Kathasaritsagara, the Puranas, and the Quran.

They include oral tales from Ladakh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and tribal folklore as well. Sourced from classic texts and collections of folk tales that date as far back as the 11th century, the stories range from the unusual to the familiar and bound to stir the imagination of every child. This title is the second in a series – the first being Mischief & Magic, a collection of magical tales from across India.