Grade 3 (Age 8-9 years) on Pitara Kids Network

Long bony fingers

Sun, 23 Mar 2003 17:18:47 +0000

Somu loved to read ghost stories. Every time he paid a visit to the library, he got back a teeth-chattering horror tale. It was a signal that he was getting ready to play a scary trick on his friends. He was 10 years old.

His parents had learnt to recognise the signs now. The days on which the slim boy’s cocker spaniel eyes shone brighter than ever, and his brown wavy hair seemed to have a movement of their own, they knew that he must have read a ghost tale and was hatching a plot to scare someone.

A Friend in Need

Tue, 06 May 2003 06:54:12 +0000

It happened not very long ago. But when you’re a snail, days move at snail’s pace, too. So, if you were to ask our friend the snail when this happened, she’d tell you, it was y-e-ars ago…

Well, to get on with our story. In the shade of a cool, damp log, snoozed a shy snail. She wasn’t alone in her cosy home, oh no. She had company. There was a slug the snail called Cousin Glug because, you see, snails and slugs are part of the same family. Now, since they both lived on land, they didn’t know, of course, that they had other cousins in the ocean!

How the Moon was Created

Tue, 16 Oct 2001 13:28:03 +0000

Long long ago when the world was just created there was just the sun but no moon. So there was just day with the sun shining brightly all the time. The sun did not set. So there was no night. People worked until they were too tired to work any more. There was no set time for work or a fixed time for rest.

One day the creator of the world came to visit it. He saw men working in fields.

If You Were

Mon, 24 Mar 2003 14:48:10 +0000

If you were busy being kind,
Before you knew it, you would find
You’d soon forget to think ’twas true
That someone was unkind to you.

If you were busy being glad,
And cheering people who are sad,
Although your heart might ache a bit,
You’d soon forget to notice it.

If you were busy being good,
And doing just the best you could,
You’d not have time to blame some man
Who’s just doing the best he can.

How do Ducks Stay in Water and not Get Wet?

Sat, 14 Oct 2000 13:08:32 +0000

When you get out of the swimming pool or bathtub, you are soaking wet. Had you been a duck, you would be swimming in water and yet not look really wet. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

The secret lies in the layer of smooth feathers, which keeps the water out and also helps the duck float. Moreover, these smart ducks make a kind of oil, which they spread on their feathers with their beaks. And since oil and water do not mix, the water just rolls off their bodies. Isn’t it a bit like having your cake and eating it too?

Kindness to Animals

Tue, 18 May 1999 16:30:32 +0000

Little children, never give
Pain to things that feel and live;

Let the gentle robin come
For the crumbs you save at home;
As his meat you throw along
He’ll repay you with a song.

Never hurt the timid hare
Peeping from her green grass lair,
Let her come and sport and play
On the lawn at close of day.

Kindness to Animals [Illustration by Aneesh Jaisinghani]

The little lark goes soaring high
To the bright windows of the sky,
Singing as if t’were always spring,
And fluttering on an untired wing –

The Wedding Chain

Sat, 21 Dec 2002 11:42:10 +0000

Mother always wore her wedding chain. She wore it indoors and outdoors, she even wore it in the bath. She never ever took it off. It was a gift to her from father. His eyes shone with tender love when he had brought her to his home after their marriage, and put it around her neck.

It had been made-to-order to a special design that father gave to the goldsmith. The chain had bits of twisted gold interspersed with five black beads, followed by another bit of twisted gold chain.

The lazy monk — a tale from the Panchatantra

Mon, 07 Jun 1999 05:38:49 +0000

Note: This folktale has been adapted from the Panchatantra story originally titled “The lazy brahmin”.Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit.

The Magic Painting

Thu, 23 Aug 2001 20:16:36 +0000

Once upon a time there was a person who loved to paint. His name was Ankit. One day he made a painting. He loved it so much that he made it his masterpiece.

