#469 - The Cat Who Became King and Other Stories From India
by Dhan Gopal Mukherji
“The Cat Who Became King and Other Stories From India” by Dhan Gopal Mukherji. Published by Talking Cub, the children’s imprint of Speaking Tiger. A charming collection of stories teeming with creatures big and small.
The book has seventeen stories featuring different animals from the small fly to the large elephant. The stories are funny, thoughtful and full of delight. Each of the stories has a subtle message expressed in a gentle manner. Qualities like kindness, courage, facing fears, selflessness, wisdom and many others are seen in the characters of these stories.
There is the bee Madhukara who learns a memorable lesson not to be greedy when he almost loses his life due to it. A cat ends up becoming the king of the forest unexpectedly but cannot enjoy the life of a king forever when he gets too fat. Intriguing isn’t it? This is the the title story and very interesting one :) Then there are two stories of bunnies who end up earning the titles of Bunny the Brave I and II when they manage to face enemies much larger than themselves through their bravery. Another bunny learns an important lesson from a sage that it isn’t outer appearance that matters to be brave but getting rid of one’s fears. A vain fly learns a lesson when he finds his match in an elephant. Read the book to know what happens in these interesting stories.
The stories kept me and my nine year old enthralled as we read them. The world of the animals and jungles created in front of our eyes was so fascinating. The stories are interesting, delightful and thoughtful making them a collection to be treasured. Some stories are traditional tales with a unique twist given by the author. We were thrilled to find mention of the elephant Sirdar who is the protagonist of another book by the author that we have read before and loved called “The Adventures of Sirdar : The Chief of the Herd”. It has been a pleasure to savour these evergreen stories from the early twentieth century which are being brought out for the first time in a single volume. The author who was born and raised in India went on to live in the United States and began his writing career there. He was the first Indian to win so much acclaim for his books. Considered by many to be in the same league as Rudyard Kipling, Dhan Gopal Mukherji brings his love for the Indian jungles and their denizens alive through his vivid descriptions of them in his writing.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 9 and above.
Reasons to Read
The stories are delightful and a treat for those who love forests and animals. The accompanying messages of kindness, bravery and wisdom makes the collection a treasure to be cherished.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Talking Cub here.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Talking Cub, for review. Thank you to Tanu, from Talking Cub, for sending across the book!