Hiss, Don’t Bite!
by Vayu Naidu and illustrated by Mugdha Sethi. Published by Tulika
“Hiss, Don’t Bite!” by Vayu Naidu and illustrated by Mugdha Sethi. Published by Tulika and part of the under the banyan series. This is a folk tale from Bengal.
The villagers had gathered around the banyan tree to watch a play. Their favourite storyteller was going to tell them a story. The story of an ill tempered cobra who lived in a hole in a banyan tree in the forest. He killed a cow which had strayed from its herd and tried to pluck a mango near the banyan tree. The children who were grazing the cows had seen this happen and ran back to the village in fear.
From that day onwards the villagers had forbidden the children from taking the livestock to the forest for grazing. They were to go to the open fields instead. Once a monk passing through the village asked some of the children if there was a forest nearby. The children told him about the forest and also requested him not to go there due to the presence of the mean cobra. They feared for the monk’s life. The monk promised them that nothing would happen to him and he would meet them again next morning. The monk meets the cobra and tells it a secret which changes its life. As well as everyone else’s life.
What is the secret? What should the snake do to control his temper? When should he strike? Will the children be able to go back to the forest and play under the banyan tree? The story needs to be read for this. It is a good way of teaching children how they need to control their temper. Also when they need to warn others and not get bullied into doing something. The illustrations in the book are adapted from the Kalighat style of painting which has been popularised by the Patuas (painters) living near the Kali temple in Kolkata. Apt for 5+ year olds.