That night when he slept, an angel came and blessed his painting that it should come alive.

He was always lonely. He always wanted a companion to talk to and share his work and secrets. Next morning when he woke up he heard some sounds near his painting. When he looked at the painting he was shocked that it was talking! He thought that his wish had come true.

A Baby Lion Learns To Roar

Thu, 05 Feb 1998 00:33:35 +0000

Once upon a time, in a faraway jungle, there lived a Papa Lion with his son, a cute and cuddly Little baby Lion. Papa Lion loved him very much. But he was also very worried. The baby Lion had still not learnt to roar. For that matter he could not even growl.

One day Papa Lion decided to appoint a tutor to teach his son how to roar. He asked Jackknife, the Jackal, to be his son’s tutor. The next morning Mr. Jackknife bathed, shaved, dressed up smartly and came over to the lion’s cave. The baby Lion had never seen such an interesting tutor.

Why does Cutting Onions Make us Cry?

Thu, 29 Nov 2001 08:49:44 +0000

If you cut an onion, you begin crying. Have you ever wondered why this happens — why onions make tears run down your face?

Well, onions contain a oil, which has lots of sulphur in it. When you cut the onion, this oil is released. It evaporates very fast. When the oil gases reach your eyes, it causes irritation and sends signals to your tear gland to produce tears. So that the tears can wash away the irritant from your eyes.

Monu Makes his Mark

Sun, 24 Nov 2002 06:05:27 +0000

Monu the mongoose crawled out of the ditch in the back garden. His mother was already out with his three little brothers. They had long bodies with short legs. They had bushy tails and tiny ears. And they had bright eyes, which shone like beads.

They did things fast. They were already good hunters like their mother. But Monu was not smart like his brothers. He didn’t like chasing mice and garden rats like they did. He didn’t even like to go for frogs and lizards. And he disliked snakes most of all! His brothers laughed at him. “Little coward!” they teased, “Poor frightened baby!”

Juan Tamad and the Flea-Killer

Tue, 25 Apr 2000 18:50:32 +0000

One weakness leads to another. So it was with Juan Tamad’s laziness. As his body was lazy, so was his mind. Truth being often hard to tell, he took recourse to lies, which came easy to him. Telling lies became his second nature.

One day his mother sent him to town to buy a cooking pot. It so happened that the townspeople were afflicted by fleas. Nobody knew where they came from. They crawled up one’s legs and body and lodged themselves in the hair until one itched like mad. It was horrible.

How do they Make an Igloo?

Thu, 31 May 2001 21:41:02 +0000

To many of us, building a house of ice doesn’t sound too good. One might wake up from a good night’s sleep to see it melted. All these things don’t matter to Eskimos, who live in north Canada, Greenland and Alaska. They build igloos or houses of ice knowing that they will not melt. At least, not till winter passes by. The reason is that the walls are made in a special way so that they become rock hard.

The Price of Pride

Mon, 15 Oct 2001 06:28:51 +0000

This is one story from the book “The Best Thirteen: A collection of the best stories from 13 languages of India”.

You know that a pearl can be so valuable that it is said to be without price. Pearls are formed inside oysters who live on the ocean-bed inside their shells. This is the story of one such oyster.

This oyster was very pleased with himself because he believed that he was the most important creature in the world. Of course, the silkworm was quite useful too, but silk did not fetch the same price as pearls, so the oyster felt that he had good reason to think well of himself.

Stripes Tiger and the Boy

Wed, 23 May 2001 09:43:29 +0000

“Once upon a time… Stories start like that don’t they? Our story, too, starts like that as my grandma didn’t know when it happened.” Once upon a time, there lived a boy called Rahul in a village. One day, he was walking down a path when he came upon a large tiger trapped in a wooden cage. The villagers had caught him for stealing lambs.

“Hey mister!” cried the tiger as soon as he saw Rahul, “I am so thirsty. Please open the cage so I can get a little drink. There is no water here.”

