Educating my nieces and nephews on India?

December 10, 2004 9:44 AM

My wife went to India for work a few months ago and brought back some neat little trinkets--marble elephants, jewelry, etc--to give to my nieces and nephews (aged 7 to 12) for Christmas. I'd like to include a book, movie, or other gift to give them an idea of India's history and culture. (My nieces and nephews live in small towns, and I hope this can expand their horizons a bit.) Aside from Kipling, can you suggest any specific authors or age-appropriate titles I should consider?
posted by arco to Education (6 answers total)

I have not read any of these books, but there are plenty of bibliographies on the web that list some titles that might be worth finding:

http://my.execpc.com/~jjstoltz/Kids-books-India.html

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/mdamodaran/html/sabks/bkl6.html

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/muindia.htm
posted by gnat at 10:54 AM on December 10, 2004

The Mahabharata might keep them busy for a while. Might be appropriate for the 12 year old.
posted by Captain_Tenille at 11:19 AM on December 10, 2004

I'd say find an age and desire-for-reading appropriate copy of the Mahabharata. It's available in everything from comic book form to multi-volume scholarly tome. I loved it as a kid and i still do as an older kid.

Maybe you could find some Amar Chitra Katha comix even? Or the Panchatantra (sort of an Aesops fable kinda jawn)
posted by 31d1 at 11:22 AM on December 10, 2004

third vote for The Mahabharata here. I got an age appropriate book-set when I was 12 and adored it.
posted by dabitch at 4:13 PM on December 10, 2004

I second Panchatantra, it's the Indian 1001 Nights.
posted by riffola at 4:31 PM on December 10, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone!
posted by arco at 8:48 PM on December 10, 2004