Hema Rao on Pitara Kids Network

The Puppy that wanted to Play

Fri, 17 May 2002 07:10:16 +0000

Bruno, the little, brown puppy wanted to play! He needed a friend.

“Come play with me!” said Bruno to the white cow.

“No! No! No!” replied the white cow, shaking her head. “I have work to do. I
have to give milk for Tinnu and Minnu. Milk for their family, too. Go away. I
have WORK to do! MOOOOOOOOO!”

Bruno went to the brown cock.

The Importance of the Mangrove Forest

Thu, 05 Jul 2001 14:13:59 +0000

Tropical coastlines and marshy areas around the world have one thing in common: mangrove forests. These consist of trees and shrubs that throw out many prop roots and sustain a large variety of aquatic animals, birds and plants. These mangroves form a complete ecosystem. That is, they provide a complete base for all the organisms within that environment to live and thrive. That keeps the balance in the larger environment of which humans are a vital part. Marshy and swampy tidal areas near seas and estuaries, where rivers empty into the sea, are ideal for mangrove forests.

The Ride to Bondage

Thu, 28 Dec 2000 03:24:46 +0000

Chintu and Gullu were very, very excited. They were going to ride camels!

Both of them worked in a fireworks factory where they made firecrackers for Diwali and other festivals. Their meagre earnings helped their families to make life worth living. Now their lives would totally change. Mr. Ali had seen to that.

Mr. Ali was Chintu’s father’s new friend. He lived far, far away. He had told Chintu’s father that Chintu was exactly right for riding camels — the right size and the right weight. Not too fat, nor too thin, or too tall. He was exactly RIGHT!

Bunty Rabbit Runs a Race Again

Mon, 19 Aug 2002 15:16:22 +0000

Bunty rabbit hopped home angrily.

“What happened?” asked Mama Rabbit. “No school today?”

“Why did great-great-great-great-great grandfather lose the race against the tortoise?” shouted Bunty tearfully. “Everyone laughed at me when Ma’am Owl told us the story.”

“Great-great-great-great-great grandfather rabbit was a proud rabbit,” said Mother Rabbit sternly. “He was always boasting and never even thought once that someone could outsmart him. That day, the tortoise did.”

Bunty Rabbit Runs a Race Again

“Slow and steady won the race!” muttered Bunty angrily.

The Jungle Contest

Mon, 11 Feb 2002 08:30:39 +0000

“ROAR!” growled the lion. “Everyone is scared of me!”

“HRMPHH!” trumpeted the elephant. “Everyone is scared of me!”

“What about me?” purred the panther. “I, too, frighten everyone!”

The Jungle Contest [Illustrations by Shiju George]

“No one can run faster than me!” snarled the cheetah. “Everyone is scared of
me!”

“GROWL!” growled the tiger, baring his teeth. “I dare any one to cross my
path! I’ll gobble them up!”

How to Bell a Thief

Thu, 29 Nov 2001 08:30:23 +0000

Sonapur was a small village. It was famous for its little temple. The temple had no deity. All it had was the imprint of a pair of feet. According to folklore, these were of a pious sage. A diya burned brightly, night and day. Seven beautiful bells hung in the little temple, gleaming brightly in the light cast by the diya.

The villagers of Sonapur were content and happy. Their fields yielded abundant crops. Earnings were enough to meet the needs of each family.

Follow the Leader

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 23:48:38 +0000

Chimpoo has a balloon. It is a BIG balloon! It is a BIG, RED balloon! It is a BIG, RED, ROUND balloon!

Chimpoo has a LITTLE dog. His name is Chutku. Chutku loves Chimpoo. Chutku loves to PLAY with Chimpoo.

There is a BIG, BLACK cat! Chutku does not like the cat! There is a TINY, GREY mouse. The BIG, BLACK cat does not like the TINY, GREY mouse!

Follow the Leader [Illustrations by Shiju George]

Cat loves Chimpoo. Mouse loves Chimpoo. Chimpoo likes the cat. Chimpoo likes the mouse.

The Holiday

Sun, 10 Mar 2002 22:29:58 +0000

Hooty owl was puzzled. No one had come to the jungle school. “Maybe the little ones are late,” thought the teacher. “I’ll wait for a little while longer.”

Hooty owl did not know that her students had decided to miss school. They had started out for school but then changed their minds.

“I am NOT going to school. I hate it,” said Squeaky squirrel.

“I’m feeling lazy and so I’m NOT going to school,” said Hoppy rabbit .

The Wolf-donkey

Sun, 22 Apr 2001 08:14:04 +0000

Chun Chun hated carrots. He felt his anger rise as he heard his mother speak.

“How will you grow if you don’t eat your vegetables?” scolded Mama Rabbit. “You won’t have the strength to say BOO to a goose!”

“But I eat so many things!” protested Chun Chun angrily. “Just because I hate carrots, you scold me every day!”

Mama Rabbit sighed.

“How many times have I told you — carrots will improve your eyesight?” she said.

The Sweet-Mad Hero

Mon, 29 Jan 2001 22:30:59 +0000

A North Indian folktale retold

Shyam was a worried man. He had to go to Rampur on work. It happened to
be his in-laws village. Shyam intended to stay with them. But being newly
married he hardly knew his in-laws. His wife, too, was not accompanying him. Shy Shyam was really worried!

He thought hard for a while. Then he smiled. He would force his friend, Karan, to accompany him!

“Of course I’ll come with you!” promised Karan. “But you must make two promises.” Shyam agreed.

Dangerous Red Tide in HongKong

Sun, 04 Nov 2001 03:40:23 +0000

Sea beaches around HongKong have a problem. They regularly face the threat of a ‘Red Tide’.

The ‘Red Tide’ kills fish in sea farms and in the open seas. Actually, the ‘Red Tide’ is reddish brown algae that floats on water near the coastline. It enters the gills of the fish swimming about in the sea and kills them.

The gills are like noses of the fish. They help the fish breathe. When the algae enters the gills, it creates havoc.

Woes Beat Foes!

Mon, 21 Feb 2000 22:22:48 +0000

Vikram and his friends were in the land of giants!

“That must be a giant’s house! " said Vikram, shading his eyes and peering into the distance.

“Let’s say hello to him!” giggled Anshul.

“Don’t be silly!” retorted Ajit. “Want to be gobbled up?”

Vikram was already making his way towards the building.

“FEE! FO! FUM!” roared someone. “Who’s there? I smell the blood of man! Be he alive or he dead, I’ll have him with my bread!”

Eastward Ho!

Thu, 23 Aug 2001 05:39:47 +0000

Britain wants Indian engineers to help modernise their London-Glasgow railway link, and that’s a real about turn! Nearly 150 years ago, Britain was the first country to use steam locomotives.

The British also built the first rail tracks in India and set up India’s railway network with one purpose – they wanted to collect raw material such as cotton from different parts of the country so that they could be shipped to Britain. And later, when the ready-made products came back to India, they used the rail network to sell them by reaching different corners of the country.