How the Dragon Came to be

Mon, 17 Sep 2001 23:40:12 +0000

Long ago, there lived in China a young boy called Chi Yu.

Chi Yu lived with his mother in a tiny house at the edge of the village. There were beautiful green meadows all around and tall hills. Every year after the rains, the fields looked greener and more beautiful than ever before.

Each morning as the sun peeped into his window, Chi Yu jumped out of bed. He ran to the fields to cut the fresh grass that had grown at night. He gathered it in his big round basket and took it to farmer Hieun Tse who wanted the freshest grass for his cows. And Chi Yu got a jar of rice in return.

Lonely Kalu

Mon, 16 Sep 2002 05:27:58 +0000

Kalu was the only son of a farmer and his wife.

“I wish I had a brother or a sister, to play with,” he told his parents one day. “Everyone has a brother or a sister. I don’t like it when the children who come to play with me, on our farm, go back to their homes at night.”

“Don’t be silly,” said his father. “Their parents love them and want them back.”

But his words had some effect, because within a year, the farmer and his wife were blessed with twin girls. But Kalu was still unhappy. “I’m fond of my baby sisters,” said Kalu. “They are too small to play with me, just yet. Mother is busy with them, as they take up too much of her time. I’m lonely and bored.”

The Golden Fish

Mon, 02 Oct 2000 17:31:18 +0000

There are many islands in the Bay of Bengal and not all of them are inhabited. But on one island, at one time, there was a small hut which belonged to an old man and his wife. They were very poor. The husband used to make nets and fish in the sea, for that was the only food they could get.

One day he went fishing as usual. He cast his net and waited. Suddenly there was a pull. He started to draw in the net, it seemed heavier than it had ever before. He just about managed to draw it up. But when he looked, he was surprised to find the net empty except for one small fish. However, it was no ordinary fish. It was golden in colour and even stranger, it pleaded with the old man in a human voice, “Please do not kill me, put me back into the sea and I will be of some service to you. I will do whatever you wish.” The old man thought for a minute and answered, “I do not need anything from you, go back and swim in the sea.” He threw the fish back into the sea and went back home.

Lion On The Loose!...!...

Wed, 13 Jun 2001 21:29:28 +0000

Once it started raining, it just wouldn’t stop. The sky wept great tears in an endless stream until the clouds had entered everyone’s hearts and made them feel as grey and weepy as the weather. But still it rained on and on.

Everyone stayed at home, gloomy and bored. “I wish we could DO something,” moaned Geeti, “Nothing exciting ever happens to us” said Vikki.

Mummy wouldn’t let them go out but she tried to cheer them up by baking a cake. The children helped too. The cake was yummy and they ate it hot. The rest they covered and left on the table.

The Friends

Tue, 29 Jan 2002 15:26:37 +0000

Two friends, Hemant and Vikas, planned to go hiking in the woods. They packed their knapsacks, lugged them over their shoulders and started out.

One evening, while walking through the dense forest, they heard a bear growl. They were very scared and started to run away, but “Twick, twick”, they could hear the twigs breaking with each step the bear took towards them.

Desperate, Hemant saw a low branch hanging from a tree. He quickly caught hold of the life-saving branch and climbed on top of the tree as soon as possible. He was so scared that he did not even look at his friend once.

Birju and the Flying Horse

Tue, 03 Mar 1998 22:11:57 +0000

In a far off city, there lived a boy called Birju. He longed to run and play like other children. But he had a lame leg. He found it difficult to even walk properly. Birju’s father worked as a gardener in a rich man’s garden, close to the hut in which they lived. His mother washed dishes in other people’s houses. One day, his father came home looking very pleased. “Look, Birju,” he said, “Look what I’ve got!” He held up an old wooden rocking horse. “Bibiji gave it to me.” The horse was old and battered. The paint had peeled off, the saddle was torn and one of the ears was about to fall off. But Birju was thrilled with his new toy. He had never owned anything like it before. He climbed on it at once and began to rock.

