Mangoes, Mischief, and Tales of Friendship: Stories from India

Gr 2–6—In this beginning chapter book, eight short stories inspired by Indian folktales chronicle the adventures of 10-year-old Prince Veera as he gets to know the subjects of his father's small kingdom and has his first lessons in becoming a ruler. The collection, originally published in the U.K. as two books, is augmented by the bold, folk-style art of Krishnaswamy, whose inserts of key characters dappled throughout each short story are emotive and enhance the text. Farmer's son and scholarship student Suku, who is Veera's equal in mischievous tendencies, athletic ability, and surveillance skills, although not in prestige and wealth, is the prince's faithful companion in each escapade. Veera and Suku eavesdrop on the court, listening to the king weigh-in on problems large and small presented by his subjects. When the king becomes too sick to hold court, and again when he travels, he gives the young prince permission to hold a modified version of court in which he only makes decisions on simpler cases. But some cases are far from straightforward. In these tales, Veera settles disputes between neighbors, recovers Suku from servitude to a greedy moneylender, discovers the thief of the king's favorite treat, assists a fugitive from another kingdom, and establishes rules of business between purveyors and customers. Each short story can be read independently, however the first and fifth provide needed background information and character development.