Ruff and Kabir

Mon, 30 Sep 2002 13:05:50 +0000

Ruff was everyone’s favourite. Three feet tall and four feet long,
sparkling eyes, moist nose, a lovely shade of brown and so cuddly. He was the loveliest German Shepherd anyone had seen.

Ruff went to the park every evening with Tanya and her Grandpa. And all the children would be waiting for him there.

“Ruff’s come!” they would all shout and rush to hug and pat him. Ruff loved
the attention he got.

Very willingly he would take toddler Kanishka on his back for a joy ride. Whenever Rahul hit a six, Ruff would be the “cricketer” to run and fetch the ball.

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 Mouse who Lived in the Lion's Cave

Sat, 16 Jan 1999 09:12:41 +0000

The king of the jungle, the lion, lived in a big dark cave at the foot of the hill. He was a good king, and used to hunt only when he was hungry. Every night, he would go out to hunt and bring back one animal to his cave. After eating to his heart’s content, he would go to sleep.

In his cave, a little mouse had made her house too. She would wait for the king to fall asleep, and then come out to eat, the leftovers. She was so small that leftovers were more than enough for her. She was very happy, as she got to eat the best food. Thanks to the lion, of course.

Double Vision

Sat, 29 Jun 2002 11:36:18 +0000

It was hard to say when Neeti got double vision. It wasn’t there one minute and the very next it was. Suddenly, the road turned terribly crowded. People were jostling each other, pushing to get ahead. She rubbed her eyes, shook her head violently. But that instant crowd didn’t disappear – it rushed on at her.

Then…she realised what had happened. All of a sudden, everyone had multiplied into two, sprouted a twin – like a shadow walking next to them. Neeti’s heart leapt up.

Jumbo House

Sat, 15 Dec 2001 08:20:54 +0000

Quick, quick, quick
Lay a brick, brick, brick
Make it stick stick stick.

You know whose house it is?
Of Jumbo the kid, kid, kid
That’s why it’s so big, big, big.

Do you know what will happen IF
even one brick comes loose – and
Jumbo trips on that brick?

Jumbo House [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Jumbo will take apart every

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!”

Golu Rabbit's Day Out

Thu, 14 Feb 2002 08:02:01 +0000

In the Kanha forest in India, lived a little bunny rabbit called Golu. He was called Golu because of his small round ball of a tail.

Golu lived with his mother Molu in a deep burrow under the tall grass of the forest. The burrow had large rooms and many doorways and Golu loved to run from room to room hoppity-skip.

Every morning Molu went out into the forest and nearby farms to hunt for carrots and radishes.

The Clever Lioness

Thu, 09 Aug 2001 12:57:49 +0000

There once lived a clever lioness in the champak forest. She had four healthy and really adorable cubs. They were very young and their eyes hadn’t still opened. They slept for most of the time and the only time they were awake was when their mother fed them. But if the mother was late even by a minute, they would wail so loudly so as to bring the whole cave down!

In the same forest, there lived another lion. He was old and feeble. His sight and hearing had become poor and many of his teeth and claws had also broken. This made him completely unable to go hunting for animals. The only food he therefore ate was fruits and leaves.

The Eagle and the Arrow

Wed, 11 Apr 2001 23:31:26 +0000

Eagle was a strange creature. He got his fun out of teasing and frightening the little birds. Even when he was not hungry, he would soar through the sky and swoop down on some unsuspecting birds and pretend to prey on them. The poor little birds would cower with fear and try to fly away.

Eagle would then burst into an ear-piercing laugh and flap his wings disdainfully. “I am the King of the sky! How scared you all are of me,” he would exclaim.

Insect which Swims on Its Back

Mon, 29 Oct 2001 14:55:17 +0000

Swimmers, who are in a lazy mood and want to relax, prefer floating on their backs. Did you know that there is a bug that swims on its back? It is called the Backswimmer. It is about 0.13 to 0.63 inches long.

Unlike many other insects who use their wings for this purpose, the backswimmers make use of their hind legs to paddle on their backs. Some of them have hair on their legs which help them to swim. It provides a larger surface area to push against the water.

Beautiful Flowers that Stink!

Tue, 11 Sep 2001 15:38:50 +0000

A blow-fly was looking for an ideal place to lay eggs. Like rotting meat. So that when her little maggots were born, they could feed on the meat.

As she turned a corner in the grassland, she smelt something stinking in the air. The smell of rotten meat! With great joy she perched on it and laid her eggs. She was happy that her children would have enough food to eat.

The blow-fly did not know she had made a great mistake. What she had sat upon was not meat but a flower, which stinks. It is called a carrion flower.
So, when the blow-fly’s eggs hatched and the little maggots came out, they had nothing to eat. They died of starvation.

The Silly Cricket

Wed, 15 Nov 2000 13:38:02 +0000

A silly young cricket
Sat on a wicket
Singing all summer long

He strummed his guitar
And danced all the while
Other creatures were busy
Gathering their pile

Soon winter came
And he began to complain
For he hadn’t a morsel to nibble on.

So off he went
In the wind and rain

The Silly Cricket [Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli]

To the little black ants
For a mouthful of grain.

The Fearless Rhino

Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:37:29 +0000

The rhino looks so fierce and strong
He has a pointed spear
His skin is rough and oh so tough
He knows not what is fear!

Do you want to meet him too?
Go eastward – if you care
Kaziranga is the name
You’re sure to find him there!

The Fearless Rhino [Illustration by Anup Singh]

Elephants Don’t Diet!....

Mon, 03 Dec 2001 06:40:28 +0000

Poor Gol Matolu’s always sad. Why? I don’t know. She looks like the most perfect elephant. Tall, broad big ears, long strong trunk. No one likes to be sad. So why don’t you come with me to find out what the matter is with Gol Matolu?
Ah! Here comes Hornbill, let’s ask him. “Hello, do you know why the elephant’s so sad?”

“Of course I know.
Just look at her if you will.
Would you call her nose a nose or a bill?
That snake which hangs in front of her face Makes her feel shy and out of place.”

Mr Meant-to

Wed, 22 Mar 2000 18:37:15 +0000

Mr Meant-to has a comrade,
And his name is Didn’t-do;
Have you ever chanced to meet them?
Did they ever call on you?

These two fellows live together
In the house of Never-win,
And I’m told that it is haunted,
By the ghost of Might-have-been.

Mr Meant-to [Illustration by Anup Singh]

The Shop at the Corner

Sat, 03 Feb 2001 11:59:14 +0000

Butter and bread,
Needle and thread;
Sweets and candy,
Yellow and red.

Ice-creams, chocolates,
Bells that ring;
Music – which you’d
Love to sing.

Books and biscuits,
Dolls and toys;
I keep them all,
For girls and boys!

The Shop at the Corner [Illustration by Anup Singh]

A Cat’s Nightmare

Mon, 22 Oct 2001 01:22:36 +0000

The cat woke up
with a beating heart

She had just had a
terrible nightmare.

A little rat
had pulled
her whiskers
and called her
‘Friend Cat!’

A Cat’s Nightmare [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Mama Moo on a Swing

Tue, 14 Aug 2001 16:01:01 +0000

It was a summer’s day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and the flies were buzzing. All the cows were grazing in the pasture — all except Mama Moo.

Mama Moo had sneaked away from the others and jumped over the fence. She had taken her bicycle and rode off toward Crow Forest. She was carrying something in the package holder on her bicycle.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

Mama Moo knocked on Crow’s branch.
“Hi, Crow!”, she whispered.

A Surprise On Christmas

Tue, 13 Jul 1999 10:18:51 +0000

Jimmy and Jenny were very excited. It was Christmas Eve and they were busy hanging their stockings at the end of their beds.

“You must go to sleep quickly,” said mother, “because Santa Claus won’t come until you are fast asleep.”

So Jenny and Jimmy jumped into bed and shut their eyes. It wasn’t before long that they were both fast asleep and dreaming. Then even the grown-ups went to sleep. The lights were turned out and the house was dark. Everything was quiet.

Learning to Act

Wed, 21 Mar 2001 22:41:20 +0000

There once lived a brilliant student. He was on a quest to acquire more
and more knowledge. Then he heard of a great Zen teacher to whom he travelled long to meet.

On arriving at the teacher’s feet, he said, “Master teach me.”

The Zen master received the student with a smile. He inquired about him. He asked in detail all that the student had learnt till then.

Learning to Act [Illustration by Anup Singh]

Later, he asked his assistant to get tea for the two of them. A big pot of tea with two cups and saucers was brought before the master. The student volunteered to serve the tea. The master brushed aside his offer with a smile.

Runu and Chotu

Fri, 18 Feb 2000 05:16:49 +0000

A June morning. Holiday morning. “Fun! fun!” Runu thought as she woke up. No school, lots of cartoons on TV, computer games, and surely, a trip to the ice cream parlour. Fun, fun indeed! Runu gulped down her chocolate milk.

Mom and Dad came in to pet her. Dad said, “Sorry baby, but we have to go see someone who is ill, can’t take you out today.” Seeing Runu pull a long face, Mom said, “I’ll leave the computer on for you, and your favourite CDs. Is there going to be Scooby Doo and Pop Eye on TV today? Smile please”. Runu decided to smile and bid them ‘bye.’

Once they were Friends

Sat, 31 Mar 2001 14:28:01 +0000

There was a time when Madri, the cat, and Ketki, the mouse, were friends. They were such good friends that they lived in the same house. They played together, and went on hunts together too.

Between the two, Ketki was the one with foresight. “Can you feel the chill in the air?” she asked her friend. “Winter is coming. And we haven’t saved any food! Let’s do it now or we will have to go hungry when winter sets in”.

Summer fan

Fri, 16 Nov 2001 19:40:57 +0000

The fan turns slow
On a hot airless night
Like a bird without wings
That has forgotten to fly.

I look closely
What a surprise!
There are beads of sweat
On the fan blades as well.

The cooler and the cooled
Are in the same state
It’s going to be a tough summer
At this rate.

Summer fan [Illustration by Shinod AP]

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.

Boomba – The Lion Kid

Sun, 14 Jan 2001 00:36:53 +0000

Boomba was the lion king’s son. He had a bright yellow coat and his mother often told him lovingly, “Boomba, you look like a ball of wool!” His parents were very proud of him and knew that one day he would grow up to be the handsomest lion around.But Boomba was not happy with his looks. At times he secretly desired a beautiful tail like the peacock’s or wings like the butterfly’s. All his friends were tired of him, because in the middle of a game he would always stop and ask, “How do I look?”.

Small Business

Mon, 01 Jan 2001 20:42:14 +0000

Shobhan ran to his father who was just leaving for work.

‘Papa! Papa!’ he called, ‘Jeetu Chacha is my best friend next to you.’

‘He is! That is fine. What has he done?’

‘He just phoned to say he and I are going to Delhi for one week.’

‘Well, are you telling me or asking me?’ Said Papa laughing.

‘Both. You are my best friend;’ said Shobhan looking up into his father’s laughing face.

‘Of course. You can go if its alright by your mother.’ Papa walked out of the little gate to board his bus. It wasn’t long before Jeetu Chacha drove his scooter into the garden path. Together they set off for Delhi.

The Whopping Hippo

Fri, 11 May 2001 14:19:56 +0000

The hippo loves the waterside
Where it can bathe and swim and glide
And all the little fishes there
Swim away and cry – ‘beware’!

The hippo loves to laze all day
And snooze the winter noon away
He’s never cold, for don’t you see
He needs no quilt like you and me?

The Whopping Hippo [Illustration by Anup Singh]

If The Tooth Be Told!...

Sun, 17 Jun 2001 14:53:11 +0000

Dada and Dadi were very funny. They were good fun too. They loved everyone and always had a good thing to say for everyone they met. They could always make people laugh.

All, that is, except each other. Somehow, they just had to look at each other, and they’d start fighting. It was really silly how the two of them were forever snapping at each other. And since they spent lot’s of time together, their moods were becoming more and more sour. Soon they didn’t have a good thing to say about anyone. They made no one laugh anymore. In fact, they often ended up making people cry.

The Crow’s Lunch

Tue, 16 Oct 2001 11:21:35 +0000

The crow sat on the tree
Waiting for lunch

What would it be? Rice,
roti – or earthworm?

Lunch was none of these
The family was on a fast

Disgusted, the crow
swooped down
If not curry, maybe
a bland earthworm?

But the worms weren’t there
The crow wasn’t early enough

The Crow’s Lunch [Illustration by Shinod AP]

What has the world come to,
cried the crow
No thought for others!

Kallu Raven's Breakfast Treat

Mon, 18 Sep 2000 21:44:39 +0000

This happened years and years ago in a bright and busy forest.Two trees, the Neem and the Peepal, faced each other. A big, black raven called Kallu had his nest on the Peepal tree, while the Neem tree was the home of Nanni sparrow.

Kallu was a wily bird and he felt no fondness for Nanni sparrow. After some weeks, Nanni laid three tiny, beautiful eggs. Soon they hatched. Her nest came alive with the sweet twitter of the baby sparrows.

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.

Joking with the Goddess

Fri, 22 Sep 2000 11:39:52 +0000

Gopal was in great pain. A big battle seemed to be raging in his stomach. Of course, there was nothing unusual about this. With his weakness for good food — sweets in particular — he often did overeat and this was the inevitable result. As long as the pain lasted, Gopal was full of remorse, and made wild promises to eat moderately, but all were forgotten the moment he was well.

This time the pain was worse than anything he had ever experienced before. “It must have been the fish,” Gopal said aloud. “I thought it did not look fresh.”

Take Care

Thu, 04 May 2000 14:39:05 +0000

Look out for the traffic! Be careful! Don’t fall into the drain!"

“Oh, Mum! I’m only going to the shop to buy you a loaf of bread. The way you’re going on, the neighbours will think I’m cycling all the way to London! You know there’s very little traffic on our quiet estate roads… and anyway, the drains are not even big enough for me to fall into!”

Shen’s mother sighed as she called after him, “Look out for cars! Be careful! Take care!”

Chintu Pintu Talk on the Net

Sun, 23 Sep 2001 13:14:35 +0000

Do you send E-mails to your friends? E-mails in which you write in words how you are feeling — happy or sad?

Do you want to surprise your friends by sending them an e-mail in a new language? The language of the Internet? If so, then read on to know what Chintu and Pintu write. Then, impress your friends!

Chintu : Hi! 🙂
( I like this big net smile )

Pintu : Hullo! 😉
This is also a smile

Slow Dance

Wed, 15 Aug 2001 05:49:47 +0000

This poem came to us as a forwarded email and we do not know the name of its author.

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask “How are you?”
Do you hear the reply?

Seasons in a Tree’s Rooted Life

Mon, 10 Apr 2000 23:11:37 +0000

Seasons in a Tree’s Rooted Life [Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli]

You may be very proud of the fact that the orange tree in your garden only comes up to your shoulders, but that is just one part of the tree that you see. Sometimes a tree’s roots, beneath the soil, are much bigger than the parts you see above the ground. It is with these roots a tree looks for water that gives it life, and makes its leaves look shiny, bright and healthy. In fact the leaves need to take in a lot of water to stay that way.

Chun Mun's Friends

Wed, 04 Jun 1997 17:34:57 +0000

There was once a little girl called Chun Mun. She lived in a village close to the forest. Everyday Chun Mun would go into the forest and learn music from her friends there – the birds and animals. But one of her friends Chintu, the black ant, would always be very busy and would have no time for such beautiful things. Nevertheless he was very curious to know what Chun Mun did in the forest. So one Sunday, when Chintu had no work to do, he asked Chun Mun –

Richer or Poorer?

Sat, 10 Jan 1998 00:18:12 +0000

Second prize winner of Spin-A-Tale contest

Hello! My name is John! I used to be rich but I became poor. Here’s the story.

Richer or Poorer? [Illustration by Shinod A.P.]

Mom and dad said they wanted to go to Africa to donate rupees 4.5 crores (1 million dollars.) So, we went there. Almost all the taxis were gone. We caught one taxi and went to a very poor village to stay there for five days and to feel how it is to be poor. In one day, I met a boy named Jillyoin.

Chintu Pintu Talk on the Net Again

Fri, 13 Apr 2001 01:42:14 +0000

Do you send E-mails to your friends? E-mails in which you write in words how you are feeling — happy or sad?

Do you want to surprise your friends by sending them an e-mail in a new language? The language of the Internet? If so, then read on to know what Chintu and Pintu write. Then, impress your friends!

Chintu: Hi Pintu!

Chintu Pintu Talk on the Net Again []

Pintu: Hullo Chintu!

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!”

Play Nicely

Sat, 19 Apr 1997 11:37:56 +0000

Play Nicely [Illustrations by D. K. Sharma (First published in NBT’s Bulletin, Sept-97)]

The kids next door have everything
you can think of and yet they love to come in
and play with us.
Their mother makes an awful fuss.
Says, ‘You’ll come filthy, in such a mess!’
Oh yes!

That’s just what they like about our place.
Nobody says, ‘Go wash you face,’
or “Look at your shoes! Look at your hair!”

The Stowaway

Wed, 03 Jan 2001 23:56:07 +0000

Marco Puss, the famous cat explorer, arrived at the docks one day. It was all new to him — the noise and bustle, the interesting smells, the cranes, the ship.

‘A house on water,’ he thought. ‘How exciting!’ Tail in the air, he stalked up the gangway. When he was halfway up he heard a shout.

‘Whose cat is that? Get him off the ship!’

Marco was booted off the ship. His dignity was hurt.

Kappu Tries Hard

Wed, 28 Feb 2001 15:45:25 +0000

Kappu Maharaj, wake up fast
The morning birds are chirping sweet
“Unnn..nn..unn” said Kappu
In a voice full of sleep

Little Kappu sat on his pot
But did not manage a single dot.
When his mother asked “Are you done?”
Kappu flashed a smile at once

Kappu Tries Hard [Illustration by Shinod AP]

The Girl who Loved Danger

Thu, 01 May 1997 13:15:32 +0000

Once there was a lovely girl named Ginger. The one thing she loved the most was danger. There was only one reason she loved danger. She loved it because she had never faced any danger.

She was forbidden to go any farther then the garden. Her father would not allow it because one day her mother went beyond the garden to get her scarf that had blown away. She never returned. Ginger was also the daughter of the richest man in Teton, where she lived.

Kappu and Buzo

Mon, 04 Jun 2001 04:31:34 +0000

Buzo and Kappu played all day
“Come! Come!” Kappu would say
Wagging his tail and swaying his head
Buzo would jump to lick Kappu’s leg.

Kappu maharaj was very small
But not scared of Buzo at all
For even when he pulled his ear
There was never any fear.

Kappu and Buzo [Illustration by Shinod AP]